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7 popular home products our experts would never buy (and what we'd get instead)
With over a decade of experience at Which?, Tom covers everything from tech advice to money-saving tips, and highlights the best deals during major sales events.
Some popular products hide pitfalls that only become clear once you start using them, from cordless vacs with poor battery life to steam irons that clog up with limescale far too quickly.
But thanks to the rigour of our product testing and the extensive knowledge of our experts, you can confidently steer clear of trending products that simply aren't worth the hype, or are a poor fit for what you actually need.
Below, we've highlighted a selection of products to be wary of when shopping – and some of our picks might surprise you.
1. A cordless vacuum cleaner with poor battery life
Cordless vacuum cleaners are undeniably convenient, particularly if you're tackling dust and dirt on stairs, cleaning awkward corners or quickly dealing with everyday messes. However, pick the wrong model and you could find yourself constantly stopping to recharge the battery before you've finished the job.
In fact, we've tested some cordless vacs that last as little as seven minutes on their maximum power setting. That's barely enough time to clean a single room, let alone give your whole home a thorough once-over.
By contrast, some of our Best Buy picks can run for around 20 minutes on turbo mode before needing a recharge, or more than an hour on their lowest power setting. Bear in mind, though, that cleaning performance can suffer when you dial down the suction, so it's worth checking our reviews to find a model that strikes the right balance between battery life and cleaning power.
Our expert says:
'We test cordless vacuums on both minimum and maximum power settings, as well as on hard flooring and tougher-to-clean carpet. Our reviews highlight cordless vacuums that combine impressive cleaning performance with long battery life, giving you plenty of time to clean your home.
'Average maximum power battery life is around 17 minutes, and average recharge time should be around three hours – try to find a vac that meets that or does even better.'
Humairaa Habib, Which? vacuum cleaner expert
To make sure you buy a model with impressive battery life, explore our guide to the best cordless vacuum cleaners.
2. A condenser tumble dryer
Condenser tumble dryers can be cheap to buy and might seem like a tempting option if you're shopping on a budget, but they can be far more expensive to run than many people realise.
In our tests, some condenser models use more than twice as much energy as heat pump dryers. That difference can quickly add up, particularly if you're drying several loads of laundry every week.
Running costs vary widely, too. The cheapest condenser dryers we've tested cost around £112.89 a year to run, while the most expensive cost £180.01. On average, you'll pay £137.80 a year to run a condenser dryer, compared with just £53.90 for a heat pump model. That's a saving of £83.90 a year if you make the switch.
Recent UK regulations mean we can expect to see a ban on the sale of new condenser and vented tumble dryers 'as soon as time allows' (see also: What the tumble dryer 'ban' could mean for you).
The good news is that choosing a more efficient heat pump dryer doesn't necessarily mean spending a fortune upfront. We've found some Great Value options that cost less than £300.
If you do decide a condenser model is the right fit for your budget, make sure you check our full reviews first – we list annual running costs and highlight the models that deliver strong drying performance.
Our expert says:
'While our lab tests have uncovered some condenser tumble dryers that perform well for drying, a heat pump model is also worth considering.
'Heat pump tumble dryers work by heating air efficiently and reusing this warm air as it leaves the drum, meaning they can operate at cooler temperatures than other types of tumble dryers.
'Although this does mean a trade-off of longer drying times, the energy-saving results are more than worth the wait – especially during the chillier months when you might find yourself using it more often than not.'
Rebecca Jakeman, Which? tumble dryers expert
For more details, see our guide to the best condenser tumble dryers and best heat pump tumble dryers.
3. A steam iron with a delicate soleplate
A scratched soleplate can cause an iron to snag on fabrics, making ironing more frustrating and potentially causing delicate clothes to tear. The trouble is, it's difficult to judge how durable an iron will be just by looking at it, which is where our independent tests come in.
When searching for Best Buy steam irons, we give every soleplate a tough scrub to see which ones stay smooth and snag-free, and which are easily damaged.
Some soleplates are so tough that our scouring pad has absolutely no effect, while others pick up scratches almost immediately. If you're buying a new iron, it's worth choosing one that's built to withstand regular use.
Our highest-scoring steam irons combine excellent crease removal with ease of use and a durable soleplate that can withstand contact with buttons and zips.
Make sure you buy one of our recommended models using our guide to the best steam irons.
4. A fridge freezer that isn't frost-free
Frost-free fridge freezers are designed to prevent ice buildup, so you never have to defrost or scrape off stubborn ice. By contrast, a manual-defrost model can gradually accumulate thick layers of frost, taking up valuable storage space and making drawers harder to open.
