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Rugs

Using rugs not only make your interiors feel much more comfortable but also does a great job to enhance the décor. You can choose from a number of different types of rugs and create any type of look you want. You will be amazed at the way it modifies your interior. There are ways in which you could make the space feel bigger, highlight some specific areas of the room, the furniture and more.

When you are buying a rug, always make it a point to consider the space where you want to put it in. If you are looking for a rug for busy areas such as the kitchen or the hall, you will need something in a more durable material. If it is your bedroom, you can use rich textures that feel soft and cozy under your foot. Rugs look the best when they are placed in accordance with the size of the room. The ones that extend to the entrances not only create obstructions but also look rather untidy. Furthermore, they also increase your chances of tripping and falling over.

Where can you use rugs around the house?

If you are looking to upgrade your interiors in an affordable way, then rugs are one of the easiest ways to do it. They add just the right amount of comfort and warmth to your interiors while also protecting the floor. Furthermore, by planning the layout in an effective manner, you can also divide the space, thereby adding more definition to the room. Given below are the different areas around the house where you can add rugs and create an instant wow factor.

Lounge

The lounge is one of the most common places to put in a rug. The right choice of the rug can lend a very relaxing air to the space. The choice of rugs also determines the ambiance of the room. For example, if you want to create a cozy feel, you can add deep piles, wools, and shaggy textures. These materials feel very soft under your feet and make you feel as if you are sinking in. You can further beautify the space by adding furniture that complements the carpet.

Hall

The hall or the landing is another strategic place where you can add a carpet. This can make the entrance feel a lot more welcoming. Oftentimes, hallways and landings tend to be the most neglected area of the house. However, by paying just a little attention, you can bring these spaces alive. The type of rugs you use in the hallways will also, to some degree, determine the ambiance of the house. So, make sure you select the rugs appropriately. It also important to get them in the right cut and size or the space can end up looking untended.

Bedroom

The bedroom is where you walk barefoot a lot. Therefore, it is one of the best places to put in a rug. Options such as deep pile rugs, shaggy textures are the best for bedrooms. They will also add a lot more warmth to the room, especially during the cold months. You will not have to dread walking on the chilly floor as soon as you get out of the bed.

Conservatory

Conservatories do not always come to your mind when you think of adding rugs to your interior. However, there are also rugs available for outdoor use such as patios and conservatories. These are relatively easier to clean and do a great job of beautifying the setting. You can pick interesting prints and colors so as to add more warmth to the space.

Kitchen

You may not be very positive about the prospects of adding a rug to your kitchen. It is the one place that stays moist half the time. In addition to that, there is always a chance of dropping crumbs and food items. However, you should note that kitchen is also the place where you spend a good amount of time. Therefore, it would not really hurt to upgrade this area. You can choose fabric that are easier to maintain and clean, for example, synthetic fabrics with short piles.

Rug Designs

One of the best things about rugs is that you can choose from an amazingly large number of choices. Each type of rug will lend a different atmosphere to the room. When it comes to the design, there are mainly two categories – the traditional and the modern.

Traditional Rugs

Most often, traditional rugs come in very intricate patterns and rich shades. These rugs are highly detailed and immediately give an antique feel to the room. The inspiration for traditional rugs is usually taken from oriental and Persian styles. These rugs can feel very luxurious, especially when added to the parlors. They never go out of style. Instead, they have a timeless appeal and can easily suit any modern house.

Traditional Persian rugs usually have patterns such as flowers and delicate motifs, together with a border in contrasting colors. In any case, they are very delicate to look at. Oriental rugs, too, come in rich colors such as green, deep red, beige, cream, neutral, and so on. If placed correctly, the rug can add a great amount of sophistication and can itself act as the centerpiece of attention in the room. At the same time, they also protect your flooring, especially if it is made out of wood.

Modern Rugs

Modern Rugs are those that feature abstract shapes, floral patterns, bold designs, stripes, geometric patterns and so on. They are available in plenty of different designs and textures. These rugs also offer a wider scope when it comes to colors. You can either go for downright bold ones or choose from the minimalist patterns, depending on the type of look you want to create. You can also play it safe by choosing monochromes in neutral colors. This will also make it easier for you to play around with the décor.

Modern Rugs can grace any décor. However, they are more suited for homes styled in a contemporary theme. They are also a great way of adding vibrancy and fresh look to traditionally styled houses. The other benefit of using modern rugs is that they are much more versatile as compared to the traditional rugs. Whether it is the stripes, swirls, intricate patterns or monoblocks, you are always covered.

Rug Materials

Rugs are available in a variety of materials, synthetic as well as natural. The material used determines the feel, softness, durability, ease of maintenance as well as the pricing. Given below are the different materials used in making rugs.

Wool

Woolen rugs are very soft and luxurious. They also have a high resistance to wear and tear and retain their original shape for a very long period of time. They are available in both natural as well as matte finish. Woolen rugs are naturally more appealing than the synthetic ones. They also help in maintaining humidity and temperature inside the room. They absorb moisture from the air, thereby keeping the room from getting too humid. If there is any pressure mark left from the furniture, they disappear completely when moistened.

There are even subcategories within the woolen carpets depending on the type of wool used. The most common ones are those made from the wool of Alpacas, Mohairs, and Angoras. However, those made with Argentine and New Zealand wool are considered to be the best. It is always more advisable to go for high-quality wool as these last for a considerable period of time. However, it should also be noted that woolen rugs also require a lot of tending. They are much more difficult to maintain as compared to other materials.

Silk

The manufacturing process of silk rugs requires a lot of careful handling. Therefore, they tend to be much more expensive as compared to the other types of rugs. They were first produced in China, as early as 27th century BC. Due to their natural luster, silk rugs look highly elegant and luxurious. At the same time, they also feel very soft. Silk rugs are also quite strong and last for a very long period time without losing vibrancy of color or shape. The other benefit is that these rugs are resistant to fungus, mold, and mildew. They are also well suited for people with allergies. As silk is highly expensive, it is often blended with other fabric such as wool.

Cotton Rugs

Cotton rugs are much cheaper as compared to both silk and wool. Therefore, they are also the most commonly used ones. They do not shed like wool and also need a lot less maintenance. However, they do not offer an equal amount of lasting. Cotton rugs can also be machine washed, which makes them easy to maintain. Furthermore, they are highly versatile and can be used in a number of different places including the living spaces, kitchens, lounge or just about anywhere.

Other natural fibers

You can also find rugs in other natural fibers such as sisal, jute, seagrass, and bamboo. These fibers are mostly available in braid design and flatweave. They are eco-friendly as well as affordable. Due to their texture, they also feel very smooth under your feet.

Synthetic materials

The most commonly used synthetics for rugs include polyester, nylon, acrylic, polypropylene, and viscose. These are most appropriate to be used in high traffic areas or the areas that generally remain damp. These rugs as water resistant, stain resistant, highly durable and also very easy to clean.

Weaves

The weave used in the rug determines how it feels under your feet and also how long it is going to last. Given below are the different types of weaves used in rugs.

Hand-knotted

Hand-knotted rugs are made in looms and have yarn columns that are also known as the warps. You may also have tufts tied around the warps so as to create a deeper pile. These types of rugs very labor-intensive and can take more than a year to get completed. As a result, they are also very expensive. However, these rugs are highly durable and can last for generations.

Tufted

These rugs have a fabric base into which yarns are pushed so as to create tufts. These tufts are kept in place by using glue. As a result, they have a very dense surface and plush texture. Hooked and Tufted Rugs are made using the same procedure, except that in hooked rugs, the yarns are left long.

Braided Rugs

Braided Rugs are made using a number of different braid techniques such as flat braid, banded braid, cloth braid and yarn braid construct. These are very thick and also feel very luxurious. Most often, braided rugs are made of 100% wool.

Flat woven

In these rugs, the yarns are very tight so that the resulting structure is flat and free from knots. These rugs are also reversible and are best suited to wooden floors.

Machine made Rugs

Machine made rugs may be the most popular as they are made in power looms and have a very fast production period. Such rugs usually come in elaborate patterns, reasonable quality, and affordable prices.

Size

The correct size for the rug is determined by the dimension of the room as well as the furniture arrangement. If you do not want the rug to cover the entire floor, you can place them in the center of the room. If you want to place it under furniture such as coffee table, make sure that all the four legs rest on the rug. The purpose of a rug is to make your space look more tailored and neat. So always make sure that you get the measurements right.

Conclusion

A rug can do a lot in determining the comfort and feel of your house. However, you should also make sure that you are taking care of it the right way. Get a vacuum cleaner or a carpet sweeper for easier maintenance. Also, make sure that you are well informed about the proper care and maintenance for the rug. If required, use an underlay to elongate the lifespan of the carpet.

from Otomo - Blog https://www.otomo.co.uk/blogs/news/rugs

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otomouk · 6 years ago

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What you need to know about Pearls

from Otomo - Blog https://www.otomo.co.uk/blogs/news/what-you-need-to-know-about-pearls

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otomouk · 6 years ago

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My Pearls Marketing Scholarship

A £1000 Scholarship

My Pearls provides exciting modern and traditional jewellery from many impressive designers from all over the world.

For example: Pearl Necklace

We recognise that power of written words drives the online world and we want to help the new generation of creative minds to demonstrate their skills in this area.

We have created the My Pearls Scholarship for any Postgraduate or Undergraduate students with a passion for Jewellery or Writing to receive a £1000 award.

Any students who are currently studying within the areas of Marketing, Business, Art and Design, IT or Communications may be very interested in this scholarship program. Expertise in these areas is not essential, a passion for content creation and working in an online business is enough.

If you find this scholarship to be of interest but you have further questions, please don't hesitate in getting in contact with us.

General Terms of Participation

To participate in this scholarship program you will need to research and write a unique piece of content of between 500-1000 words on the following subject: "How the Internet has Changed Marketing in the Past 20 Years".

We would like you to include the following subtopics:

Why is internet marketing important?

What's the future of internet marketing?

The winning submission will receive £1000 which will ideally be used for course materials or other resources which directly benefit your studies. Please read on for further details.

Eligibility and Creativity

The scholarship is only for students that are currently studying at college, university or at high school.

The content produced for the application must unique and as creative as possible. The essay should be able to convince any reader that you know what you're writing about and you're an expert in the subject area.

We will judge the article on several criteria, for example creativity, content value and the information it provides.

How to Submit your Application

Firstly, write an article of between 500-1000 words long and submit it to us as a pdf file. If you have a website or blog, please include a link to it.

When you have completed your essay, email it to us at [email protected] with all of the details listed below.

Your personal details (Full name, telephone number and address).

The name of the school you're attending.

Your area of study

Proof that you are a student, preferably a picture of your student ID.

By submitting your content, you are giving us to publish and use your content for promotions and marketing purposes.

Deadline

The deadline is December 31st, and the winner will be selected by January 20th. The winnings will be mailed to the winners school.

We run the scholarship program every year.

Total Number of Submissions: 8

from Otomo - Blog https://www.otomo.co.uk/blogs/news/my-pearls-scholarship

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otomouk · 6 years ago

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Using Artificial Plants for a Budget Friendly Home Decor Solution

Who doesn’t like to live in a fresh and lively home?

To give an amazingly dynamic touch to your abode, plants can play a significant role. With the right kind of colourful flowers kept in the various parts of your home, it will look stunning. For instance, if your living space seems to be comparatively cooler, impersonal or sterile, artificial plants can add a lot of value. Howbeit, home decor with such plants and blossoms might sound to be quite expensive.

Right?

Nevertheless, faux flowers, succulents, silk blooms etc. have recently changed the scenario. They are pretty cost-effective and provide instant frugal yet beautiful decoration. All that you need to do is just think in a creative way to do some appealing home-decor with them and simultaneously you will save huge.

How to do so?

Explore the following ideas:

Potted faux in the home’s entrance

If you want to spotlight the entrance of your home, you must lend vitality and charm to the front door. To do that, faux version can be one of the best options. As there is not enough space for the roots and stems of the real trees, it’s better to go for potted faux trees.

This style will finally end up giving your entryway an elegant look. Also, as they are not the actual trees, there is no chance of affecting the building’s foundation, plumbing etc.

Potted faux are quite affordable with an approximate price of around $15. So, you don’t have to break your banks at all.

Small succulents in the centre table

To add a bit of greenery to your living room is always ideal. The green colour is so vibrant and ideal that it can match with any kind of setting. If you keep small and succulent faux plants potted in tiny, white vases as the centre of attraction in your living area, it will give a welcoming feel.

Above that, it won’t cost you even huge for such a decoration. The small potted succulents are usually worth no more than just $ 15.

Accentuate the kitchen

To come up with natural plants for kitchen seems to be a not so smart idea. This part of your house is prone to a great amount of moisture and a lot of variation in temperature. Thus, if you want to add a natural look to your kitchen, the best idea will be artificial flowers and plants.

The deposition of oil will not cause any harm to them and they can be even cleaned quite easily. You can place a small and budget-friendly artificial indoor plant like Priyathams Bamboo or Peace lily along the cabinet in your kitchen to give life to the entire environment.

Interestingly, such an artificial plant won’t cost you even extra. You need to spend just $ 6 for such plants in the stores like Plants Express and that’s it! In case, you want to save even more, the websites like CouponsMonk are there for you.

A pink tint besides the window

You get all the sparkling sunlight inside your house through the windows and doors. Believe it or not, a stunning colour-contrast with the sunshine over there will give a boost to your home decor. You can consider real colourful flowers here. Still, chances are there, they might get frequently spoiled due to all the dust and wind coming through the open windows.

Thus, artificial flowers will be the best choice! You can decorate a bunch of vibrant pink artificial ranunculus including two buds (one large and one small) in a glass vase.

Finally, keep the vase beside the window pane for the ultimate mesmerizing look! It is just around $ 7 for such a bunch of flowers.

Landscape design with artificial grass

When it comes to the patio in front of your house, artificial plants seem to be best for that. One of the trendiest ways to give this area a green look is using artificial grass. You just have to spend around $ 5 per square foot and it will give a lush appearance to your front yard.

Moreover, it needs no mowing, no specific water content, no wilting issues and so on. So, landscaping with artificial grass is really easy and frugal!

Beautify the corners of the house

Whether it is a part of your living room or study room, the empty angular areas in between the walls look spectacular with greenery. You can accommodate a spray of artificial eucalyptus in a huge vase and give a green touch to that place.

MiaFleur says, “A great way to add lusciousness to a vase of flowers is to mix in some faux flowers and foliage. By doing this you get a really luxurious bouquet without spending a fortune. A bunch of flowers can be turned into something really special and eye-catching with the addition of a few faux ferns or eucalyptus and they last for years.’’

For just an approximate amount of $ 7, you can buy such an artificial eucalyptus spray from any specific store.

Hanging decor in the wall

When it’s about walls, pairing up flowers of different colours don’t create a significant impact. Rather, one single colour looks fantastic. It seems to be great if you decorate your walls with small buckets of artificial red begonias. Just make sure that you are considering the bamboo buckets for this purpose.

The cherry red colour of begonias goes really well with the classy and rustic brown colour of bamboo. You will get a far more dramatic effect in your home decor with such an arrangement. All that you need to do is just spend around $9 in premium shopping platforms like amazon.com and you are done!

Sophisticated bedroom

The bedroom has been considered as one of the ideal places to keep artificial flowers, especially the white ones. It gives an ultimate touch of chicness. Further, you can even use artificial plants and trees as bedroom wall art. It adds up a soft touch to the entire look.

Moreover, if you place a bunch of small white flowers in a glass vase just above your night table, it will look lovely. Of course, such flowers won’t cost you huge at all. All that you need to do is just spend no more than $10 and you will have a wonderful ambience in your bedroom.

Vigorous bathroom decor

Indoor artificial plants look fabulous when decorated in the bathroom. You can place the tiny artificial shrubs over the toilet or laundry. The other thrilling way can be keeping them in a quaint corner of the bathroom. It will give an excellent exuberance to the environment.

A couple of best options could be African violets and large darker green foliage (when you have a big bathroom). These plants are certainly the affordable ones which you can buy by spending just around $11. With these plants around, your bathroom will end up having a pretty lush look.

Artificial plant wall for a lavish look

A plant wall can really create a huge difference in the look of your living room. Believe it or not, it looks spectacular! With such decor, you can liven up the garden and living spaces of different sizes.

If you have got an expanded space, it’s better to go for multiple plant walls made of different artificial plants. Also, make sure that the wall is including some colourful flowers along with the greenery. It will give that ultimate beautiful look to your living area.

If you just browse through the wholesale online stores like dhgate.com, you can purchase a premium quality plant walls with awesome colours at an affordable rate.

So, what are you waiting for? If you want to upgrade the look of your living room in the best possible way, go for an artificial plant wall.

An inexpensive realistic approach

Of course, this piece of writing is all about fake plants but it doesn't mean that you can’t make them look real. You just have to take a couple of smarter strides and it’s easy to do that.

Whether it is your living room or bedroom, treating your artificial plants like the real ones will give the finest look. Just ditch the plastic container and transfer your artificial plants in a real pot or planter. The artificial bushes look great in this kind of decor. While you are doing so, just put all the dirt in the container to make it look like soil.

Once you’ve such a pot of artificial bushes with a real look, place it anywhere you want and stun your guests!

How much could be the price of such bushy plants? Not more than $10 obviously.

Aren’t these home decor ideas effective enough? Try them soon! Undoubtedly, you will have a perfect house to live in with a garden-fresh ambience all around.

About Author:

Cindy Mikulski is the free time writer and full-time internet surfer. She likes to work on making in-home life better in society. She lives like an entrepreneur to support her husband at the month ends.

from Otomo - Blog https://www.otomo.co.uk/blogs/news/using-artificial-plants-for-a-budget-friendly-home-decor-solution

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otomouk · 6 years ago

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Floor Lamps

A floor lamp can provide strong natural ambience to light up the whole living room; the bright focused light is necessary for your work in the office, or a gentle glow to change the mood in your bedroom. The floor lamps can be very versatile, they can fit quite easily in any corner of your room; the preferred location can be behind a sofa or in the middle of a foyer. The floor lamps are much easier to install than any other wired lighting system. A nice floor lamp can make outstanding changes to an otherwise ordinary room. Its stylish look, as well as the quality of light, makes it one of the best choices for home decor. Floor lamps are used to make an impact, to give an upgraded look to your space and to create a whole new atmosphere in your room. It is really important that you buy the suitable floor lamps with the perfect brightness and appropriate colour to create the desired visual effects.

Choosing a Floor Lamp

Selecting a suitable floor lamp is a very easy process if you are sure about how you want to use it. Generally, floor lamps come in various designs and they use different kinds of lighting systems. The key factors that you need to know while choosing the floor lamp are:

The Height:

If you want the floor lamp to give proper task lighting for someone sitting on the desk or couch, then you definitely need to consider the height of the floor lamp. Or if are you looking to light up a specific area of your bedroom or living room, then also you need to have a proper idea about the height of the floor lamp. You also need to consider the height of the floor lamp if you have tall ceilings in your house. All of these factors will help you choose the floor lamp with the correct height to satisfy your needs. We know that a short lamp does not look nice in a room with high ceilings and that is why we need to be careful while selecting one.

The Base:

The base of the floor lamp plays an important part in the steadiness of the lamp. A regular floor lamp with a large base will be more difficult to tip over than one with a comparatively small base. Also, lamp bases are available in glass, wood, metal or ceramic.

The Finish:

The finishing touch on the floor lamp usually carries through the sockets, pole and base. The very usual finishes for floor lamps include oil-rubbed bronze, antique bronze, brushed nickel and the special satin nickel.

The Lamp Shade:

There are a few modern style floor lamps that do not make use of the lamp shades but it is good to have them, as you can add any colour and any style to the lamp with a custom lampshade. Sometimes, the lamp shade also cuts down on the intensity of the brightness of the lamp, as it provides shade to your eyes from the glowing bulb. You need to understand that different materials will permit different intensities of light to be visible through the lampshade.

For different areas in your house, you need different types of floor lamps. This needs a little bit of explanation:

For The Living Room:

As the living room is the centre of attraction of a house, you need to very careful about the floor lamp you choose for this section. It is the place where you sleep, play with your kids and sometimes welcome your friends or special guests. And that is why most people want their living room to look gorgeous and inviting. For that specific effect, an ideal floor lamp for the living room should be able to light up the entire place with a warm illumination. And when combined with other light sources, it should produce a total light output of two thousand lumens or even higher. If you want a gorgeous, bright atmosphere in the living room, the suitable temperature for your lights or bulbs should be higher than three thousand five hundred Kelvin. To make it comfortable, cosy and inviting, a temperature somewhere between twenty-seven thousand Kelvin and three thousand five hundred Kelvin will do fine.

For the Bedroom:

For your bedroom, you will not need a light of a very high intensity and very high colour temperature. The reason behind it is that very bright blue light can trigger your brain to produce a specific kind of hormone that keeps you alert and awake, even if your body needs rest. While this seems to be very useful during the day, at night, such blue light keeps you from falling asleep and that is harmful to your health. So, it is very important that you have a light of a lower intensity and very low colour temperature in your bedroom. The total intensity of light output in the bedroom should not exceed the limit of four thousand lumens. And the light colour temperature can be between two thousand Kelvin three thousand Kelvin. A nice and warm ambience in the bedroom will provide a trusting, relaxed and intimate atmosphere which will make you feel happy and ready to have a good night's sleep.

For The Reading Room:

As you already know, that the reading room should be warm, comforting, and the atmosphere must help in concentrating. It is the place where you need to find yourself in order to focus and study. Generally, a good floor lamp for your reading room is the one that emits enough light for you to read and understand the small printed letters. The floor lamp should also set the mood for reading, and increase the unique style of the nook or the corner without taking up too much space. For these reasons, a floor lamp that provides light with a colour temperature of two thousand seven hundred Kelvin to four thousand Kelvin will be ideal for your reading room.

For Important or Detailed Tasks:

For important works that need a high level of concentration like crafting, data inputting, article writing, exam copy checking or hand embroidery, the best floor lamp is the one that permits you to carefully watch every single detail of what you are looking at. Also, it should be extremely function-based in order to help you focus on your work. Effective brightness is the necessary criterion of any good floor lamp, while you are using it for detailed tasking. The light it provides should be bright enough to stimulate your creativity and imagination. Talking about the light colour temperature, it should be at least four thousand Kelvin and up to six thousand Kelvin. Any light in this specific range has a similar effect on your brain as the daylight. It triggers an alert and makes you feel energetic on a bright sunny day, making you ready and motivated to get your work done.

Floor lamps are not only about the type of lighting they provide but also about the style and portrayal of uniqueness. The floor lamp that you choose contributes to the overall decoration of your room. So, here are a few examples of various floor lamps that you can buy:

The Swing Arm Floor Lamp:

A normal swing arm floor lamp permits you to adjust the position and light design of the lamp based on what type of particular lighting you need at that specific moment. If you want the floor lamp to shine on a particular area, you can just move the attached arm to adjust the light intensity and you can avoid the hazardous job of picking up and moving the entire floor lamp to that place.

The Torchiere Floor Lamp:

As you may already know, a torchiere floor lamp increases the ambient light in the bedroom or living room by creating an uplight. The light produced by torchiere floor lamp spreads out of the top of the lamp. It is an excellent choice if you want a floor lamp to boost the amount of overall light in your room. Though, the torchiere floor lamps are not good choices if you need task lighting.

The Tower Floor Lamp:

A tower floor lamp is used to satisfy two different purposes. It gives a gentle bright glow and accent lighting in the living room or bedroom. When the Tower floor lamp is not turned on, it resembles a piece of sculpture, thus enhancing the beauty of your room. There are a few Tower floor lamps that feature a beautiful wire frame that is wrapped up in tissue paper or in a very thin fabric.

The Table Floor Lamp:

The Table floor lamp is different from the usual Table lamp. A Table floor lamp is a multi-tasking floor lamp. It is a unique kind of floor lamp with a round or square table attached to the centre of it. This type of floor lamp turns out to be an amazing option when you do not have much space in the room and would like to have a table and a lamp. You can easily find various floor table lamps made from wood or from glass. These Table floor lamps provide both space for work and the required amount of style factor.

Club Floor Lamp:

A Club floor lamp is also known as the proper traditional floor lamp. It provides an essential narrow column with the light on top of it. There are different Club lamps out there from which you can choose the preferred one. Some of them come with a decorative column or stand while others feature a stand-alone plain pole that attaches to a basic lampshade at the top of the floor lamp.

The Multi-Way or Tree Floor Lamp:

A multi-way or tree floor lamp is a special kind of floor lamp with more than one light on it. You can easily position the lights at different angles, based on your requirements. Though, there are a lot of people who like to use these kinds of lamps on their workplaces you can also find a suitable Tree floor lamp which is sophisticated enough to be used in your room.

The Candelabra Floor Lamp:

As we know, a candelabra floor lamp is like a multi-way floor lamp that can hold multiple light bulbs. But, the light bulbs on a candelabra floor lamp are generally smaller than the light bulbs on a regular multi-way floor lamp.

The Arcing Floor Lamp:

The Arcing floor lamp provides a long arm that attaches to the base or stand of the lamp. The long arm permits the lamp to reach out over furniture or anything else that is present in your room. An arcing floor lamp is a nice option to decorate your living room or bedroom. They can light up a very big area and it is a good option to go for if you are not fond of chandeliers.

from Otomo - Blog https://www.otomo.co.uk/blogs/news/floor-lamps

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otomouk · 6 years ago

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How The Bedroom Can Influence Your Sleep

Do you find it hard to switch off at night? Does your bedroom operate more in terms of functionality than anything else? Read on...

With research suggesting that adults need an average of 7-9 hours sleep a night, we’re throwing the spotlight on the bedroom. We’ll be looking at how you can prime this space to ensure you get a great night’s sleep as often as possible - exploring everything from colours and lighting to furniture and furnishings.

Emanate warmth with your colour palette

There’s no denying that colour plays an integral role in the aesthetic of any space - and in the bedroom, it’s arguably more important than anywhere else. Starting from scratch may seem like an exciting prospect, but with so many colours to choose from, how do you know where to begin? For a room that emanates warmth and relaxation, deep blues, rich purples and indulgent reds are the way to go - so arm yourself with some tester paint pots and spend some time experimenting.

From terracotta tiles on a feature wall to decorative hangings that align with your colour palette, you can use your choice of hues to create a cosy hub where you love to spend time. Remember that your entire room doesn’t need to be awash with one colour - but you don’t want to overdo it either - so find which colours work best together and go from there. Without busy, vibrant colours adorning your room, you’ll be able to switch off and drift off more easily.

Find your perfect furniture fit

All too often, bedroom furniture is chosen out of necessity, and, while the need for practicality is obvious, in your quest to create a cosy bedroom, there are other things to consider. From the amount of floor space it takes up to the way it blends in with your colour scheme, your furniture might just be more important than you realise. Give your room a quick scan to assess what each piece of furniture is actually contributing to the room and if it’s even doing its job in terms of practicality.

Next, think about your bed and in particular, your mattress. While price will undoubtedly be a factor when it comes to choosing your bed, keep in mind that this is where you’ll sleep every night - so it’s well worth putting aside a little extra cash to be able to enjoy a mattress that’s suited to your body shape and sleeping requirements. Shop around for a bed, mattress and then bedding that best suits you to enjoy a truly great night’s sleep.

Encourage ambience with your lighting

From backlights on screens to the wattage of floor lamps, lighting has a major part to play when it comes to optimising your bedroom. While stark white lighting will likely lead to headaches and an inability to switch off, ambient lighting can have the opposite effect. So while you may not have considered colours or strengths of bulbs, now’s the time!

Whether you’re opting for spotlights or recessed lighting, taking control of these aspects of your room’s decor can make all the difference. Whether you’re spending the evening winding down or indulging in some pre-bedtime reading, dimmer switches, bedside lamps and even candles are all great ways to bathe your bedroom in a warm and inviting light. With the ambience of the room taken care of, when bedtime rolls around, you’ll be that much more relaxed.

Accessorise with soft furnishings

Nothing says cosy quite like a room adorned with soft furnishings - and in your quest for the ultimate relaxation space, chunky throws, heavy curtains and fluffy rugs can be used to achieve exactly that. This is particularly appealing in the winter months when extra furnishings can contribute to a warmer and more inviting space. In the summer, cosy is probably not quite what you’re looking for - so it’s important you switch up your room for the season.

While even in winter you might not be a fan of removing throw pillows from your bed every evening and repositioning them each morning, there are other ways to incorporate added extras into your room. Get creative with bed curtains, bed runners and comfy duvets to make your very own haven away from the hustle and bustle of modern life. Whether you’re handy with a sewing machine or completely lack creativity, there are a whole number or online resources that can help you save time and money, all while adding personality to your space.

So, whether you’re the sort of person who simply can’t drop off to sleep unless there’s background noise or you need complete darkness before you can doze, it’s worth thinking about what an optimum bedroom space looks like to you. This way, you can say goodbye to counting sheep and hello to a restful night’s sleep.

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from Otomo - Blog https://www.otomo.co.uk/blogs/news/how-the-bedroom-can-influence-your-sleep

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otomouk · 6 years ago

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Using Artificial Plants for a Budget Friendly Home Decor Solution

Who doesn’t like to live in a fresh and lively home?

Right?

How to do so?

Explore the following ideas:

Potted faux in the home’s entrance

This style will finally end up giving your entryway an elegant look. Also, as they are not the actual trees, there is no chance of affecting the building’s foundation, plumbing etc.

Potted faux are quite affordable with an approximate price of around $15. So, you don’t have to break your banks at all.

Small succulents in the centre table

Above that, it won’t cost you even huge for such a decoration. The small potted succulents are usually worth no more than just $ 15.

Accentuate the kitchen

A pink tint besides the window

Thus, artificial flowers will be the best choice! You can decorate a bunch of vibrant pink artificial ranunculus including two buds (one large and one small) in a glass vase.

Finally, keep the vase beside the window pane for the ultimate mesmerizing look! It is just around $ 7 for such a bunch of flowers.

Landscape design with artificial grass

Moreover, it needs no mowing, no specific water content, no wilting issues and so on. So, landscaping with artificial grass is really easy and frugal!

Beautify the corners of the house

For just an approximate amount of $ 7, you can buy such an artificial eucalyptus spray from any specific store.

Hanging decor in the wall

Sophisticated bedroom

Vigorous bathroom decor

Artificial plant wall for a lavish look

If you just browse through the wholesale online stores like dhgate.com, you can purchase a premium quality plant walls with awesome colours at an affordable rate.

So, what are you waiting for? If you want to upgrade the look of your living room in the best possible way, go for an artificial plant wall.

An inexpensive realistic approach

Of course, this piece of writing is all about fake plants but it doesn't mean that you can’t make them look real. You just have to take a couple of smarter strides and it’s easy to do that.

Once you’ve such a pot of artificial bushes with a real look, place it anywhere you want and stun your guests!

How much could be the price of such bushy plants? Not more than $10 obviously.

Aren’t these home decor ideas effective enough? Try them soon! Undoubtedly, you will have a perfect house to live in with a garden-fresh ambience all around.

About Author:

from Otomo - Blog https://www.otomo.co.uk/blogs/news/using-artificial-plants-for-a-budget-friendly-home-decor-solution-1

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otomouk · 6 years ago

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Best Bathroom Extractor Fan UK

At the mention of the word “Fan”, what picture comes to mind? Probably something with three blades hanging from the ceiling designed to cool the surroundings, or maybe a desktop fan? But, a bathroom extractor fan is quite different, generally consisting of many blades, and will most often be used in bathrooms or kitchens and not Bedrooms or living rooms.

Bathroom extractor fans are designed specifically for extracting the moist air from bathrooms and come in a range of options and configurations depending on the buyer’s budget, requirements and the size of the bathroom they are to be installed in.

Bathroom Extractor Fan Points to Consider

A bathroom extractor fan serves a very serious purpose. Most bathrooms are moist and humid places for at least a small portion of each day, this excessive moisture remains in the air unless the bathroom is well vented, and if it’s not, then a range of issues can occur, including mould, mildew and rot. The primary reason to install an extractor fan is to eliminate the moisture content in the atmosphere and keeps the bathroom dry and well circulated. The bathroom fan can also help eliminate any odours that are frequently produced in bathrooms, making space feel fresh for the next person to use the bathroom. Having an effective extractor fan will greatly reduce the chance of mould or mildew and can also help wooden furniture or fittings from warping. Basically, an extractor fan is a must-have option that can and will prevent serious problems from occurring over time and it will save you money.

You may also like: The Best Electric Toothbrush

Unless you’re an experienced bathroom fitter, chances are that you know very little about extractor fans, there ratings, options and settings. That doesn’t mean you can’t make an informed decision with a small amount of research. There are some basic features which you should consider when buying an extractor fan:

Size of the fan – the size of the fan. A bigger fan will generally be able to extract more air faster compared to a smaller fan, however, the fittings are pretty standardized these days so the fan size will often not vary by a large amount. Additionally, many small size fans are very capable of extracting significant amounts of air. The size of the extractor fan would depend upon the size of your bathroom. Any heavy duty models on the market are unlikely to suit a domestic setting.

Capacity of the fan – So this is one of the major features that could become the deciding factor when choosing an extractor fan. The capacity of the fan means the amount of air the extractor will extract from the inside of your bathroom in a given time period. This potential of the fan is measured in Cubic Feet Meter (CFM). The more the CFM is, the larger the amount of air it will suck in and throw outside. So, how do you know how powerful your bathroom fan should be? As a rule of thumb, measure the square foot of the bathroom and then multiply it by the height of the ceiling and then divide by 7.5. This should give you a rough idea of how powerful your CFM should be.

The sound of the fan – The noise produced by the extractor fan can be a point of contention if it’s too loud. It is calculated in Decibels i.e. dB. A fan which is quiet and sucks in a large amount of air from the surroundings is considered good. In the case of extractor fans, anything beneath 30dB is considered excellent and will barely be heard. To help you understand how loud an extractor fan is, please review the table below:

10 dB(A) The equivalent of leaves gently rustling in the distance. 20 dB(A) The background noise in a live TV studio. 30 dB(A) A very quiet bedroom in the middle of the night. 40 dB(A) Library background noise. 50 dB(A) The sound in the average house during the day. 60 dB(A) The sound of conversation at 1 metre.

Wall mounting – There are various options available to mount an extractor fan in your bathroom. Some are better suited to wall mounting while others are designed for ceilings, refer to the manufacturer’s instructions to get an idea of what the fan has been designed for. The one thing that you should always consider is that all extractor fans should be mounted at a high point that is well above the ground. The reason behind this strategy is that all the warm air of the room rises above and the cooler air sinks in to replace the warmer air. The extractor if mounted near the floor would be unable to suck out the warm moist air. So, mount them high for maximum efficiency.