Removing that ice can be a time-consuming job, too. You'll need to empty the freezer, find somewhere safe to store your frozen food and wait for the ice to melt before cleaning up the water. It's a chore you'll probably want to avoid.
Although there are plenty of affordable frost-free options, they tend to be more expensive than manual-defrost appliances. If you want to avoid the hassle of defrosting your appliance by hand, you may need to spend a bit more upfront, although the time and effort saved over the years can make it a worthwhile upgrade.
Our expert says:
‘If there’s one feature that really makes a difference to how much you love your appliance, we think it’s a frost-free freezer.
'In a survey of more than 1,000 Which? members, a telling 97% rated this feature as useful. Prices are much lower than they used to be too, with frost-free fridge freezers starting at around £270.’
Fran Roberts-Thornton, Which? fridge freezer expert
For recommended models, see our advice on the best freezers, best fridges and best fridge freezers.
5. A gas hob
Gas hobs have long been a popular choice, but research on indoor air pollution suggests they might not be the best option for your home. And while a hob isn't something you'll replace regularly, it's worth considering the potential impact on air quality when the time comes to upgrade your kitchen.
Everyday cooking releases pollutants, regardless of the type of hob you use. However, burning gas produces additional nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and can contribute to particulate matter in your kitchen. These pollutants can linger long after you turn off the burners and may spread throughout your home.
Our own air pollution experiment found that households using gas hobs saw significant spikes in nitrogen dioxide during cooking. In some cases, levels remained elevated for hours afterwards, highlighting how cooking with gas can affect the air you breathe even after you've finished preparing a meal. See also: Air pollution in your kitchen.
Our expert says:
‘Swapping from gas to an induction hob will remove much of the NO2 from your home environment and could reduce your exposure to particulate matter. It also reduces your greenhouse gas emissions.
‘If you're upgrading your kitchen setup, your existing gas supply will need to be capped off by a Gas Safe-registered engineer and you’ll need to ensure that your current electrical connection matches your new hob’s requirements.'
Jamie Mayne, Which? hobs expert
Find the perfect hob for your kitchen with our advice covering the best hobs and best induction hobs.
6. Smart appliances that aren’t worth the extra
Opting for a high-end smart appliance for your home, such as a washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher, often means paying a premium for extra features. While these added functions might sound impressive, they won't necessarily make your appliance better at its main job.
We’ve tested washing machines and dishwashers that let you schedule cycles from your phone, automatically select the most suitable programme and even start a wash remotely. These functions can be convenient, but they’re not always essential. After all, there's little point in having an appliance packed with clever technology if it struggles to clean your clothes or dishes properly.
Our testing has uncovered plenty of Great Value models that skip the fancy extras yet still deliver strong cleaning performance and efficient water use. We've also come across smart appliances that perform poorly in our tests, proving that a long list of high-tech features is no guarantee of better results.
Before spending more, check our reviews to make sure you're paying for genuinely useful features rather than unnecessary gimmicks.
To see which smart appliances we recommend, explore our pick of the best washing machines and best dishwashers.
7. An air fryer too small for your needs
A Which?-recommended air fryer can be a savvy investment for your kitchen, as it cooks food by circulating hot air, meaning you can use far less oil than you would when deep-frying, or even skip it entirely.
However, choosing a model that's too small for your household can be a false economy. If the basket isn't large enough to cook everything in one go, you'll end up preparing meals in multiple batches, eating into the time and energy savings you might otherwise enjoy.
In our tests, air fryer capacities have ranged from just 0.3kg to 2.7kg, highlighting how much the amount of food you can cook varies between models. Checking the usable capacity before you buy is essential, particularly if you're regularly cooking for several people.
Our expert says:
'Manufacturers usually quote the total internal volume of an air fryer in litres as a guide to size, but these capacity measurements can be tricky to visualise. They don't always reflect how much food you can actually cook at once, because not all of the space inside the basket is usable.
'It's also worth knowing that air fryers work best when food is spread out in a single layer. In our tests, chips cooked in half-full baskets were crispier and more evenly browned than those cooked in full ones.
'Opting for a slightly larger capacity than you think you’ll need can help you get better cooking results. Our lab tests measure capacity in grams of food, so you know exactly how much your air fryer can hold before you buy. For more on this, see our piece on air fryer recipe fails and how to fix them.'
Jamie Mayne, Which? air fryers expert
Discover which air fryers passed our tough tests with our full guide to the best air fryers.