These are the important facts to consider when buying an extractor fan. Now we’ll review our top 10 bathroom extractor fans that are available to buy today. We’ll try and provide details as to why a particular fan is a good choice as well as something to suit every budget and requirement.

Manrose QF100T Quiet Extractor Fan

It’s incredibly quiet even when you’re physically very close to it, it barely registers above a whisper. This quiet fan is excellent at incorporating high extraction.

It can be mounted on the wall as well as ceiling and appropriate for bathrooms and toilets.

It comes with performance improving vane system improving performance and throughput.

Check Price & Customer Reviews on Amazon

Details

The noise produced by the product is ONLY 27 dB (A) and that too at 3m level. The interesting fact about the noise level of this product is that it produces 60% low noise in comparison to standard extractor at level 4 (100m).

The capacity of this fan is quite impressive. The extraction is 75 CFM. That is 21 litres per second. This capacity would be considered excellent.

Another important thing that this product says about the quality of the material from which it is manufactured. It claims about high endurance power. It is being manufactured from ABS thermoplastic for excellent durability.

Thermoplastic is high-grade plastic like Nylon and Acrylic which can reform its shape when heated up and can endure a high degree of temperature and stress.

The maximum electricity consumption of this extractor fan is 4.8 watts.

It comes with integrated back draught shutters.

Specs

Sound level 27 dB

Extraction (airflow capacity) 75 CFM

Weight 621 gm

Dimensions 17.6 × 14.4 × 17.4 cm

Our Review

Pros

Air extraction capability- This product is extremely fine when it comes about extracting the air with full speed and efficiency. The 21 cubic feet meter per hour air extraction is very much able to keep your bathroom clean and dry.

Lightweight – Now again this product is very lightweight, which allows it to be mounted easily on wall or ceiling. The weight of 621 gm is very light on the walls which do not damage the inner layers of the wall and protects the wall integrity.

High Rating- It is one of the highest rated extractor fans on Amazon. 67% of customers have given it a 5-star rating which shows its efficiency and truth claims.

Cons

The sound level – Although the product is quieter than other normal extractors, it is not completely silent. Reviewers who have used this have given a mixed response about the sound. The sound produced would be quieter in small bathrooms and non-echoic place while it becomes more noticeable in quiet surroundings.

The packaging issue – The package comes with loose springs which can be misplaced as it is hard to see it when you unpack the product. These springs are there for mounting purposes and in our opinion should be better packaged in order to avoid accidental disposal

Manrose MF100T Mixed Flow In-Line Extractor Fan – Best In-Line

This product has a powerful inbuilt duct, which is designed to extract high air flow with high pressure and in relatively low noise.

The sound produced by the product is 25 dB, which is quite good in comparison to other similar products.

The extraction rate of this fan is 245 CFM i.e. it can extract around 68 litres per second.

Check Price & Customer Reviews on Amazon

Details

Power consumption is low at around 25 watts.

This product claims that it has a high standard ball bearing which ensures its long working life. The minimum working hours will be 30,000 hours i.e. it can be used a minimum for 3 years.

There is the option of 3-speed setting which allows a person to run this fan at the required speed.

The installation of this product is easy and can be assembled easily and also be disassembled from the duct very easily for repair or shifting it to another room. The special design of the product allows the engineer to remove it from rigid duct installations.

It has class 2 double insulation, which doesn’t require an earth. There is no possibility of shock and it is safe for children and adults.

This product also has run on a timer which can be set and it is in conjunction with the room light. Whenever the room light is switched on the fan starts automatically and even if the light is turned off the timer allows the fan to continue to run.

In brief, this table shows all the details

Specs

Shipping Weight 2 kgs

Batteries requirement No

Extraction rate 68 litres per second, 245 CFM

Sound produced 25 dB

Power consumption 25 watts

Item dimension 31 × 20 × 25 cm

Our Review

Pros

The best thing about this product is its low sound production. The sound produced by this fan is just 25 dB, which can be considered quieter in comparison to the similar products. The majority of the customer’s decision to buy this fan depends upon its low sound, and that is why probably it is a favourite among people.

It is the highest rated and best seller extractor fan on Amazon. Its efficiency makes it a high edge product among customers.

The extraction rate of air and moisture is good. The 245 CFM is nice in conjunction with a low sound.

The lightweight is another reason people tend to spend money on this product. The lightweight and good working design allow it to be installed anywhere in the room. The lightweight and good efficiency make it suitable to be installed in big as well as small bathrooms.

Cons

The price of the product is a little high in comparison with similar products.

As it’s in-line It doesn’t come with backdraft shutters.

Xpelair C4TS 10.16cm Simply Silent Contour Extractor Fan Timer Delay – Best Overall Buy

This is the number one seller on Amazon.

The product is super sleek and the super easy fascia to clean by just wiping it out with a soft cloth which allows it to super easy maintenance.

This product is incredibly quiet at just 16db. It’s barely audible even in the quietest of surroundings.

It is BEAB approved which ensures it is safe to use.

Check Price & Customer Reviews on Amazon

Details

The extraction rate in this product has two options i.e. 15 litres per second and 21 litres per second. You can select the extraction rate and it can be set at the time of installation.

It can be twisted and clicked for easy maintenance. The hand can reach easily to the back and corners for swiping of the dirt.

It is suitable for walls, ceilings or panel fittings of bathrooms and kitchen area.

It comes with a 2-year manufacturer guarantee. It means the parts can be replaced when wear and tear occur naturally and not by mishandling the product.

The brief details are in this table

Specs

Dimension 21 × 14.5 x21 cm

Power consumption 240 V

Weight 81.6 gm

Shipping weight 821 g

Batteries requirement No

Sound produced 16 dB

Our Review

Pros

The low sound production is the greatest quality of this product. It is high performing extractor fan with the lowest sound possible. It has been considered the quietest extractor fan in the market.

The design of the product is again a plus point which is stylish, sleek and easy to maintain. The twist and click of the extractor allow the user to clean the fascia or back with ease. The square stylish design is enough to be suited in any of your stylish great bathroom or kitchen.

The easy to install design makes it another great product in this range. The built-in quick fit clamp makes this product fixed in any wall or ceiling.

The price is quite affordable. This product is best among its competitor.

54% of customers have given it 5 stars.

Cons

The material of the product could be a problem. It is a plastic product and some of the customers on Amazon have claimed the material of low quality.

Although it claims to be the simple silent machine by the company with as low as 16 dB sound, once it starts to accumulate dirt the sounds produced by the fan will increase.

Xpelair 93225AW 4- Inch Extractor Fan – Best for Budget

This is one of the best extractor fans in the lower price range. If you are thinking of buying a low-cost extractor fan for your bathroom or kitchen then it could be a good option. It has the traditional grill style design with a run-on-timer option.

This product is compliant to Part F building Rags. IPX4 rated and can be mounted on wall or ceiling.

It is manufactured with ABS plastic which is corrosion free and gives the product a stylishly cool look.

Check Price & Customer Reviews on Amazon

Details

The product gives you only a single option for setting and it can’t be operated remotely.

It comes with the option of the timer. The timer can be set from 30 seconds to 30 minutes.

Specs

Dimensions 15 × 9 × 15 cm

Power consumption 240 V

Weight 49.9 gm

Shipping weight 481 g

Extraction power 21 liters/s, 73 CFM

Fan power 0.78W

Our Review

Pros

The most attractive feature of the product is its price. Anyone who wants to buy a simple extractor fan for their small bathrooms or kitchen would consider it to be the best option.

This product is most suitable for extracting moisture or dampness from the bathroom.

It gives you the option of mounting either on wall or ceiling.

Cons

The option of one setting for extraction. But I think it is enough for this product as it is small and cheap. The price range compensates for the limited setting option.

Do not expect much from this product as it only for the simple extraction purpose.

The design of the extractor fan is quite traditional with grill front design. But again this design makes it efficient in its work by allowing the air to pass it thoroughly.

This product does not claim to be one of the best extractor fans in the market. It also does not claim to give you multiple options for your bathroom. The reason I included this product in the list of the best extractor fans list because it is a simple product and delivers on its claim. It simply extracts the moisture in your bathroom and that is an extractors job. You may not get the best quality, but then the price range should be kept in mind. 54% customers in the Amazon have given it a 5-star rating which shows it's popularity. Therefore, if you live alone and are planning to buy a simple extractor fan in the low budget, then it could be a better option and you can definitely give it a thought.

Envirovent SIL100T “Silent” Bathroom Extractor Fan – Best for Larger Bathrooms

It is one of the quietest fans in the market and it has been awarded the Quiet Mark Award 2013.

As said above it is IP45 rated which indicates about its safety and compatibility.

Check Price & Customer Reviews on Amazon

Details

The extraction rate of this fan is impressively 26 litres per second i.e. 96 CFM. The product claims that this is one the highest extraction rate in any 4” axial fan.

The power consumption of the product is 8 watts, which is quite energy efficient.

One of the reasons it is a customers’ favourite is the low sound produced by the fan. The 26.5 dB sound is considered the quietest among the 4" axial fan extractor. (In this list the lowest sound is 16 dB produced by Xpelair C4TS model).

Point to be noted: the product comes with the timer option but it will only work with 3 wires+ earth setting. If you have only two connections, this unit will not operate. You should have permanent live+ switched live+ neutral connection to make it operable. (Company statement)

Specs

Unit dimension 16.6 × 16 × 13.6 cm

Weight 680 g

Batteries requirement No

Sound 26.5 dB (quite low)

Power consumption 8 watts

Awards Quiet Mark Award 2013

Our Review

Pros

This product delivers on its claim of providing good extraction rate with low sound possible. With an extraction rate of 96 CFM and 26 dB sound, it is definitely one of the best extractors on the list.

It has a stylish design which allows the customer to mount it in the living room, bathroom or it can go well with your stylish kitchen cabinet. The white colour of the product matches with any of the things.

About 68% of customers have given it a 5-star rating, which is enough to derive that it is highly likened by the Amazon purchaser and have performed on its claim.

The extraction of steam and moisture is fast and the motor of the product is powerful. The quietness of the item has already been discussed which is impressive.

The overall rating from my side would be 4.7 out of 5.

Cons

Over time there have reports of noise levels increasing. This is likely due to an accumulation of dirt but it’s worth bearing in mind.

The best part is its price which is not too high and the performance is quite impressive.

All the above extractor fans are the best products on the list. You can choose any of the top products depending upon the requirement and your budget. All the above companies are standard makers of quality product and so that customers have shown their trust in them.

5 Benefits of installing an extractor fan

It doesn’t matter how much we clean our house every day or how much we vacuum carpets and curtains on a regular basis, our home needs constant dusting and cleanliness. The same goes for the most important part of the house i.e. kitchen and bathrooms. Both of the places need regular cleaning as they are responsible for our healthy lifestyle. The kitchen holds lots of heat and smoke while our bathrooms hold a lot of moisture and mould could arise. The bathroom doors could warp out quickly due to damp surroundings and can host a lot of germs and bacteria that is enough to make you sick anytime. The rainy season increases the problem and everyone tries to keep their home absolutely dry. Here comes the role of an extractor fan that not only keeps the surrounding dry but also helps proper ventilation in the room.

It controls the humidity of the room – the basic function of an extractor fan is to suck in the moisture and keeps the surrounding dry. The warm air rises up and dry and cool air sink in the room. An extractor installed in the upper part of the wall suck in quickly the warm and wet air and therefore the outside cool air fills the place. This whole process controls the humidity proportion of the bathroom or kitchen or wherever it is placed.

It controls the fumes, odours, and heat – A single extractor fan installed in your kitchen can make your cleaning very easy. It also makes one’s health improves a lot gradually. How? Let’s understand. The kitchen while cooking suddenly fills up with a lot of smoke and fumes. The dry and small particle of smoke which can’t be seen with naked eyes enters our lung through breathing. These particles settle down in the lungs and gradually it reduces the efficiency of our lungs. Another problem with the fumes is that it blocks the nostrils; irritate the eyes of children and elderly people. An extractor sucks in the fumes and any odour present in the kitchen and helps you keep yourself healthy in the long run.

It helps in keeping the walls and fabric in good condition- if you are in the habit of smoking, then this could be a problem for your house walls and furniture and fabric. The odour of the smoke gets absorbed in your fabrics which can only be eliminated through washing or dry cleaning. The smoking can also make a film of tar on your house furniture, doors, windows, and walls. The black thin film of tar can only be seen when you wash your door, the water could be seen turning into black colour with the tar coming down with water. An extractor helps you to clean the tar every day by sucking in the black smoke in the air and throw it out outside of the room. It maintains the health of your house walls and also makes your expensive cloth go a long way. Isn’t it great?

It cools down the kitchen and absorbs heat from the bathroom – The single extractor in your kitchen can actually cool down the room by sucking in the heat generated by light, gas stove and other electrical appliances. It has been discussed enough here that how warm air goes up and the cool air from outside sinks in to replace the hot air. The extractor absorbs the hot air going upside and fills the kitchen with cool and dry air.

Absorb smoke – an extractor can be very useful for the area which usually sees the rise of hot smokes from any source like a heated oven and heat chambers. The basements of some areas operating in some hot gases and hot electric appliances being used can use an extractor to absorb the smoke efficiently. This smoke can choke the windpipes of people and can be extremely dangerous. It is always advisable to install an effective extractor fan in areas like this so that any unfortunate happening can be averted.

Types of Extractor fans

There are varieties of extractor fans available in the market. You need to have a brief idea about all of them so that you can purchase an extractor that will suit your needs. There are basically three types of extractor fans.

The Axial – These are low power fans which need to be ducted at a short distance. It should be installed near the exit point, so that 2-3m of ducting covers the distance. It is suitable for most of the rooms.

The centrifugal – These are more powerful in comparison to the above extractor fan. They make noise and due to more power are good for larger bathrooms.

The inline – these are the most powerful extractor fans. They are used where there is no direct access to the outside wall. The ducting can go as long as 50m and therefore it is used in the place where the exit option is not easily available.

Installing an Extractor Fan

Install the extractor as far as possible from the ground. It must be able to capture the warm air rising up in the room.

Install the extractor as near to the damp area or the odour source so that it can effectively suck in the odours or moisture and keeps the room clean and odourless.

To promote effective airflow through extractor use the shortest and the straight duct tube especially in the bathroom.

If the duct is passing through any unheated damp place, then insulate it properly so that any level of condensation can’t take place. Condensation stops the effective airflow.

The warm air that an extractor sucks should be vented outside of the room. The collection of warm and humid air in the loft would not be good for the room’s electrical circuit and it can lead to corrosion.

The ducts used in the extractor should be vertical so that condensation of water droplets can be averted.

Replacing an Existing Extractor Fan

If you do not want to change all the system and you just want to upgrade the current extractor then you must consider some things. The upgrading of the old extractor fan with a new fan will only require simple assembling of the new product. The directions in the manual will be easy enough to understand by a novice. The old duct, wires, and exhaust venting need not be changed, but only reused with the new extractor fan.

Make sure that all the ducts, wires and venting hose is in good condition and in good shape. You should also check other little details like the size and dimensions of new extractor fan so that it can be fitted easily with old wires and ducts.

But what about the installation of whole new extractor fan? How can it be done? Installing a new extractor fan is not hard, but it certainly tougher than upgrading your old fan. Follow the steps given below and relax.

Wherever you want to install a new extractor, make sure the electrical connection is present and if it is not then tapped it into.

The next step is to line up the wiring from which the extractor fan will be connected. Buy some length of good standard wire from the market and build a connection.

Now if you want to install the extractor on the ceiling or wall, that place/region should be cut to fix it.

The Ducting of the system should start from the extractor and ends to the exit point. The duct takes out the inside air outside.

Finally, the exhaust grill should be fixed outside of the room or window.

For safety, all the wires and joints should be covered properly to avoid any short circuit or electric shock. The covering also acts as the outermost layer protecting the system inside from air and water

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from Otomo - Blog https://www.otomo.co.uk/blogs/news/best-bathroom-extractor-fan-uk

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otomouk · 6 years ago

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6 Interior Design Ideas for Your Bedroom Décor: Trends in 2018

The bedroom has always been known as the place for sleep and relaxation, however, it is often the most overlooked room when it comes to thoughtful design or layout. With our busy lifestyles and fast-moving daily routines, we all need a place to call our “safe spot” or “quiet haven”. The bedroom serves just that purpose.

The trends in 2018 are moving back towards creating a space in your bedroom that is both functional and peaceful. One that reflects our need for peace and quiet yet our desire to do more. Since the bedroom is most often the only place in the house parents can get a reprieve from their children, it should be designed to adult specifications, not with cartoon-like colours and décor. Same for children’s bedrooms; they should be designed with children’s functional needs and interests in mind without being too cluttered or unorganized.

These 6 interior design ideas for your bedroom décor focus more towards an adult bedroom space and the trends that are being seen in 2018 for creating the perfect restful space with a mix of function and formality.

Choose Your Wall Colour Wisely

It goes without saying that colour choices can affect your moods and even your sleep patterns. There was a study conducted which examined the wall colours of 2000 homes and measured the amount of sleep the occupants were likely to get on average. It was concluded that blue was the most favourite colour for a restful night sleep. The study doesn’t define a specific shade of blue that works best, so there is some flexibility in the tone you wish to use, but with blue walls, you are more likely to average close to 8 hours of sleep per night.

If blue is not your favourite colour or you have nothing that matches, the other colour choices which still produce great sleep results are:

Yellow—known to help with relaxation and creating a comfortable, cosy environment

Green—gives a restful aura to your bedroom space

Silver—emulates moonlight and gives your bedroom a luxurious feel overall. Currently very trendy for 2018 including silver bedroom décor

Orange—the warmth of this colour gives you a cosy feeling while potentially helping with digestion. It is probably best to stick to lighter orange shades, however, since bright orange may keep your eye more alert and awake

Avoid browns, purples and greys since these colours tend to result in broken sleep, potential nightmares or at least dreams which are very vivid and non-restful sleep overall.

Custom Made Furniture

Not all bedrooms are created equally. Some are a rectangle, some are perfectly square. The one thing that is each has in common, however, is that there needs to be a couple of key furniture pieces. If you can, you could add several furniture items but even if you are on a budget, you could still enjoy the beauty of one or two custom made furniture pieces for your bedroom.

Custom made furniture allows you to have some input into what your pieces will look like and how they will best function for you and in your specific space. If you have a large floorplan, you have the option to use a good percentage on a custom-made bed, with an accent headboard. Depending upon your style and/or theme, you could choose certain textures or materials to be used in making your bed such as oak or mahogany or even steel.

Making Space for Daily Life

Although it is true that a bedroom should be a safe-haven from the hustle and bustle of the real world, it usually doesn’t happen that way. Many people find themselves finishing off a few last emails or invoices before unwinding in bed to watch some television or a movie. Sitting in bed with a laptop is always an option, but it can get stressful on your back, not to mention, your bed is a sanctuary not for work-related concerns.

If you have space available to utilize in your bedroom, it is a popular idea to create a small workstation. It doesn’t have to be a big elaborate office desk. A simple corner table with a small desk light and a chair of the proper height would work wonderfully. With adding these new furniture pieces, you have another opportunity to showcase your style or theme.

In bedrooms with limited space, you may opt for a wall-mounted fold-up table which can simply fold flat against the wall when not in use. These are very contemporary and functional. Alternatively, you could downsize your bed to a queen size if you currently have a king to save that much more space.

Televisions are very popular to have in bedrooms now to unwind before drifting off. A perfect solution to having a television in your room without using any square footage is a wall-mount bracket. They are generally easy to install and stable.

Accessorize, Accessorize, Accessorize!

It is not just important in the fashion world! Accessories can make your living space more unique, create the right atmosphere and showcase a little of your personality. When choosing accessories for your bedroom décor, don’t be afraid to step outside the box a little. Go for fun and funky, or bright and bold. These pieces are what often pull your theme or style together and not always “matchy”.

You can shop online for handmade, custom accessories on websites such as Etsy, where you will find some truly beautiful, unique décor items that will give you the “pop” you are looking for when designing your space. These could be throw pillows, floating shelves made from repurposed birch, one of a kind artworks and so much more. Just have some fun with it and make it your own.

Imperfection is Perfection

In 2018, the Japanese tradition of Wabi-Sabi has become a trendy concept for bedroom designs. In this practice, it is believed that nothing in life is perfect and that it is acceptable. This can be applied to your living space by having imperfect décors such as asymmetrical accent pieces, ageing wood, and even an unmade, crinkled up bed. The point is to express that imperfection is beautiful and is a part of life, like in the natural cycle of life with growth, decay and eventually death.

If having an unmade bed makes you cringe, you don’t have to go all the way with this trend. You can pick and choose some key points and ideas, such as using aged wood for your headboard and footboard, cracked or chipped vases and urns, frey-edged pillows and so much more. This trend is truly freeing since for so long we have strived for perfection in our designs. Wabi-Sabi allows more individualism and beauty in things we haven’t found to be beautiful in the past.

Luxurious Features and Add-in’s

Most people enjoy the luxuries found in hotel rooms or rented vacation homes but in the past, most people have felt these things weren’t attainable for their own home. In 2018, the trend is moving towards incorporating more luxurious finishes and add-ins to your bedroom space. Of course, most of these ideas are not absolutely “necessary” for the functioning and use of your bedroom space, however, they are nice to have and can be added to your room here and there as you wish.

Some of these luxurious ideas could include things like felt drawer liners, plush fabric-covered hangers in the closet and cashmere throw blankets. If you are more interested in technological trends, some luxurious items to have in your bedroom might include a touch-controlled system to use the lighting, television and any other device you wish to set up.

Even on a budget, you can treat yourself to a little luxury by adding in a leather bedside remote holder or a pull-out breakfast tray if you find yourself enjoying a snack or two while catching up on your favourite show in bed.

Go on and Get Trendy

Some people have a negative connotation associated with “trendy”, however, when it comes to bedroom design décor, the trendy ideas for 2018 are actually quite useful and functional. It is “OK” to be trendy!

Your bedroom should be a place of rest, relaxation and solitude, which means you should design it to your own individual tastes and personality. Using some of the listed ideas, you can easily create the perfect (or imperfect!) place to hideaway at the end of the day for quiet and peace or to finish off a few last work details before you unwind and enjoy a few luxuries of your space.

What it comes down to, in 2018, is individualism and creating a design that is right for your lifestyle and budget. You can enjoy the current trends on most budgets simply by modifying the items you choose. Popular, trending designs don’t have to means blowing your bank account any more. Go ahead and jump in, get creative and use some of these popular designs and décor ideas for that bedroom you have been longing for.

from Otomo - Blog https://www.otomo.co.uk/blogs/news/6-interior-design-ideas-for-your-bedroom-decor-trends-in-2018

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otomouk · 6 years ago

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The Best Cordless Vacuum Cleaners on the Market UK 2018

You will probably own at least 5 vacuum cleaners in your lifetime. Even the best of the best will eventually break down. There are certain things in life that you really can’t do without. A few that come to mind are tires, a cell phone, underwear and – you got it, a vacuum. Whether you own or rent your home, own a mansion or a one-room shack, you have a floor. That floor needs to be cleaned. You cannot survive without a vacuum. It’s just that simple.

It is important that when you buy a vacuum you choose one that best suits your needs at the time you are buying the vacuum. Perhaps you have a pet? Then you’d want to buy a vacuum that is great at picking up pet hair. If you have hardwood floors you will want a vacuum that can handle hardwood floors. The vacuum you select has everything to do with your household situation. It may have something to do with your wallet too.

Next Read: The Best Vacuum Cleaner UK 2018

Sometimes it makes sense to go for a high-end, expensive model and sometimes, especially if the vacuum is for a holiday home or rental property, it makes sense to buy a budget model. The good news is, there is something for everything. You can go on amazon.co.uk and find just about anything you need. You can certainly find any vacuum you’re looking for on that site. This article is going to highlight 5 vacuums, each of which is designed for a specific type of customer. Chances are you are one of these customers. If not, then pick whichever one tickles your fancy.

All of the vacuums discussed in this article are cordless. In this day and age, if you have the option to work with any cordless product, it makes sense to do so. They are more convenient, more economical, and less of a hassle. First, we will look at a vacuum that works really well on carpet. Most people have carpet somewhere in their home. Almost every vacuum out there works on carpet. But we want to show you one that was designed with carpet in mind. It will dig deep into the fibres to make sure the dirt, sand, glitter or anything else that embeds itself in your carpets get sucked up.

Then we will look at a vacuum that is a great choice for hardwood floors. Studies have shown that 100% of estate agents, when asked, prefer hardwood floors and will sell their clients on their notion of hardwood floors. Given this, there is a good chance that many people actually have hardwood floors. For them, we will review the perfect cordless vacuum for hardwood floors.

Whether you have carpet, hardwood, or a combination of both, chances are you may have a pet. What do all pet owners have in their house? Pet hair. You may not see it on your furniture. You may not find it on your clothes. But you will find pet hair on your floors. (Well, unless you have a hairless cat and then maybe you don’t have pet hair.) Because of this, vacuum companies now design and market vacuums specifically geared toward getting rid of pet hair. We will review the best one for you here.

Finally, we understand that people operate on different budgets. For some of us, spending over £500 on a vacuum is a drop in the bucket. Sure, we want to make sure that vacuum is a high-quality vacuum, but we don’t think twice about ordering an expensive vacuum. For others, it makes more sense to their wallet to buy a less expensive model. There are budget vacuums out there that work just as well (or even better, sometimes) than the high-end, luxury vacuums. We will review one here that is a reasonable and fair price but that also does a bang-up job of cleaning your floors.

One question you may be asking is why should you buy a cordless vacuum? The vacuums you have used for years worked just fine. But how many times have you tripped over the cord? How many times did you get ¾ of a room done and then realize the cord doesn’t reach the last part of the room? Corded vacuums are a thing of the past. I wouldn’t recommend throwing out your old one if it works just fine, but that’s not a good reason not to buy a new one. It’s always good to have a backup. Cordless vacuums are more convenient and easy to carry from room to room and from floor to floor. Any new vacuum you buy really should be cordless.

Best Cordless Vacuum for Carpets: Hoover FD22G

When choosing a cordless vacuum to use on your carpet, there a few things you want to look for. You want to look for a vacuum with high power. The more powerful the vacuum, the better it will be able to suck up dirt deep down in the carpet. You also want to make sure the vacuum has a good rotating brush roll.

The brush roll will shake loose sand and dirt from the carpet that the vacuum would otherwise miss. Finally, you want to get a cordless vacuum with a long battery life. It does take a bit longer to vacuum carpet than it does hardwood floors so you want to make sure your carpet cleaner will stay charged long enough to finish the job.

Check Price & Customer Reviews on Amazon

Description

One of the best vacuums on the market for vacuuming carpet is the Hoover FD22G Freedom Lithium 2 in 1 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner, 0.7 Litre in Silver or Grey. It is a 2-in-1 cordless vacuum with a removable handheld vacuum attached. It comes with a lithium-ion performance so you can rest assured it will pick up all of the dirt and debris embedded in your carpet. It does come with the rotating brush bar so it can shake loose all the dirt while you are vacuuming. It has a continuous power mode so you can get the job done in one try.

Convenience

For convenience, the Hoover FD22G Freedom Lithium 2 in 1 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner comes with a wall mount and all the accessories you will need to clean your home. The detachable handheld vacuum is ideal for hard to reach places or steps. Use the brush on furniture to remove dust or pet hair. It comes with the stick attachment you can use on corners, windowsills, or even blinds.

Compact Size and Lightweight

The Hoover Freedom Lithium vacuum comes in silver or grey. The sleek design is easy to manoeuvre around furniture and under tables. It is so lightweight you can easily carry it from room to room. If you don’t want to utilize the wall mount for storage, it can fit into any small closet due to its compact size. It’s easy to travel with due to its size and lightweight so it’s ideal to take with you when you travel.

Best Cordless Vacuum for Hardwood Floors: Dyson Cyclone V10

Hardwood floors are beautiful. They shine and make your home look updated and spacious. However, the problem with hardwood floors is that you can spot a dirty floor a mile away. Hardwood floors show every piece of dust, pet hair and dirt. Hardwood floors also show smears and scrapes. Sometimes, depending on your household traffic, you may have to clean them every day. If that is the case, it is time to buy a vacuum that will clean your hardwood floors easily, quickly and thoroughly.

You already know that when it comes to cleaning your hardwood floors, you have to be careful which vacuum you buy. You spend a lot of money having hardwood floors installed and refinished. You don’t want to risk destroying them by using the wrong product to clean it. Just because a lot of vacuums have a hardwood floor mode on their control panel does not mean that it is a good idea to use them on your hardwood floors. Make sure you buy a vacuum specifically designed for hardwood floors. Protect your home. Keep it clean.

Check Price & Reviews on Amazon

Which is best?

When it comes to cleaning your hardwood floors, battery operated vacuums are the way to go. Quite simply, hardwood floors are a lot easier to clean than carpet is and you want a lightweight vacuum that you can take from room to room and get the job done quickly. Also, the lighter the vacuum is, the less likely it can cause scratches on your hardwood floors. One of the best hardwood floor vacuums on the market is the Dyson Cyclone V10 Total Clean Cordless Vacuum Cleaner.

Features:

The Dyson Cyclone V10 is a cordless cleaner that delivers high power and performance. The V10 is a big improvement on its older brother model, the V8. It removes 25% more dirt than the previous model. Since it is powered by a digital motor, this vacuum can deliver over 60 minutes of non-stop cleaning power. This makes your job easier since you don’t have to worry about recharging the batteries mid-way through vacuuming your hardwood floors.

The Cyclone vacuum has a brush bar that houses a DC motor right inside it. The torque driver head transfers torque efficiently so that the bristles can get down and deep to suck up all the sand and dirt in your carpets. The brushbar also has anti-static carbon filaments that remove fine dust from floors, furniture and blinds.

The Dyson Cyclone V10 comes with “point and shoot” bin emptying so you don’t have to worry about needing to touch the dirt. The mechanism shoots the debris and the dust deep into the bin so there are no fly-aways. This keeps your carpet, your air, and your hands clean. Another great feature is that it transforms into a hand-held vacuum with a single click so you can get to small spills or little piles of dust in no time flat.

Finally, the Dyson Cyclone comes with 3 different power modes. It can be used on carpets, hardwood floors and tile. This means it can be used in every room of the house. Although it is known for its high-power hardwood cleaning, being able to use it on 3 different floor types does come in handy.

Benefits of the Dyson Cyclone

The Dyson Cyclone V10 is also great for people with allergies. It has a fully sealed filtration system which traps up to 99.87% of all allergens and other particles, leaving your home clean and healthy. It also comes with a wall-mounted docking system so you can conveniently store your vacuum when not in use. It is lightweight and portable so you can carry it easily from room to room and up the stairs to different levels of your home.

The Cyclone comes with several accessories and attachments so you can handle any job on your hardwood floors. And, whether you’re using an attachment or the upright cordless Dyson, it is quiet and energy efficient. You can vacuum your whole house without disturbing your family or pets.

Years ago, you needed to have a separate vacuum for your house and a small handheld vacuum for your car. The Dyson Cyclone V10 offers the best of both worlds. You can use the handheld vacuum to do your entire car since it is high-performance and comes with a long-lasting battery. You can get both your house and car done in one day.

Pricing and Availability

The Dyson Cyclone V10 does retail higher than many other vacuums. It comes in a stunning red shade with silver trim. One of the things about Dyson is that you are paying for the quality. Dyson technology is simply a class above the rest in many regards. They are typically the first amongst their competitors to introduce new technology and new features. Their vacuums are durable and last a long time. You really have to weigh your needs against the price. If you vacuum often, it is worth it to invest in a high-powered vacuum that is going to keep your floors clean and your air healthy.

The Dyson Cyclone V10 also comes with a sense of reassurance. Usually, Dyson offers a 30-day money back guarantee on all of their products. For the Cyclone V10, they increase the period to 90 days. If you are not happy with the Dyson Cyclone V10, simply contact Dyson, and they will issue a refund. Dyson will even pay for the shipping for the return.

The Cyclone also comes with 5-year parts and labour warranty. Once you receive your vacuum, go online to Dyson.com and register your product. Once you do this, you will receive a 5-year extended warranty for your vacuum and the attachments and parts.

Best Cordless Vacuum Cleaner for Pet Hair: Hoover FD22BCPET

We love our pets, even when they leave pet hair all over our floors and furniture. We love them, even more, when we are able to clean these lovely floors and furniture. If you have a pet, whether it is a cat or a dog, you need a vacuum that will handle pet hair and dander. It is not enough to simply run a regular vacuum these days. With all of the technology now available, you would be crazy not to take advantage of all of the pet-friendly vacuum cleaners on the market.

Most vacuums will boast that they pick up pet hair. And a good deal of pet hair will be collected by your average vacuum. However, you really want to look for a vacuum with the specific design to pick up pet hair. Sometimes this comes in the form of pet attachments. Some vacuums come with air filters that only emit clean air so you don’t have to worry about your house smelling like dog or cat while you’re vacuuming. One of the best pet vacuums on the market right now is the Hoover FD22BCPET.

Check Price & Customer Reviews on Amazon

Best Bet for Your Pet

The Hoover FD22BCPET Freedom Pets Lithium 2 in 1 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner, 0.7 Litre, Black/Turquoise is one of the best pet vacuums on the market. This vacuum comes with 22-volt cyclone technology so it has powerful suction for both dirt and pet hair. It has a motorized rotating brushbar which is great to use on carpet. (Caution: make sure you turn this off if using on hardwood floors.)

The Hoover Freedom Pets Lithium 2 does come equipped with a pet turbo brush unique to this model to grab and suck up all pet hair, dander and debris. You can use one of the attachments to vacuum your furniture and even your blinds or curtains to make sure you don’t have dander and fur on higher surfaces. Thanks to the removable handheld device, you can get into hard to reach places and even use it in your car or truck.

The suction will last for the life of the vacuum as long as you change the filter when it needs changing and don’t fill the debris bin higher than the “max” line. A lot of vacuums have great suction the first few months you use it and then over time lose most or all of their suction. You don’t want to buy a new vacuum every year. Get the Hoover Freedom, take good care of it, and enjoy it for many years to come.

Why the Hoover?

The Hoover Freedom Pets Lithium 2 vacuum is allergy rated so it recycles clean and healthy air. So not only will you have a home free of debris, pet hair and dust, but you will have clean air circulating while you vacuum. Since it is a 2-in-1 cordless vacuum, you have the option of using it like a regular stick vacuum or you can take the handheld and use it on smaller surfaces. The sleek design and bright turquoise colour scheme makes it a sunny addition to your home. Why not brighten up your day while you’re doing your chores?

The fact that this is a lithium-powered vacuum means that you will get long-lasting battery life out of the vacuum. The Hoover Freedom will provide you with at least 25 minutes of non-stop cleaning, long enough to complete the job in most homes or offices. The handheld unit and pet turbo brush make it easy to get stubborn dirt and pet hairs out of pretty much any surface. It’s perfect to use on floors, carpets, cars and furniture. It even comes with a washable filter so you save money by not having to purchase replacements.

The Hoover Freedom comes with two different attachments you can use to vacuum the stairs. This is usually the most difficult part of vacuuming (and probably the reason we all put it off until last.) Thanks to this model, you can use the mini-turbo brush which is ideal for small surfaces. This comes in handy when you want to do woodwork and windowsills too.

For those customers with arthritis, this vacuum comes with continuous power mode so you don’t have to hold the trigger in the whole time you vacuum. However, there is a mode where you can spot clean and use the trigger only when you are cleaning a small surface.

This vacuum has earned 5-star reviews and 92% of people who bought it said they would recommend it to a friend. It comes with a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty that covers all issues related to faulty manufacturing.

Where can you buy it?

Amazon also has a ton of customer reviews on this product so you can see for yourself what people who have bought this vacuum have to say.

Once you purchase your vacuum, make sure you go to Hoover.com and register your product. This will track the purchase for warranty and money-back guarantee purposes. It also makes it easier to get help ordering replacement parts. The make and model information will be stored with the manufacturer for future use.

Best Luxury Vacuum Cleaner: Bosch BCS122GB

Like we said earlier, chances are you’ll have to buy several vacuums in your lifetime. So why not buy the best? When you buy a car you certainly appreciate luxury, style and sophistication. So why not look for the same things in your vacuum? Sometimes, overpaying for a vacuum is just plain silly. If the vacuum is not going to work any better than your run-of-the-mill vacuum, why pay a lot of money for it? But sometimes higher priced products do offer higher quality performance.

One of the best high-end vacuums available right now is the Bosch BCS122GB Unlimited Cordless Vacuum. There are more expensive vacuums out there. You can pay well over 1000 pounds if you want to. However, there is no guarantee that a super expensive vacuum is going to do a super good job. You want to make sure that a high-end vacuum performs all of the functions that you need for your home and auto. Is it cordless? Does it have a long-lasting battery that doesn’t have a long recharge time? Is it light enough that you can carry it from floor to floor and room to room? You want to make sure you can manoeuvre the vacuum around furniture and corners.

Make sure your high-end vacuum comes with all of the necessary attachments. Whether you need upholstery brushes or pet attachments, if it doesn’t come with the vacuum itself, chances are you can order them from amazon.co.uk or from the manufacturer directly.

Check Price & Customer Reviews on Amazon

Features of the Bosch BCS122GB

The Bosch BCS122GB offers 360-degree cleaning, from top to bottom. You can clean from floor to ceiling including blinds, curtains and furniture. It comes with a crevice tool to reach those hard to reach corners and, well, crevices. The upholstery brush is perfect for drapes and furniture.

The Bosch BCS122GB provides continuous performance so you can go from room to room with ease. The high powered digital spin motor helps ensure that every dust bunny and piece of dirt is sucked up. The vacuum is fast-charging, in under an hour, so you don’t have to wait long between cleanings. With a 2 x 3Ah exchangeable 18V Bosch Power4ALL Li-Ion battery, the vacuum keeps a long charge so you can finish your whole house in one session.

The Bosch BCS122GB comes with easy filter cleaning with the RotationClean system unique to Bosch vacuums. It also comes with a cartridge filter that has a pure air membrane and a Hygienic Filter so it delivers clean exhaust air. It is equipped with an All Floor High-power brush and DigitalSpin Motor so you clean all kinds of floors. The vacuum brush will be kind to your hardwood floors and the DigitalSpin motor will make sure it gets deep down into the carpet and wood to suction all dirt, dust and pet hair.

Worth the Money

This Bosch vacuum is indeed worth the price of admission. This high performing cleaner leaves little room for improvement. You can use it on both carpet and hardwood floors. It picks up pet hair in one sweep so you don’t have to repeat moving the vacuum over and over in the same spot.

Earning 5-star ratings in all but one category, this vacuum excels in design, performance, and instructions. The only category it scored 4-stars was ease of use and this is because the canister can be hard to get on and off. It has a locking feature that can be a little tricky. But, with all the hair, dust and debris this unit will suck up, you’ll be happy to take a moment to unlock the canister and rid your home of so many allergens.

Drawbacks

No product is perfect. Customer and product reviews did reveal that the Bosch Unlimited was a little cumbersome to take up and down stairs. And, although the pet attachment picks up a ton of pet hair and dander, the hair can get stuck on the attachment and needs to be removed from time to time. The vacuum is so powerful that, at times, you can see some of the debris through the viewing section of the canister which can just look downright messy.

Some customers said the vacuum was a bit heavier than they expected. This is attributed partly to the larger battery. Still, it was not so heavy that it was difficult to manoeuvre or get up the stairs. This larger battery allows for a faster charge time and a longer battery life. Rather than having to charge the vacuum battery halfway through your cleaning job, it will last for the duration of most household jobs.

Would You Buy It?

The Bosch Unlimited is on the high end for vacuums. But, considering that it does work on both hardwood and carpets, and it comes with the pet attachments, it is almost a universal vacuum. No matter who you are, there is little you could need that this vacuum doesn’t offer. It earned 5 stars in almost every category. The few negatives about the vacuum are minor and really don’t impact performance or energy.

In looking at customer reviews, people seem to be really happy with this vacuum. They rate it 4.8-5 stars in categories such as ease of use, comfort and weight and ergonomics. The vacuum has been referred to as a “game changer” when it comes to cleaning power. Some of the things said in an independent, third-party product review include:

A customer had never used a cordless vacuum before. They said that cleaning was easier than ever before because they didn’t have to worry about whether the cord was long enough. They also didn’t have to search the house for sockets that were close enough to the room they were working in.

The floor nozzle on the Bosch came with an electric brush that provided excellent cleaning action and they were able to vacuum on all surfaces.

This vacuum was great at picking up hairs – both human and pet!

It was easy to get around furniture and tables. They could manoeuvre around objects and be able to finally clean under their household furniture.

Sometimes, the accessories on new vacuums are confusing. You never know what to plug in where to do what. But with the Bosch, they were easy to connect and disconnect.

The vacuum comes with a 2-in-1 furniture brush that has a special upholstery nozzle. This was perfect for cleaning carpet edging and along the stairs. The upholstery and furniture brush helped people clean hair and lint off of their couches and chairs.

Emptying the dust container was easy. All they had to do was read the instructions and it was clean and mess-free to empty the canister. They did recommend emptying the canister after every 2-3 cleanings so it doesn’t back up the canister. This will ensure optimal suction for the life of the vacuum.

Cleaning the brush heads as instructed worked well. Clean bristles mean a clean house. We were able to navigate the clean heads and bristles to get out deep-set dirt, pet hair and dust.

The vacuum was quiet. Sometimes you get a new vacuum and you feel like the neighbors down the street can hear it. This one was not too bad. It was low enough that it didn’t disturb people on other levels of the house.

The quick battery charger worked so well people thought it could even work great with a smaller battery. With a smaller battery, you would have to charge it more often, but it would make the vacuum a little lighter.

Best Budget Cordless Vacuum Cleaner: Makita DCL180Z Cordless

Not everybody has almost 500 pounds to spend on a vacuum. Sometimes, it makes more sense to buy a functional vacuum that won’t set you back too much dough. Every vacuum manufacturer will try to sell you on their features and special attachments. At the end of the day, though, sometimes all you need is a vacuum that picks up dirt and fits in your closet. However, the budget does not necessarily mean low-end. So many budget-friendly vacuums on the market today work just fine. They have good suction, easy clean-up and come with attachments that pretty much help you do just about any vacuuming job you may have in your home or car.

Check Price & Customer Reviews on Amazon

Which one to Choose?

The Makita DCL180Z Cordless comes in a green colour and does everything you expect a vacuum to do. It retails for a very reasonable price and comes with free delivery from amazon.co.uk. The Makita is a powerful upright with as much suction as any other vacuum on the market. It is cordless so it’s easily portable and no problem to carry from room to room.

This cleaner is a multi-cyclone vacuum so it’s constantly sucking up dust and dirt. It comes with a large capacity so you can go longer between emptying the canister. This allows for longer use and less messy cleanup. It’s easy to carry up and down the stairs, so you can do all levels of your home without the inconvenience of trudging up and down the stairs with a heavy vacuum.

Why the Vax Mach?

This model is reasonably priced for your budget at under £50. It comes with a 2-year guarantee by the manufacturer so you have peace of mind knowing that you’re protected. The Makita comes with an A energy rating so it’s good for your pocket and the environment. It does everything you really need a vacuum to do without costing you an arm and a leg.

Conclusion

So, it’s clear that there is a vacuum for everyone. Whether you’re looking for high-end, high quality or one that’s budget-friendly, there are some amazing vacuums on the market. It goes without saying that you want a cordless vacuum. The sheer convenience of not tripping over a cord every two minutes should be reason enough.

Buying a vacuum is not something you wake up in the morning and look forward to doing. Like the cleaning, you need the vacuum for, buying the vacuum itself can be a chore. You can certainly do your research and perhaps you will. However, this guide has broken down the features of 5 reputable, high-performance vacuums. We have done the hard work.

If you have carpet in your house, there’s a vacuum that’s perfect for you. If you have hardwood floors, there’s a cleaner out there with your name on it. For those of you with pets, you can go with the vacuums specially made for pet hair. Most, if not all, of these vacuums, will work on any surface and will resolve most pet hair issues. They all are high-powered and high performance. Since they are all cordless, they all offer convenience. They are all lightweight for easy carrying and easy manoeuvring. You really can’t go wrong no matter which one you choose!

Otomo.co.uk

from Otomo - Blog https://www.otomo.co.uk/blogs/news/best-cordless-vacuum-cleaners

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otomouk · 6 years ago

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The Best Pressure Washer UK 2018 Buying Guide

Whether you are washing cars, driveways, or washing down the outside of your home, there is no tool more useful than a pressure washer. These devices can be extremely versatile when it comes to tackling a lot of tasks around the home. Unfortunately, there are more than a few makes, models, and pressure washer manufactures available on the market. When you factor this in with all the different features and ranging price tags that come along with these products, this can make your quest to finding the perfect pressure washer a difficult one. This is why it is imperative to know exactly what each pressure washer has to offer you and understanding your exact needs. Below, you will learn some tips and information that will help you find the perfect pressure washer to meet your exact requirements.

Know That More Power Means More Risk

There are certain situations when you might need a lot of power to remove deeply ingrained dirt and grime. However, there might be situations when too much power can be a bad thing. Water pressure is measured in PSI (pounds per square inch). While there are usually two basic ways to power a pressure washer, each offers different power and features. For instance, petrol-powered pressure washers are capable of pumping out anywhere from 2,000 to 2,800 PSI. On the other hand, electric models are capable of producing anywhere from 1,300 to 1,700 PSI. When it comes to stripping grime off a patio or stripping paint off vinyl siding, a gas-powered machine will accomplish the task ten times faster when compared to an electric model. However, more PSI could mean more risks as well. When washing the side of a newly painted home or a car, you have to be careful about the amount of pressure that you are applying. Too much pressure could strip the paint right off. In addition to this, petrol models usually require more caution and control. You can easily splinter wood or knock loose concrete. And, this is not to even mention that you have to make an additional purchase of petrol any time you want to utilize the device.

Faster Is Going To Be Louder

When shopping for a pressure washer, noise is a major concern for some individuals. If you are looking for a faster spraying stream with more power, you are going to have to go for the petrol-powered models. However, this means that they are going to be much louder, you are going to have to deal with the noise. Petrol-powered models usually produce somewhere around 85 decibels of noise. This is the threshold where noise becomes unsafe to the human ear, so you will probably have to wear ear protection when utilizing one of these machines. Electric models tend to produce sounds around 78 decibels when the trigger is compressed. Once you let off the trigger the motor stops running, so they are essentially silent when they aren't actively spraying.

Choosing The Size To Suit Your Needs

Selecting the size of the machine that you need is fairly easy, as long as you know the tasks that you are going to be tackling. Pressure washers come in a variety of sizes and they are capable of tackling residential tasks, light commercial jobs, and professional cleaning jobs. Knowing exactly what you intend to do with the pressure washer will help you choose the size that you need. Electric – Electric pressure washer can pump out anywhere from 1300 to 1900 PSI, which makes them especially good for washing vehicles, cleaning outdoor furniture, grills, plastic play sets, decking and patios. If you pretty much plan on tackling any of the small jobs around the home, the electric model will without a doubt be your go-to model. When shopping for an electric model it helps if you go for something that is lightweight and compact in size, has a flexible high-pressure house, and comes with a variety of different nozzles. An onboard detergent tank won’t hurt either, as you can mix in special cleaning solutions and tackle those much dirtier tasks. Average Sized Petrol Engines – An averagely sized petrol engine pressure washer will produce anywhere from 2000 to 3100 PSI. These models utilize anywhere from two to 2.5 gallons of water a minute. These models are extremely useful when it comes to cleaning decking, patios, siding, fences, vehicles, heavy equipment, and boats. If you are in the market for one of these models it would be recommended to look for models that include premium overhead cams or overhead-valve engines, axial cam pumps with aluminium or brass heads, heavy duty frames, large wheels, and high-pressure hoses. This will ensure that your model will be able to handle the pressure that it is going to be pumping out. Larger Sized Petrol Engines – The largest gas engine pressure washers on the market can produce an impressive 3200 to 4200 PSI. These models utilize anywhere from 2.8 to 4 gallons of water a minute. They were more so designed for paint stripping, surface preparation, graffiti removal, construction site cleaning, and fleet maintenance purposes. The size and power mean they are excellent for tackling commercial grade jobs. So, if you are thinking about going to the commercial cleaning field, this is probably the model that you want to consider. When shopping for these models you want to look for manufacturers that include commercial-series engines, commercial-duty triplex pumps, heavy-gauge welded steel frames with solid axles, steel-braided hoses, and extremely heavy-duty pneumatic tires. Steel spray wands with quick connection couplings can also go a long way to providing you with a variety of spraying options.

Always Consider Portability

Whether you are shopping for an electric model of a gas-powered pressure washer you must always consider portability. It is safe to say that your pressure washer isn’t just going to sit in one place. In fact, you will probably have to move it from location to location just to be able to complete even the simplest of jobs. Even the smallest and most compact units can be quite heavy. This is why you always want to consider a model that offers some kind of portability. This is especially true if you are going for the larger models. Look for models that come with high-quality wheels, so that you can easily just roll the machine from location to location, additionally, this will also make storage easier.

A Lengthy Spray Hose

It has already been established that pressure washers are heavy. Even the smallest models on the market can be quite heavy. So, not only is portability important, but it is extremely important to invest in a model with a rather lengthy hose. This will eliminate the number of times that you need to move the device around, and it will give you to the true freedom that you need to tackle those lengthy jobs.

Detergent Mixers

You will find that both petrol-powered and electric pressure washers come with a variety of features. Some of these features can be useful and some of them are just more bells and whistles that are not strictly necessary. However, the detergent mixer compartment is without a doubt necessary for any individual looking to get a good thorough cleaning. It doesn’t matter how much power, strength, or noise you have, there are going to be some situations when water and strength just won’t clean as thoroughly as you'd like. These are the situations where detergent mixers can become invaluable. These devices usually come installed on the pressure washer as an extra reservoir and they allow you to top them up with soap or detergents that are automatically mixed with water. While there are a variety of detergents and soaps available, these chemicals can provide the extra cleaning power that you need to make quick work of those tough jobs.

On-Board Storage

There is much more to a pressure washer than just a motor and a wand. You might have a variety of hoses, wands, nozzles, and electrical cords. While all of these components are necessary for proper operation, they can sometimes get in the way. This is especially true when you are trying to neatly store the device in your garage out of the way. This is where onboard storage can come in handy. Onboard storage will provide you with a suitable location to roll up and store all the hoses. Most models will even come equipped with a neat little holder that allows you to safely and effectively store your wand. Not only do these storage devices keep everything neat and in place, but it prevents unwanted fraying and damage to the power cords and pressure hoses.

Understanding Pressure Washer Nozzles

When it comes to any model of the pressure washer, you always have to be extremely careful about the angle and the intensity at which the water is being sprayed. This is where you may end up chipping or stripping paint in unwanted areas. And, most of the time this has to do when users utilize the wrong nozzles. The nozzle is the device located right at the end of the wand and they can be interchangeable. Some nozzles can even be adjusted to provide several different angles, whereas others have to be completely changed out to achieve a different angle. Some of these nozzles are sold in sets that are usually colour-coded to indicate spray pattern and angle. Whatever the situation is, if you want to reduce your risk of damaging a surface, you need to understand these nozzles and when each angle should be utilized. For instance, a low-pressure nozzle is usually indicated with a black colour and it is best used for spraying on cleaning agents. If you have a pressure washer that has a detergent tank and you want to spray on a cleaning agent for extra cleaning power, this nozzle would be the one you want to utilize for the task. 40-Degree Nozzle – A 40-degree nozzle is usually indicated with a white colour. This nozzle is best when you are tackling surface that can be easily damaged. For instance, when spraying down a car or a house with wood siding, this is probably the best nozzle for the task at hand. 25-Degree Nozzle – The 25-degree nozzle is indicated by the green colour and it was designed for general applications. 15-Degree Nozzle – A yellow colour will indicate a 15-degree nozzle and this nozzle is intended for heavy-duty cleaning purposes. If you have a deck that needs to be stripped or you need to clean paint off a vinyl siding, this is the nozzle for you. Zero-Degree Nozzle – When you see a red nozzle, you can guarantee that this is a zero-degree nozzle. And, this nozzle was without a doubt only intended for the toughest of jobs. In fact, this nozzle produces such a powerful stream of water that it is usually only utilized for heavy-duty applications. When it comes to residential applications it would be best to avoid this nozzle unless you know what you're doing.

Best Overall Pressure Washer - Wilks USA RX550 Pressure Washer

The Wilks USA RX550 is a very reliable pressure washer. And, it comes with everything you need to start cleaning your siding right out of the box. In addition to the include accessories – a gutter lance, turbo wand, rotary and fixed brushes and a patio cleaner – the pressure washer is backed by a 12-month manufacturer’s warranty. So, you are protected from potential financial losses related to malfunctions and damaged parts.

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Powerful Onboard Motor

The onboard 3000-watt motor is capable of providing continuous, even on the maximum setting. This is an “air cooled” motor, so it will not overheat like some of the other pressure washer motors. This design ensures the durability and longevity of the machine.

Lightweight Design

The RX550 weighs approximately 27 kilograms (59-1/2 pounds), which is much lighter than some of the competitor brands. The lightweight design will allow you to move the pressure washer from one location to another without concern of back injury. You can also put it in the back of your truck and transport it to another location without too much difficulty. The upright design will make it easier to store the pressure washer since it will only require minimal space.

Long Hose

To eliminate the need to move the pressure washer every time you change locations, it is equipped with a long water hose. The hose is 26 meters (85-feet) in length. The hose is very durable and will not kink. In addition to this, the pressure washer has an onboard storage area for the hose. The round spool has a large handle that makes it extremely easy to roll the hose up after each use. Plus it will help to keep your tool storage area neat and tidy.

User-Friendly Interface

Unlike some models, the RX550 has a very user-friendly interface. The control panel is very easy to understand, as the buttons are colour-coded and labelled. This design will eliminate the need to refer to the instruction guide after the first or second use.

Onboard Accessory Storage

The RX550 Pressure Washer is designed to offer a neat and tidy storage. The onboard accessory storage will provide you with easy and quick access to all of the attachments as well. Everything you will ever need to clean your sidewalks, driveway or siding is within hands reach, so there will be no need to spend precious time searching.

Onboard Detergent Tank

The onboard detergent tank is extremely handy. If you are familiar with models with the storage detergent tank attached to the wand, you know that this is a design flaw. The tank holds one litre of detergent. The onboard tank provides quick and easy refilling and better aesthetics.

Pros

Onboard attachment and hose storage

An onboard detergent tank is easy to refill (one-litre capacity)

Auto shutoff

Built-in inlet filter

Measurement - 94cm H x 36cm W X 32cm D

Massive peak – 3800PSI

Weight – 27 kilograms

3000-Watt motor

Cons

Instructions are difficult to understand

The durability of wheels are questionable

Overall Assessment

The Wilkes USA RX550 Pressure Washer is ideal for people who want to keep the exterior and perimeter of their home and business neat and tidy. The pressure washer comes with everything you need to clean your patio, deck, siding, windows, cars, and sidewalks.

Best Pressure Washer Under £400 - Nilfisk E 145 Bar Pressure Washer

The Nilfisk E 145 Bar Pressure Washer is ideal for people who want to keep the perimeter and exterior of their home and business neat and tidy. The machine comes with everything you need to start utilizing it right out of the box. With all of the included accessories – tornado nozzle, clean lance, jet cleaning tool, foam sprayer and hose – you will be able to keep your home, car, riding lawnmower and ATVs spic and span year around.

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Unique Nozzle Design

The nozzles are designed to offer a quick and easy replacement. The quick release design will allow you to switch from one attachment to another in seconds. You simply just click the attachment into the lance and you are ready to start cleaning. And, press the quick release button to detach.

Heavy-Duty Pump

The pump is constructed from aluminium, which is capable of resisting rust, corrosion, and damage. Aluminium is lightweight, yet very durable so the pump will endure normal wear and tear.

Onboard Storage

To ensure the attachments are accessible and your tool storage area is neat, the Nilfisk E Pressure Washer has plenty of onboard storage compartments. All of the attachments will fit into these compartments, as well as the hose. The feed spool for the hose has a large rotary handle, which allows for easier winding and unwinding. Just turn the handle counterclockwise and clockwise when you want to utilize and put the hose away.

Power Onboard Motor

The 2100-watt onboard motor is capable of providing continuous power, even when operating on the heaviest loads. The brushless motor is designed to endure normal wear and tear, offering a longer lifespan than other types of pressure washer motors.

Lightweight Design

The pressure washer with attachments weighs approximately 18.6 kilograms (41 pounds). This lightweight design will provide superior portability. So, you can easily transport the machine from place to place without concern of back injury.

Upright Design

The upright design will reduce the need for a lot of storage space. You can actually stick the pressure washer in a small corner of your tool shed and it will be there when you are ready to utilize it again. This design offers more storage convenience than floor models.

Pros

Pressure hose is five meters in length

Upright design requires less storage space

Lightweight for better portability

2100-Watt brushless motor

An aluminium pump delivers 145bar max and 135bar operating pressures

Nine-foot pressure hose

Onboard hose and attachment storage

Quick release nozzle design

Cons

Does not come with a patio brush

Seniors may find it too heavy to lift

Overall Assessment

The Nilfisk E Pressure Washer is a great investment. The onboard is very powerful, providing continuous power on heavy loads. Making attachment replacements is very quick and easy, thanks to the quick release design. The onboard storage is a plus, as it helps keeps every accessible and neat.

Best Pressure Washer Under £200 - Karcher K4 Full Control Pressure Washer

The Karcher K4 Full Control Pressure Washer that will make a great addition to any homeowner’s garage, as this lightweight and the compact pressure washer is packed with tons of features. In fact, with its affordable price tag, you really wouldn’t expect to find so many amazing features on this device. Not only does this machine perform like some of the most expensive models on the market, but also it is sleekly designed with a beautiful outer body that makes it stand out amongst the competition. The beautiful yellow body with black accents really just shows how to mean this machine is.

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Backed With A Three-Year Warranty

It doesn’t matter if you are investing in a pressure washer or a new car; you probably always want to know that you are getting your money worth. Well, when you invest in The Karcher K4 Full Control Pressure Washer, you can rest assured that is what you are getting. In fact, the manufacturers of this product are so confident that you will love this machine that they are offering a three-year warranty with the initial purchase of the product. Within the first three years of owning the product, if you experience defects or mishaps with the device, all you have to do is contact the manufacturer and they will either repair or replace the machine. This should tell you that the company is really willing to stand behind their product and they believe in what they are selling.

LED Pressure Indicator

There is nothing worse than spraying at the wrong angle or pressure and damaging the paint on your car or home. Not only is this a costly repair, but also it can really be a hassle to make the necessary repairs. Fortunately, this is something that you can avoid altogether with the LED pressure indicator light installed on the lance. The pressure can easily be adjusted by twisting the lance until you reach the desired level. And, the LED indicator will let you know exactly what pressure you are currently utilizing. This is a feature that will come in extremely handy when you are trying to avoid unwanted damage on any costly surface.

Easy Accessory Storage

There is much more to a pressure washer than a motor and wand. In fact, you have a variety of different accessories, hoses, and cords that you have to deal with at any given time. While all of these components are necessary, they can be quite the hassle to deal with. This is especially true when you are trying to store the device in a neat location for the winter. Thanks to the accessory storage, hose storage, and lance storage located on the body of the Karcher K4 Full Control Pressure Washer storage will never be a problem. The trigger gun and spray lances can easily be stored on the body of the pressure washer to provide a nice and tidy fit. In addition to this, there are two neat little hooks, so that you can roll up the electrical cord and pressure hose. This not only keeps all the accessories out of the way, but it keeps them neatly and safely stored out of harm's way.

Lightweight With Handy Transport Wheels

Lugging a pressure washer around the side of the house or in and out of the job is never a fun task. While this pressure washer is extremely lightweight and only weighs in at 11.4 Kg, lugging it around all day can still be tiresome. This is why the Karcher K4 Full Control Pressure Washer comes equipped with two handy transport wheels. These wheels are not only extremely durable, but they make transportation easier than you could ever imagine. Instead of having to carry the machine everywhere you go, you can literally roll it from location to location.

Pros

Easy to access onboard storage

Lightweight design with handy transport wheels

LED pressure light indicator

Powerful 1800 watts

Simple detergent compartment

Doesn’t utilize gas

Cons

Requires 240 volts

Requires 2 AAA batteries, which are included

Overall Assessment

When it comes to tackling those mid-sized cleaning jobs around the home, there is simply no better device than the Karcher K4 Full Control Pressure Washer. Not only will this device make the job easier, but also it will make it quicker in the process.

Best Pressure Washer £100 – Karcher K2 Full Control Home Pressure Washer

Are you living on a budget and in the market for an affordable pressure washer? If so, you should look no further than the Karcher K2. This pressure washer has a very user-friendly interface, making extremely easy to utilize. With no control panel, just an On/Off control knob, you will no issues operating this pressure washer. Just fill up the detergent reservoir, plug in the electric cable, connect the hose and attachment and start cleaning your patio, deck, car or sidewalks.

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Included Accessories

The Karcher K2 comes with a variety of attachments. These attachments include a lance, dirt blaster, high-pressure hose and trigger gun, 500-milliliter detergent and patio cleaner. The high-pressure trigger gun has been updated with targeted pressure regulation. This design ensures that full pressure will be applied to the targeted area for better and faster cleaning.

Telescopic Handle

Some short-statured people have difficult wheeling around the standard pressure because the handle is too high. Well, that will never be an issue with the Karcher K2. Thanks to its telescopic handle, you will be able to make the necessary adjustments to ensure a more comfortable fit. This feature will give you more control, resulting in better portability.

Onboard Storage

With several onboard storage compartments, you will never experience any difficulty accessing the lances and pressure trigger gun. In addition to this, there is a storage compartment for the electric cable and pressure hose. This design will not only offer easy access to the attachments but also keep your tool shed neater and tidier.

Pros

Onboard accessory, hose and cable storage

Lightweight, upright design

Includes a patio brush and 500ml bottle of detergent

Telescopic handle

1400-Watt onboard air cooled motor

Max bar pressure – 110bar

Cons

Pressure hose is only four meters in length

May not be powerful enough for some applications

Overall Assessment

The Karcher K2 Pressure Washer is ideal for homeowners on a budget. The pressure washer works great for cleaning decks, patios, cars, ATVs, and RVs. However, it may not be powerful enough to remove set-in oil stains from driveways. Of course, this is a compact and affordable model, so some limitations are to be expected.

Best Pressure Washer For Patios – Nilfisk C 120 Bar Pressure Washer

Owning a home can be one of the greatest blessings in the world. Unfortunately, it also comes with many responsibilities. As a homeowner, you’re going to need to go above and beyond to ensure that your home is kept clean and shiny. If you own a home with a patio, you’ll need to take extra special care to keep it clean. Thankfully, you can decrease the difficulty by investing in the best pressure washer for patios, which is the Nilfisk C 120 Bar Pressure Washer. This pressure washer comes with everything you need to get your patio looking amazing once again.

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Includes Everything You Need

First and foremost, you should know that this unit is going to provide you with everything that you need. After all, it comes with a patio cleaner and a soft brush. Even better is the fact that this product includes an onboard storage. Therefore, you’ll be able to keep everything nearby at all times.

Easily Portable

It is true that some pressure washers are very difficult to move from one spot to the next. If you’re looking for a more convenient solution, you’ll definitely want to check out this model. After all, it is equipped with two wheels and a handle. This combination ensures that you’ll never have any trouble moving this pressure washer from spot to spot.

Powerful

Despite being affordable, the Nilfisk Pressure Washer is very powerful. It operates at 1400 watts. It is capable of delivering a maximum 120 bar pressure and can put out 440 litres per hour. The high water flow ensures that you’re going to get the cleaning power that you’re after. No matter how dirty your patio is, you can guarantee that this unit will do the trick.

Pros

Easy to move around

120 bar pressure

Delivers 440 litres an hour

A 1400W motor is very powerful

Onboard storage keeps everything neat and tidy

Comes with a soft brush and patio cleaner

Cons

Seems a little flimsy

Overall Assessment

If you’re interested in getting your patio cleaned quickly, this unit is for you. It works exceptionally well and won’t break the bank. The material does feel flimsy, but it will last. All homeowners should think about adding this machine to their collection. In all likelihood, they’ll be completely satisfied with their purchase.

Best Pressure Washer For Cars – Bosch High-Pressure Washer AQT 37-13+

If you own a car, you’ve got to take care of it. That means a weekly cleaning is required. Are you sick and tired of being forced to run your car through the car wash? It is expensive and the results are not always satisfactory. The good news is that you can eliminate this problem by investing in a good pressure washer. If you’re looking for the best pressure washer for cars, you’ll definitely want to check out the Bosch AQT 37-13+. This unit is moderately priced, easily mobile and surprisingly powerful. Additional details will be provided below for your consideration.

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Cables

To ensure that you’re going to be able to get the job done quicker, you’re going to need a lengthy hose. Otherwise, you’ll need to reposition the unit frequently. This Bosch Pressure Washer is equipped with lengthy hoses. The main cable is 5 meters, while the high-pressure hose is 6 meters. This combination ensures that you’re going to have plenty of room to get your vehicle cleaned quickly.

Accessories

You should also know that this unit is going to arrive with plenty of accessories. For instance, you’re going to get a transparent water filter, patio cleaner, brush head and an underfloor nozzle. When you consider everything that is provided and the price, you’ll agree that this combination is a great value.

Pros

Delivers a big bang for the buck

Integrated storage system keeps everything nearby

Easy to move around

Surprisingly powerful

Cleans all parts of a vehicle like a champ

Lightweight at just 6.5kg

Cons

Patio scrubber isn’t great

Overall Assessment

The Bosch High-Pressure Washer AQT 37-13+ is a great investment for most car owners. It will make turning your car washing into a quick pleasure. Plus, it can save you money in the long run. After all, you won’t have to worry about paying for car washes ever again.

Best Petrol Pressure Washer – Wilks Genuine USA TX850 Petrol Pressure Washer

Are you looking for an outstanding petrol pressure washer that will withstand the test of time? If so, you’ll definitely want to check out the Wilks Genuine. This pressure washing is heavy duty and it is going to provide you with a sufficient amount of power. After all, it can deliver a huge 4800psi. Even when you’re dealing with tough dirt and grime, you can guarantee that this machine is going to get the job done right. What sets it apart from the competition? You’ll find out in the review below.

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4800psi

As mentioned above, this unit is capable of delivering 4800psi. This is much more powerful than many of its competitors. With this amount of power, you’re going to be able to get the job done much quicker than you would otherwise. This powerful machine should be able to remove the dirt and grime without any scrubbing needed.

Warranty

This pressure washer is a little expensive. Therefore, you’ll want to make sure that it is going to last. Thankfully, it will. It comes with a 12-month or 1-year warranty. The company is very reliable and they’ll do their best to ensure that the customer is completely satisfied with their purchase. The warranty covers the machine as long as it is used for domestic use only.

Plenty Of Hose

If your pressure washer has a limited hose, you’re going to have problems on your hands. You’ll be required to tug it around pretty much everywhere. The good news is that the Wilks Genuine is going to eliminate this problem. This unit comes with a 20-meter commercial pressure hose. The wire-braided hose is capable of taking a beating without becoming unusable. It is very durable and it is going to provide you with plenty of room to play around with.

Easy Mobility

Some pressure washers are very difficult to move around. The Wilks Genuine is not. After all, it is equipped with a handle and four wheels. You will not have to worry about lifting it up too much. Instead, you can just push it around everywhere it needs to go!

Pros

Very easy to move around

Pressure hose is tough and very long

Makes your job significantly easier

Protected by a 12-month warranty

Very powerful at 4800psi

Cons

Pretty expensive

Overall Assessment

When it comes down to it, there is a great deal to like about the Wilks Genuine USA TX850 Pressure Washer. It runs on petrol so you won’t have to worry about the electric cord. It is very mobile and it is going to deliver significant power. This workhorse will be a great investment for pretty much every household.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, there are plenty of amazing pressure washers out there. However, you need to understand that some are better than others. You also need to consider your unique needs and budget. By taking this information into account, you should have little to no trouble finding a good pressure washer for your home. Choosing one of the units reviewed above would be a good starting point.

from Otomo - Blog https://www.otomo.co.uk/blogs/news/best-pressure-washer

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otomouk · 6 years ago

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The Best Pressure Washer UK 2018 Buying Guide

Know That More Power Means More Risk

Faster Is Going To Be Louder

Choosing The Size To Suit Your Needs

Always Consider Portability

A Lengthy Spray Hose

Detergent Mixers

On-Board Storage

Understanding Pressure Washer Nozzles

Best Overall Pressure Washer - Wilks USA RX550 Pressure Washer

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Powerful Onboard Motor

Lightweight Design

Long Hose

User-Friendly Interface

Onboard Accessory Storage

Onboard Detergent Tank

Pros

Onboard attachment and hose storage

An onboard detergent tank is easy to refill (one-litre capacity)

Auto shutoff

Built-in inlet filter

Measurement - 94cm H x 36cm W X 32cm D

Massive peak – 3800PSI

Weight – 27 kilograms

3000-Watt motor

Cons

Instructions are difficult to understand

The durability of wheels are questionable

Overall Assessment

Best Pressure Washer Under £400 - Nilfisk E 145 Bar Pressure Washer

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Unique Nozzle Design

Heavy-Duty Pump

The pump is constructed from aluminium, which is capable of resisting rust, corrosion, and damage. Aluminium is lightweight, yet very durable so the pump will endure normal wear and tear.

Onboard Storage

Power Onboard Motor

Lightweight Design

Upright Design

Pros

Pressure hose is five meters in length

Upright design requires less storage space

Lightweight for better portability

2100-Watt brushless motor

An aluminium pump delivers 145bar max and 135bar operating pressures

Nine-foot pressure hose

Onboard hose and attachment storage

Quick release nozzle design

Cons

Does not come with a patio brush

Seniors may find it too heavy to lift

Overall Assessment

Best Pressure Washer Under £200 - Karcher K4 Full Control Pressure Washer

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Backed With A Three-Year Warranty

LED Pressure Indicator

Easy Accessory Storage

Lightweight With Handy Transport Wheels

Pros

Easy to access onboard storage

Lightweight design with handy transport wheels

LED pressure light indicator

Powerful 1800 watts

Simple detergent compartment

Doesn’t utilize gas

Cons

Requires 240 volts

Requires 2 AAA batteries, which are included

Overall Assessment

Best Pressure Washer £100 – Karcher K2 Full Control Home Pressure Washer

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Included Accessories

Telescopic Handle

Onboard Storage

Pros

Onboard accessory, hose and cable storage

Lightweight, upright design

Includes a patio brush and 500ml bottle of detergent

Telescopic handle

1400-Watt onboard air cooled motor

Max bar pressure – 110bar

Cons

Pressure hose is only four meters in length

May not be powerful enough for some applications

Overall Assessment

Best Pressure Washer For Patios – Nilfisk C 120 Bar Pressure Washer

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Includes Everything You Need

Easily Portable

Powerful

Pros

Easy to move around

120 bar pressure

Delivers 440 litres an hour

A 1400W motor is very powerful

Onboard storage keeps everything neat and tidy

Comes with a soft brush and patio cleaner

Cons

Seems a little flimsy

Overall Assessment

Best Pressure Washer For Cars – Bosch High-Pressure Washer AQT 37-13+

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Cables

Accessories

Pros

Delivers a big bang for the buck

Integrated storage system keeps everything nearby

Easy to move around

Surprisingly powerful

Cleans all parts of a vehicle like a champ

Lightweight at just 6.5kg

Cons

Patio scrubber isn’t great

Overall Assessment

Best Petrol Pressure Washer – Wilks Genuine USA TX850 Petrol Pressure Washer

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4800psi

Warranty

Plenty Of Hose

Easy Mobility

Pros

Very easy to move around

Pressure hose is tough and very long

Makes your job significantly easier

Protected by a 12-month warranty

Very powerful at 4800psi

Cons

Pretty expensive

Overall Assessment

Conclusion

from Otomo - Blog https://www.otomo.co.uk/blogs/news/the-best-pressure-washer-uk-2018-buying-guide

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otomouk · 6 years ago

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10 Brilliant Ways to Create an Eco-Friendly Garden

The word “Eco” in the phrase “eco-friendly garden” refers to “ecology”- It shows interactions between organisms and their environment.

Everybody loves making an open and airy garden that is Environmentally Friendly. Eco-accommodating cultivating is tied in with working with nature and including more natural parts that help the earth.

When it comes to Eco-Friendly Garden, there are tons of ways that you can try to make a more self-sustaining environment that not only reduces waste but is more reliant on renewable sources of energy as well. One of the best ways to create an eco-friendly garden is to grow some vegetable and fruits, By growing some of your favourite herbs, veggies and berries, you can also save your money.

Choose the Appropriate Plants

Plants that suit your climatic conditions will easily grow with less care and stress. They’ll support the health of your entire garden, also attract pollinators and beneficial bugs.

Encourage Birds

A healthy eco-system attracts a wide variety of wildlife into it. Some of the wildlife is good for your garden, whereas some can destroy your plants. Grow native plants in your garden that attract the kind of insects and berries that birds eat. Birds also need a water, It is a good idea to install a birdbath in your eco-friendly garden.

Pollinators and Friendly Bugs that Eat Pests

From Bees to Butterflies, Pollinators are vital to flowers and food. Bees are most important for pollinators in most ecosystems. If you’re aware of native bees. They are small bees which are responsible for the most pollination.

Companion Planting

With companion planting, certain plants grow very well. There are some plants which can grow near to other plants and improve each other’s health and yields.

Say “No” To Harmful Chemicals

Harmful Chemicals can cause harm to food and have various impacts on health. If you want to keep yourself healthy, avoid the use of such harmful chemicals in your garden.

To know more about Eco-Friendly Garden, take a look at this informative Infographic on “10 Brilliant Ways to Create an Eco-Friendly Garden” designed by Team Choice Furniture Superstore. Kindly, give your 10 minutes of your valuable time in reading these awesome tips. Rest, I can assure you that the result will be outstanding.

https://www.otomo.co.uk/

from Otomo - Blog https://www.otomo.co.uk/blogs/news/10-brilliant-ways-to-create-an-eco-friendly-garden

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otomouk · 6 years ago

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Baby Proof: How Safe is your Home?

When my partner first told me she was pregnant, I was ecstatic. I personally think that’s one of the few moments in life when someone really experiences complete and untainted joy. The words ‘you’re going to be a father’ are rivalled by very few others. Seven months down the road, however, I think it’s fair to say those emotions had become overwhelmed by a singular just as powerful one. Fear. I’m sure many of you can relate to this or have at least seen it in your other half, but as the due date gets ever closer, the more panic starts to take over. I have to confess I had a bit of a mid-life crisis in my twenties. It was probably not enjoyable to witness.

Much to the surprise of my wife, I went on a huge spending spree buying anything and everything baby related. This probably would have been okay, but I went slightly overboard. Cupboards, wardrobes, and tables soon began to resemble strange objects you’d expect to discover at Disneyland as I piled them up with toys and colourful bouncers. In almost every room, space quickly disappeared. Anything that looked like a sharp edge was covered by a soft rubber cap. Door stops and plug socket covers roamed free and would turn up in the strangest places, on one occasion I even found one in my work briefcase. I think it surprised my boss just as much as me when I opened it up in front of him.

Then the big day finally arrived and as my baby grew into a toddler and finally a mischievous little girl, I realised there was never any reason for me to worry that much.

Don’t get me wrong, the threat of safety hazards for young children in the home is certainly real, over 2 million children in the UK experience a household injury every year that results in a trip emergency services. However, there is no need to go crazy with gadgets and plans. A lot of child safety is common sense and I want to share my experience with you so that you can decide what steps are best to take for baby proofing your house.

Finding the right Room in Your Home

How much space is there? Where is the window located? Is it upstairs or downstairs? Maybe you’re like me and my wife, you don’t have a choice where your baby will be sleeping, as you only have a one-bedroom home but if you can choose, do it wisely.

Remember, you are going to be spending A LOT of time going to and from this room. If it’s up 3 flights of stairs you’re going to regret it. If it has a low window or one near the cot you’re going to have to make sure nothing can get in or out through it. You’re also going to want to make sure that fingers can’t be caught in it. We got some restrictors and they worked great.

Upgrades

Now I’m going to ‘nerd-out’ a little bit. Because I never cared about doors until I had a kid. Now that’s all changed. A door is not just a door. The door you chose to put in your child's bedroom will either take you to Narnia or Hell. Different styles definitely have different advantages. I wish I’d known this during the pregnancy.

At first, we kept the standard door in the bedroom, it was probably the one that was there when we bought the house, but after just weeks I noticed the problem. It swung inwards. When our baby was first born this was a problem as we didn’t have much space and it would knock things over waking her up. It was also noisy to open and close. You don’t know how loud a door closing is until you’ve just spent 4 hours rocking a screaming baby to sleep.

Finally, we had the problem that we wanted to leave it slightly ajar so as to be able to hear her if there were any issues. Door stops left awful marks in the carpet and were a trip hazard, not using them meant a small draft would slam the door, often waking the baby. It was driving me mad. So I went online and decided to get a bi-fold door. Installing it was a pain, but no sooner had I put the final screw into the wall did I notice the difference.

This new door style gave me more space, didn’t slam and could be easily left slightly open. Internal bi-fold door designs are not only great for babies but as my little girl grew into a toddler I didn’t have to worry about opening it too quickly and finding out she was behind it.

Additional Equipment

My most important tip is probably this, be careful where you get anything for your baby. Paying that little bit extra is definitely worth it. Cheap products can sometimes be faulty and dangerous. Hand me downs can often be invisibly damaged or contaminated with mould and other nasties. Research what you should or shouldn’t accept from your friends.

As your child gets older safety gates and plug socket covers are a good investment but aren’t essential for when your baby is first born. Plug socket covers are cheap, so maybe at first just get a few for the low-down plug sockets in your baby’s regular rooms. If you put them in every socket charging your phone will become a living nightmare.

Those little rubber cubes for corners are also great. Just don’t be like me and buy hundreds, they can also become annoying after time and aren’t even useful everywhere. The same can be said for cupboard locks. Slowly install them as your child grows otherwise even simple tasks like getting cereal in the mornings can become time-consuming and drawn out.

Hazards

The ultimate piece of advice is not to add things, but to take them away. If you have the luxury of time before your child's birth, take a quick tour of your house and lock up anything you think could be sharp or dangerous. Well, don’t literally lock them away, just put them in drawers that are high off the ground and nowhere near anywhere you put your baby.

Parents often joke about it, but kids will seriously try to eat anything, and I mean anything. Our youngest went through a stage of eating plant pot dirt. Literal mud. He loved it. As soon as he could crawl off he went as fast as he could straight to find some soil to munch on. It was awful, but we quickly learned that for a few year's plant pots had to be high off the ground or they would end up as lunch.

The lesson we got from that rather funny situation was to analyse all the ground level items we had and ask ourselves ‘could we eat this if we tried to?’ If the answer was something we had to think about, up on a shelf it went.

The other thing we noticed was that kids love sticking their fingers in places they shouldn’t. Holes in the floorboards and gaps between walls all needed filling, even the garden gate needed some adjustments. If there are any small holes in your home, I can guarantee your child will think about putting their finger in it at some point, so think ahead and plug them with something.

The Bathroom

If you are expecting or have a young child, you’ve more than likely read or heard about how to deal with things like how to run a bath to the right temperature. What you probably don’t know is that the bathroom offers a lot more dangers than even the kitchen.

Simple things like always putting the toilet seat down are essential. When they’re younger babies will often pull down on things just because they can and if it’s on a toilet lid, it’s not going to end well.

Make sure you clean up any water off the floor after a shower, what is just a small dirty puddle on your floor to you, to a child it can look like a great opportunity to have a splash or worse yet, a drink. The same goes for soap bars, shampoos, and toilet brushes. Both can seem like a lot of fun to a small child and if they’re not trying to eat it, rest assured your house will quickly resemble a modern art gallery. Unfortunately, soap squiggles won’t improve the value of your home and are particularly frustrating to get off.

I think the golden rule, we learned as a couple would be that nothing is sacred. When you are willing to get rid of things completely just to ensure that your child Is safer, you’re moving in the right direction. If you ever find yourself building a ‘baby-proof zone’ just to protect your trophy cabinet from dirty fingers, it might just be time to reconsider your priorities. I promise you now, keeping your home safe from babies is just as hard as keeping your child safe, so make some sacrifices now while it’s easier, because the longer you leave it the harder it will get.

https://www.otomo.co.uk/

from Otomo - Blog https://www.otomo.co.uk/blogs/news/baby-proof-how-safe-is-your-home

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otomouk · 6 years ago

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The Best Electric Toothbrushes UK 2018: Separating Quality Dental Hygiene Products from Misleading Marketing

Choosing an electric toothbrush can be difficult, and the way that these toothbrushes are marketed certainly does no favours for the first-time or even the habitual buyer. The overactive imaginations of marketing departments can confuse potential buyers by misleading them about what the toothbrush actually does, let alone what it does that others do not.

The market is also heavily saturated, meaning that manufacturers must go the extra mile to ensure that their offers are even seen by customers, let alone chosen and used. The result of this heavy competition for what is ultimately a luxury item is that manufacturers are constantly looking for new ways to tell you that their electric toothbrush is the very best one on the market – this can be a pain if you’re the type of consumer who likes to do their own research on the non-essential products you buy. To help you out, we’ve slogged through all of the hints, passive voice trickery and five syllable marketing words to deliver some fact-based appraisals of electric toothbrushes.

At the end of the day (and the beginning, if you’re brushing twice daily as you should), the most important thing about your electric toothbrush purchase is how it’s going to fit into your existing routine or how it will contribute to the changes in your routine that you’re trying to make. If you’re a brush-twice-daily-and-forget-it kind of person, you probably don’t need to spend hundreds of pounds on a brush that streams a live animation of your toothbrush to your smartphone and shouts at you to floss more often.

On the contrary, if you’re apprehensive about your oral health and think that you could do better, a device that warns you when you’re applying to much pressure to the teeth and gums could be just the thing you need to feel better about your brushing technique and overall dental health. Avoid being sucked in by elaborate marketing prose and identify your specific needs and desires before you start shopping – your teeth will thank you for it.

The Best Electric Toothbrush's Listed

In this article, we will look at 5 popular electric toothbrush offerings and their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide how much you should spend as well as choose an electric toothbrush that is right for your oral hygiene needs.

ORAL B TRIZONE 2000

The Oral B Trizone 2000 electric toothbrush is a popular midrange choice for everyday oral hygiene. It works with a pulsating/oscillating motion, and it has a single speed setting (no varying speeds or actions are available for this model). A single on/off button on the handle controls its operation. It will stop automatically if its internal sensor detects that you’re brushing too hard, and it features a built-in timer to help ensure that you brush for the full two minutes that dentists recommend. It also features a battery indicator on the handle which shows the status of the battery and a charging indicator to show whether the toothbrush is charging when it is mounted on its base.

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Quality

Unboxing the Trizone 2000, you’ll find that it includes a manual (as if you really needed one with this toothbrush!) a charger, the power handle and a single toothbrush head. Depending on which model you purchase, you may also find a coupon for discounted brush heads. At first glance, it appears to be a sleek and well-designed electric toothbrush. The Trizone 2000 is a well-made unit, manufactured in Germany by Oral B and Braun. The rubber handle offers a good if not very ergonomic grip and its design is both clean and understated. The rubber on the grip is quite soft, so much so that it can attract debris from anything used to clean it, but it is very easy to clean – a quick rinse will remove any toothpaste or lint it might have attracted. It is available with a blue or black-coloured grip.

This toothbrush accepts a variety of Oral B electric brush heads: the CrossAction Head (which comes with the unit), the Sensitive Clean head, the Precision Clean head, the FlossAction head, the White Toothbrush head, and the Deep Sweep head. You can expect to get up to three months from a single head, but depending on your brushing habits you may want to change your heads out more often as they become worn down and ineffective. The included CrossAction Head, featuring clusters of brushes fanning outwards at 16 degrees, is a medium-bristled offering intended to focus on the teeth and gumline – if you typically brush with a soft bristled brush, this may be a little too harsh for your liking. All Oral B brush heads come with coloured rings to help tell which brush head belongs to whom in case you’re ever sharing a toothbrush. Additionally, these brush heads come with “indicator bristles” whose purpose is to indicate the state of the brush head’s wear by fading from blue to white with use.

Simplicity

Charging the Trizone 2000 is very simple – the brush just sits on top of the charger, and a knob on the charging base holds the brush steady while the NiCad battery charges wirelessly. The charger itself is a well-designed piece made of white plastic, making it easy clean and less of an eyesore than some others. The 48” cord is long enough to reach the bathroom counter plug with a little left to spare. Oral B suggests charging weekly if the Trizone 2000 is used daily, but some users may find that this brush lasts longer, particularly if you are brushing twice a day instead of three times. The battery status is indicated by a pink link that illuminates when the charge is low – it is not possible to see the current charge otherwise, which is somewhat inconvenient if you are travelling and access to power (or the right kind of power/power adapter) is uncertain. This is mitigated somewhat by the charger’s charge control functionality – it is impossible to overcharge the battery, even if you store your Trizone 2000 on the charger at all times when you’re not using it.

The Trizone 2000 is very nice to brush with. Its grip and weight are comfortable to use, and its two-minute timer is divided into 30-second segments to indicate how much time has elapsed (this is a standard feature on electric toothbrushes running from the cheapest to the most expensive with few tweaks and changes). When two minutes have passed, the brush will pulse three times and then continue – it does not shut off automatically, so if you’re not quite finished you can continue to brush as it only keeps time for the user. Oral B recommends that at each 30-second interval, you move the brush to another part of your mouth – the manufacturer details a program of oral hygiene that is thorough and available online. As with most electric toothbrushes, the 30-second queue is intended to prompt the user to move the brush and focus on another part of the mouth. Some manufacturers divide the mouth into as many as six distinct areas; this toothbrush only specifies four.

While some higher quality models have moved away from NiCad batteries to NiMH or LiON, the battery life is only one of the features in this device that defies expectations for an electric toothbrush in its price range. In this reviewer’s eyes, at least, slightly older technology is a small price to pay for the lack of dressed-up marketing for marginal improvements that typically accompanies even the slightest improvement to an electric toothbrush’s functionality.

Verdict

This electric toothbrush delivers solid performance with few accessories or unnecessary features. Particularly in this price range, manufacturers tend to dress up what are realistically standard features as if they were colossal innovations, making it very difficult to tell if the electric toothbrush you are purchasing is a rugged day-to-day tooth cleaning device or space shuttle joystick. This is said with some bias towards simplicity and truth in advertising, but in general, it is safe to assume that the less that is said about a simple feature the better.

Oral B offers a 60-day money back guarantee, allowing you to try it and return it no questions asked if it doesn’t suit your needs. But at a price point of just under 40 pounds, you risk little by giving it a shot. It brings together economy and a high level of functionality – if you’ve never used an electric toothbrush before or are buying your first “keeper” brush, the Trizone 2000 is a good place to start. You won’t regret purchasing this model, and it will satisfy your oral hygiene needs for years to come.

PHILLIPS SONICARE DIAMONDCLEAN 3rd GENERATION

The Phillips Sonicare DiamondClean electric toothbrush is Phillips’ most expensive Sonicare model. It is a stylish, high-end model available in white, black, purple and pink versions.

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Quality

In the box, the Sonicare DiamondClean includes a wall charger, a USB charger and cord, a wireless charging station, a rinsing glass, two brush heads and a travel case. All of these items are designed to look at home in a modern designer bathroom, and the effect is quite nice after years of clunky white plastic models that look like Fisher Price toys. The Sonicare DiamondClean looks as though Phillips set out to design the iPhone of electric toothbrushes, and result is an eye-catching, professional looking oral hygiene appliance.

The minimalism in Phillips’ design is carried through into the operation of the toothbrush – on one side of its seamless, non-slip handle is a single power button. This button controls the on/off functions as well as the cleaning mode. Unlike many lower to mid-range electric toothbrushes, the Sonicare DiamondClean features 5 different cleaning modes, indicated in backlight letters on the handle of the seemingly opaque toothbrush (the effect is quite impressive):

Clean Mode – Two minutes of standard brushing at 31 000 brush strokes per minute.

White Mode – Two minutes and 30 seconds of alternating pulses and vibrations.

Polish Mode – A one minute high-powered clean that removes plaque and buildup from tooth enamel.

Gum Care Mode – The same thing as Clean mode, but with the addition of one extra minute of weak vibrations to massage the gums after brushing.

Sensitive Mode – A two-minute gentle vibration for sensitive gums and teeth.

Cycling through these modes is best done with the toothbrush in your mouth, which means it’s better to figure out which you intend to use before you start brushing. Running the DiamondClean outside of your mouth and without brushing can result in the contents of the brushing head vibrating off the toothbrush and splattering all over your bathroom.

Functionality

While many reviewers found the Clean mode to be very effective, it’s not clear exactly what the purpose of the other modes actually is – some reviewers question whether they’re effective in the least, and they could easily be taken for novelties built in to the Sonicare to further separate it from the pack in terms of functionality the way they managed to do with style. Another issue that some users have is that unlike many other toothbrushes, the DiamondClean simply shuts off when the cycle is finished rather than indicating to the user that the cycle is finished and continuing on.

That being said, the Sonicare DiamondClean does come with a host of features that help first-time users of electric toothbrushes get used to using them. Many people who pick up electric toothbrushes for the first time find the oscillations or vibrations to be ticklish or even uncomfortable, and it makes the brushing experience rushed and ineffective until they wise up and switch back to a normal brush. The Easy-Start feature helps first-time users adjust to the brushing experience by starting off slowly and speeding up to its 31 000 brush strokes per minute over time. It does this for the first 14 uses and it can be disabled if the vibrations don’t bother you.

This brush is a fairly high-end entry aimed at those who appreciate style and functionality over simple utility. It is an attractive, compact unit that cleans via vibration rather than pulsation and oscillation: “normal” electric toothbrushes have an electric motor driving a cam and gear mechanism, whereas the Phillips vibrates the brush head in place, resulting in considerably higher brush stroke frequencies. It is important to note, however, that this is not true “sonic cleaning” – according to a 2004 study, the mechanism of debris removal is still simple mechanical brushing, even at 31 0000 strokes per minute.

Verdict

The DiamondClean is probably the best-designed and most attractive toothbrush in its price range. It is feature-loaded, and although it can be confusing to operate (all of these functions and features are operated by a single button recessed in the handle), it is worth getting familiar with them. Ultimately, your oral hygiene routine is entirely personal, and you’ll find a combination of the brush head and handle setting that makes the brushing experience both enjoyable and highly effective.

ORAL B GENIUS 9000

If you’re the type of person who obsesses over your oral hygiene and loves gadgets, the Oral B Genius 9000 electric toothbrush is the device for you. On top of its top-of-the-line 3D movement system and stylish, minimalist design, the Genius 9000 features – wait for it – Bluetooth connectivity. This initially drew some negative attention, particularly given added cost (Oral B has brought the price down considerably since its initial entry into the market), but it can actually be very helpful for those pride themselves on being particularly diligent in their oral hygiene routine.

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Bluetooth? On a toothbrush?

The Genius 9000’s Bluetooth functionality allows it to connect to a proprietary app for Android and IOS devices – why, you ask? Because the device contains a triple pressure sensor which monitors your brushing technique to determine whether you are brushing too hard and reports its findings to the app to give you immediate feedback without waiting for a dentist visit to tell you that your brushing technique needs attention. The app also delivers a host of tracking features and dental hygiene advice – it reminds you to floss, to brush twice daily, to clean your tongue, and other basic oral hygiene duties which will help to keep your mouth clean between dentist visits. It automatically tracks your brushing habits as well as these tasks, and you can generate an oral hygiene report from this tracking data and bring it with you to your next cleaning.

On top of the feedback that it delivers, the Genius 9000 has a robust set of cleaning features. If you were surprised to hear about its Bluetooth functionality, you’ll be shocked to hear about its Position Detector Mode – taking oral hygiene information from the dentists they consulted during its design, the Genius 9000 divides the mouth into six cleaning zones and uses a front-facing camera to ensure that each zone is getting a proper clean. The app generates animated graphics on your device that you can watch in real time to ensure you are getting a good clean each time you use the brush.

Despite its pretensions, however, the Genius 9000 isn’t a medical-grade device – some reviewers have noted that the head-tracking function isn’t always 100% accurate, and it should be noted that all the professional endorsements in the world for a toothbrush are no substitute for a regular checkup and cleaning. The purpose of all its impressive features is to encourage good dental hygiene practices, not to replace the dentist.

Quality

The Genius 9000 comes with six cleaning modes (again, it must be noted that some reviewers have only found two or three of these to be effective), exceptionally long battery life, and it is compatible with the full range of Oral B brushing heads. The brushes themselves move in three dimensions, oscillating, pulsating and rotating simultaneously to scrub plaque and buildup from your teeth. The result is a much better clean than a simple 2D rotating motion, and as one of the pioneers of the market, Oral B has earned numerous accolades for the effectiveness of their electric toothbrushes. Four brushes are included in the package, allowing you to choose which one suits your teeth and gums the best.

Also included in the package are a travel case, a brush head holder, a smartphone holder (for sticking your phone to your mirror to use the position tracking system), and a charger for the lithium-ion battery which features an integrated USB port for plugging your phone in while you brush. The battery itself lasts for up to an hour of use, and in the event that you’re out of town or otherwise too preoccupied to make use of all of the Genius 9000’s features for a few days, the handle will last for the duration of your trip and store all the brushing information that it accumulates for up to 30 days in the absence of a Bluetooth sync with your phone.

The design of this electric toothbrush isn’t quite as attractive as that of some of the other Oral B models, but it’s far from ugly. It is available in black, white and rose gold-coloured handles, and the USB charging base organizes the handle and extra brushing heads stylishly and effectively.

Verdict

The great thing about the Genius 9000 is its flexibility – you’re paying a lot for a toothbrush, granted, but you needn’t use all of its features every day to make the most of it. The high-tech tracking and monitoring features it includes are good for tracking your habits and encouraging good self-care, but at its core is a highly-effective cleaning mechanism that doesn’t require any accoutrements to deliver top-notch cleaning and dental hygiene. If you’re uncertain about your brushing practices or the quality of your routine and you want to engage a little more in your brushing and flossing habits, the Genius 9000 is an excellent tool to visualize and analyze the ways that you’re taking care of your present (and future) oral health. Even if you only use its more extravagant features on occasion, it is a good step towards taking control of your brushing routine.

PHILLIPS SONICARE EASYCLEAN

On the other end of the spectrum from its higher-functioning counterpart the DiamondClean, the EasyClean is an economy offering that hovers just above the price point of the disposable knockoffs and trades on Phillips’ Sonicare technology to deliver the same cleaning potential all of the extras. While the name and mechanism of cleaning are the same, the EasyClean is pretty far removed from the power, longevity, effectiveness and overall design quality of the DiamondClean. It will no doubt function to clean your teeth with its 31 000 strokes per minute, but as always, you get what you pay for and this is a somewhat spartan offering from an otherwise impressive lineup of electric toothbrushes.

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Fit and Finish

Like the DiamondClean, the EasyClean uses Phillips’ sonic vibration technology to scrub plaque debris from the teeth and gumline, but the fit and finish of the EasyClean leave much to be desired. Where the DiamondClean has a sleek, non-slip handle to make sure you’re always in control of the vibrating plastic you’re holding up against your gums, some users of the EasyClean found the handle slippery and some reported difficulty keeping a grip on the handle while brushing.

The handle is also designed so that it tapers towards the brush head, compounding the problem as your hand is naturally inclined to slide up the handle while brushing (other designs get around this with a cylindrical handle or tapering in the other direction). In addition to this, some users found that the power button was easily switched on by accident in their luggage (no travel case is included), causing the battery to drain prematurely.

Quality

Despite having the same cleaning mechanism, the EasyClean is also markedly less powerful than more expensive Sonicare brushes (this makes sense, as the marketing materials for these higher-end Phillips models typically refer to their improved cleaning power over models like the EasyClean). Its lithium-ion battery is doubtless capable of more power, delivering over 100 two-minute brushes per charge (in a single day (Phillips advertises a battery life of two weeks), but this evidently comes at the expense of power and therefore cleaning performance. Still, the simplicity of this device is its main appeal, even if it’s not the most powerful. It’s very simple to operate and makes no apologies for its lack of a wide range of speeds and programming. This is evident in the design of the handle itself, which is very simple – it features a single button and no fancy bells and whistles requiring a manual to navigate.

The power button starts the single cleaning mode’s two-minute cycle, interrupted every 30 seconds by a pulsation to let you know when to focus on another part of your mouth. A single light indicates adorns the power button, and the lack of gadgetry was almost refreshing in a market that prizes flashing lights and interactivity. Overall, the brushing experience with the EasyClean is not unpleasant, and doubtless more effective at cleaning your teeth than a manual brush with less effort. This reviewer truly wanted to enjoy this simple, functional and unpretentious electric toothbrush, but there are many issues with it that make this economy offering more expensive than it can justify.

Durability Issues

The single largest issue with the EasyClean is an ongoing pattern of quality control issues. Phillips offers a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty on the EasyClean, and many users report having had to make use of it. Reports indicate that Phillips’ customer service has been very helpful to date in honouring the warranty and shipping out new devices, but in the interim users are left in the lurch using normal toothbrushes while they wait for replacements to arrive.

Some users have found that after prolonged use, the detachable brush heads begin to fit loosely and require a little fiddling to get them to attach as securely as when the unit is new. Others have experienced water ingress, contaminating the unit and causing it to malfunction. Still, others report charge failures, mechanism failures and parts breaking off of the charger with normal use. Almost all of these reports are accompanied by very positive feedback about Phillips’ customer service, but the sheer volume of these complaints is cause for concern if you’re purchasing a toothbrush with expectations of durability.

Phillips manufacturers all of its toothbrushes in China, which could account for some of the quality control issues they seem to be facing, but these issues aren’t typical of its higher-end offerings which are also made in China – it’s unclear what Phillips intends to do to remedy these ongoing durability issues.

Verdict

The EasyClean is a utilitarian unit, coming with one brush head, a cap to protect the brush head while travelling, and charger. While there’s something to be said for the EasyClean’s lack of questionably useful features and heavily-padded marketing jargon, its price point demands more of its performance than it delivers. There are literally hundreds of less expensive electric toothbrushes flooding the market as novelties, and many of them can deliver performance and longevity comparable to the EasyClean for a fraction of the price. The thing about these units, however, is that they’re usually bought knowing full well that they’re borderline disposable – the Phillips name carries with it the weight of expectations that this unit is unable to meet.

ORAL B PRO 2 2500N

Another take on the “keep it simple” approach is delivered by the Oral B Pro 2 2500N. The price point, again just high enough to tell consumers that this electric toothbrush isn’t a novelty or a toy, is very well suited to the functionality of this device. It contains more features than many other handles in its price range and provides, durable, reliable dental care without being loaded down with eye-roll-inducing jargon or flashing lights.

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Quality

Like many of its more expensive competitors, the Pro 2 2500N has a built-in pressure sensor which tells you when you’re brushing too hard. A light on the back of the brush illuminates when the brush detects that you’re brushing too hard, allowing you to adjust your brushing technique to minimize effort and maximize cleaning effectiveness. It features only two cleaning modes, Daily Clean and Gum Care, so you needn’t experiment with half a dozen different speeds and cycles to determine what will work best for your (or what doesn’t work at all, as is often the case in overly feature-rich electric toothbrushes).

A single button starts the two-minute cleaning cycle, and the handle has a charge indicator as well as a battery warning light near the base. The 2500N is quite light, weighing a scant 130g, and the handle is completely waterproof allowing it to be used in the shower. Battery life is considerably less than some of its counterparts – Oral B advertises two weeks, but in terms of continuous use, it clocks only 56 minutes. This is less than half of some other electric toothbrushes reviewed here, but the recently upgraded lithium-ion battery will last for a greater number of charges than other Oral B models which still us NiMH or NiCad batteries. Some users have reported charge issues, but these are very minimal compared to the volume of issues experienced by users of the EasyClean. Reviewers who have had to return their devices report an excellent customer service experience and prompt replacement.

The box includes a charger, a CrossAction brushing head, and a travel case. The 2500N is compatible with the same seven brush head types that its more expensive cousins are, allowing you to choose from a selection of brushing experiences and settle on what is most comfortable for you.

Another important feature of the 2500N is its warranty – for a device that costs this little, the two-year warranty is pretty impressive. Even better, it can be extended to three years by registering your device online (albeit likely at the expense of receiving boatloads of marketing materials).

The 2500N is manufactured in Germany, and while the location of manufacture isn’t always the best predictor of a device’s quality, many users are more comfortable purchasing an electric toothbrush that bears the weight of Germany’s reputation for manufacturing and quality control standards as opposed to the bad reputation that a small number of unscrupulous manufacturers in China have developed. Overall, you will not be disappointed with the quality of your purchase.

Fit and Finish

The 2500N is what the EasyClean tried and failed to achieve. It is a rugged, durable economy design intended to serve those who want simplicity above all else. The rubberized cylindrical grip resists slipping, allowing complete control of the brush without EasyClean’s combination of taper and sleek plastic to contend with. The simple socket-and-plug wireless charge base is tidy and unobtrusive, and the styling of the handle itself gives it the look of a much more expensive device.

Verdict

The 2500N is a perfect choice for those of us who know what we want – reliable, predictable, simple, and durable – and what we don’t want. It’s devoid of all of the accessories and snake oil marketing that typifies some higher-end models, and the only distracting feature it possesses is the pressure sensor light which quietly points out when you’re pressing too hard. After reviewing a handful of other toothbrushes, it was a breath of fresh air to find one that not only provides excellent cleaning and a good brushing experience but did so without all of the extra syllables in its marketing write-up. The 2500N is a very good value for the price without all of the quality control issues that plague the EasyClean, and I highly recommend this device as an addition to your established dental hygiene routine.

Closing Notes

Apart from the impenetrable marketing jargon that plagues the market for electric toothbrushes, it is very possible to find a device that will work for you. By ignoring the propaganda about the effectiveness of its cleaning power and focusing instead on the features and what they can do for you, you can find a brush that meets your needs (or in the case of some higher-end models, your oral hygiene goals) and cleans more effectively than an ordinary manual toothbrush. After all, that’s the goal, isn’t it?

If you can avoid being sucked in by promises of having the cleanest teeth in the land and focus on what you’re trying to achieve (less effort, more effective cleaning, more feedback on your oral hygiene practices in between dentist visits), you can likely find a brush within your price range that was specifically made to meet those needs. If you just want to mix up your routine a little and have a cleaner mouth, a simple low-end offering like the 2500N will more than meet your needs without a dazzling light show or audible cues in its timed program. If you want to seize your routine by the horns and perhaps even make your routine entertaining, the Genius 9000 will force you to stop and pay close attention to the minutiae of your brushing technique.

Finally, if these reviews seemed critical of the marketing employed by electric toothbrush manufacturers, this is borne of genuine concern for the health of those shopping for them. It is very important that your needs are met by the electric toothbrush you decided to purchase, irrespective of the promises made by the marketing copy. At the end of the day, your mouth can only be made so clean – but your wallet can be made completely empty in short order, and you want to be sure that the electric toothbrush you purchase is worth the hard-earned money you spend on it.

Above all, this reviewer suggests identifying your personal goals before you begin to shop for an electric toothbrush – there are thousands of different choices available, and likely every single one is at least a slight improvement over your old bristle brush.

Happy brushing!

from Otomo - Blog https://www.otomo.co.uk/blogs/news/best-electric-toothbrush

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