Looking for the best blender? Our reviews of top blenders from Ninja, NutriBullet, Magimix, Smeg, Magic Bullet and Sage are here to help you decide. Some blenders are bullet-style machines designed to make amazingly tasty smoothies in single servings, whereas other blenders are multi-serve models with jugs for pouring our soup and sauces for the whole family. We’ve ranked all of the top 10 best blenders on quality of design, performance, value, and how well it made soup and smoothies, to bring you the complete top 10.

Especially as now is the season for soups, we also reviewed the best soup makers to find machines that can cook your ingredients and blend them in as little as 20 minutes. Some of the best blenders can be used to blend hot ingredients fresh off the stove, and others come with multiple attachments to rival mini choppers and even the best food processors.

If you do want a blender to make soup and other hot sauces, you need to be sure that it will take hot ingredients as well as cold. Some materials are designed to turn steaming veggies and stock into piping hot soups that you can pour right out of the pitcher and into the bowl. Others are less hardy, so you will need to let your soup ingredients cool before blending.

Other things we took into account when picking the best blenders were the ease of cleaning (especially whether it can go through the dishwasher) and the capacity. While the classic NutriBullet-style bullet blenders are perfect for single-serve smoothies, if you want to serve up drinks or sauces for the whole family, there are also multi-serve blender options available.

Black Friday blender deals 2021

Our best blender guide features blenders under £50, as well as some premium models that come in at well over £100, which you’ll even find in professional kitchens. Spend more than £100 and you’ll get a better choice of attachments and extra blades, usually a glass jug or a thermally resistant plastic one, and more choice of speeds and programmes.

At the other end of the scale are premium blenders that have evolved from those found in professional kitchens. These blenders will be far more powerful, sometimes enough to gently heat the contents. These blenders frequently come with a price tag upwards of £500.

Black Friday blender deals will save you big money on some of the top models on the market. While premium options from Vitamix and Magimix can receive hefty discounts, even more budget-friendly blenders are often reduced by 20-30% on Black Friday. Here are today’s top deals, and you can see the rest of the Black Friday 2021 deal top picks in our Black Friday stand mixer deals and Black Friday air fryer deals.

Ninja 2-in-1 Blender with Auto-iQ: was £149, now £99 at Amazon (save £50) 
We love the Ninja 2-in-1, which can make bullet-style smoothies as well as large servings of soup and chilled drinks. The Auto-IQ modes countdown with preset pulses designed to tackle different recipes in the best way. Save a third now.

View Deal

Best blenders 2021

1. Ninja 2-in-1 Blender with Auto-IQ BN750UK

Best blender overall

Type: Plastic
Dimensions: 435 x 170 x 210 mm
Power: 1100 watts
Reasons to buy:

• Vacuum cup reduces foam
• Sleek design
• Auto-IQ modes make blending hands-free

Reasons to avoid:

• Hard to wash

Powerful blenders can turn tough fruit and veg into yummy smoothies but all that whizzing makes for a foamy drink. Enter the vacuum pump – designed to suck the air out of the jug or cups before the high-speed action begins. This incorporates fewer bubbles in the process, so you can pour out a silky-smooth beverage.

The other benefit of using a vacuum is better colour retention (so the green doesn’t turn to sludge brown as quickly). And, unlike some vacuum-compatible blenders, Ninja’s Smart Screen Blender comes with the pump and enough batteries to run it.

It’s not just the vacuum pump that makes this a good buy for smoothie fans either. Concealed within the base unit is an 1100W motor, which gives the stacked six-blade assembly of the jug enough power for its smoothie, purée, frozen drink or ice cream programmes.

You can also blend smoothies directly in a pair of on-the-go cups using a screw-in blade tool, and there are high, low and pulse speed options. What we especially liked about the Smart Screen Blender was its sleek buttonless control panel: it was easy to wipe it clean, with nowhere for mess to hide, and when the machine was off, it was completely blank.

Its performance was also good – our smoothies only had small flecks of spinach and berries remaining and had a bright, vivid colour. Blending them was very loud but only took just over a minute. However, the vacuum process adds on about another 20 seconds for the cups and a minute for the jug, so may not be suitable for busy mornings.

Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars

2. NutriBullet Pro 900 Series Blender Set

Best blender for single servings

Type: Bullet blender
Dimensions:25.7 x 14.6 x 36 centimetres
Power: 900 watts
Reasons to buy:

• Immense power
• Couldn’t be easier to use
• Very smooth results
Reasons to avoid:

• Only one setting

If you love a morning smoothie or want to blend up smaller portions in one go, the NutriBullet Pro 900 Series Blender Set has everything you need. It has two sizes of blending cups, 909ml or 680ml, and a to-go lid for drinking on your commute or simply storing in your fridge. Other screw-on attachments include a handle and of course, the blending lid.

The cups are dishwasher-safe and also very easy to clean by hand. Although they’re made of (BPA-free) plastic, they are incredibly durable and won’t be breaking any time soon. Most impressive with the NutriBullet Pro 900 Series Blender Set is just how powerful it is. The 900-watt motor reaches 25,000 RPM as soon as you lock the blending cup into place and as soon as you want to switch it off you can just unscrew to stop the blending.

If you want a blender to make smoothies or soups out of ingredients with skins, seeds, and tough stems or leaves, the NutriBullet Pro 900 really is the perfect choice. It turns even tricky ingredients such as kale and frozen berries into deliciously smooth drinks or sauces.

Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars

3. Magimix Power Blender

Best blender for soups

Type: Glass
Dimensions: 26.8 x 20.8 x 46 cm
Power: 1300 watts
Reasons to buy: 

• Maximum power
• Glass jug
• Small design

Reasons to avoid:

• An expensive option

How much blending is too much? If you’re the sort of person who feels like you’re always second-guessing your appliance or over-processing, meet the Power Blender. It comes with five auto programmes (one of which is a time-saving self-cleaning setting) that help take the effort out of blitzing ice, smoothies, desserts and soups, alongside four speeds plus pulse for when you want more control.

On the design front, it’s everything you’d expect from Magimix – clearly labelled buttons and a dial, a choice of three classic finishes, easy drop-on jug, and a good balance between sturdy and stylish. However, there are some quirks to be aware of, such as 1.8-litre glass jug. It’s heavy even without anything in it, so pouring out accurately can be tricky.

The push-on, pull-off lid can also be stubborn at first, and there’s a max run time of a minute. Beyond this, there’s a lot to love – the jug splits apart for cleaning, it’s all dishwasher-safe and you can blend soup that’s still relatively hot (up to 60 degrees C) so you don’t have to wait long after cooking.

Its smoothie programme, which was a gradual ramping up of speed, followed by low then high, took about 30 seconds to whiz through a fruit and veg smoothie. There was no trace of leafy greens left and the blend was beautifully consistent.

Its cleaning programme using warm water and washing-up liquid left the jug spotless with some residue remaining around the lid. It also crushed ice into snow in seconds while its auto programme turned hot chunky vegetable broth into silky smooth soup in just over a minute.

Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars

4. Sage Super Q

Best quiet blender

Type: Plastic carafe and cup
Dimensions: 21 x 46 x 27cm
Power: 2400 watts
Reasons to buy:

• Powerful motor
• Quieter average noise
• Simple controls

Reasons to avoid:

• Big price tag

Putting off making your morning smoothie for fear of waking the whole household, or even the neighbours? The Super Q is here to save the day. While blending is never going to be a quiet activity, this speedy, commercial-grade machine does its best to dampen the usual racket, and, importantly, the sound it does make is less of a jarring whine – because it’s often the pitch that’s a blender bugbear as much as the volume.

However, it’s not just noise suppression that makes this blender an asset – it’s also the breadth of programmes, versatility and efficiency. In the box you’ll find a good-sized two-litre jug with a lid that clips firmly into place, a 700ml cup with removable blades and a lid that you can use to blend shakes or smoothies, tamper, spatula, and a sleek silver base unit.

The controls are devilishly simple to get the hang of – there are five programmes at the push of a button, such as green smoothie, frozen dessert or soup (designed to heat up ingredients rather than blend already hot soup), plus a manual dial for ramping up through 12 speed settings and an LCD screen showing count up or count down times.

What’s especially clever though, is that the jug is compatible with the separate Vac Q pump, which enables you to suck the air out before blending. In our tests, this resulted in far less froth in a fruit and veg smoothie and noticeably velvety butternut squash soup, heated in less than six minutes (although this was noisy).

A final reason to love it is its frozen food and ice-crushing abilities – it transformed cubes into snow in about 30 seconds (the programme lasts a minute), which was easily scraped out. The only downside is the price – but if other blenders are leaving you disappointed or deafened, the Super Q is a superhero solution.

Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5.  NutriBullet Rx

Best blender for smoothies

Type: Plastic carafe/cups
Dimensions: 36.2 x 21.8 x 46 cm
Power: 1700 watts
Reasons to buy:

• Great value
• Lots of accessories
• Make soup quickly

Reasons to avoid:

• Blades aren’t dishwasher safe

Fans of the original Nutribullet looking to upgrade to something with more oomph will love the Rx. While some bullet blenders can leave behind flecks (of leafy greens, for example) the Rx uses its 2.3hp/1700W motor to create a flawlessly smooth consistency. Inside its blade unit, you’ll find four angled blades that screw into an oversized or short cup for smoothies or its Souperblast pitcher.

This comes with a vented lid, so you can use a special programme to blitz veggies into hot soup in only seven minutes. There’s no on or off button or speed settings. The Rx adjusts automatically to the contents and for the right amount of time – just drop the cup onto the base. In tests, it effortlessly blitzed smoothies using seeds and nuts. It easily tackled black treacle and broccoli too, all of which were thoroughly blended.

This super blender then made piping hot soup from vegetables and pre-made stock. It’s worth noting that it won’t brown ingredients, so some may need cooking beforehand. It was also used to blend creamy nut butter from almonds and oil.

One downside is that the blades aren’t dishwasher-safe, so you’ll need to clean out any residue by hand. Also, the cups are bulky to drink from directly and the kit it comes with doesn’t have an obvious way to stack it for storage.

Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

6. Vitamix A2300i blender

Best blender for sheer power

Type: Plastic
Dimensions: 43.2 x 20.3 x 27.9cm
Power: 1440 watts
Reasons to buy:

• Incredibly versatile
• Large 2L jug
• Smooth results

Reasons to avoid:

• With a hefty price tag, you may want a cheaper alternative

The Ascent 2300i  can be used to make your own butter (no churning by hand, yet all of the wow factor at your next dinner party), dips, nut butters, mayonnaise, non-dairy milks, hot soup from scratch without a pan in sight, bread and pasta dough, wholegrain flours, baby food and frozen desserts – essentially, almost anything you could make in a food processor.

To which end, it’s built with a more durable construction than you’d expect your average blender to have. There’s a large base to find space for in your kitchen, plus a two-litre plastic jug with a wide spout that manages to be both lightweight yet sturdy and a secure push-on lid that prevents leaks.

And while there aren’t any programmes, the Ascent 2300i doesn’t lack options – 10 speeds plus a pulse button mean you can scroll between gentle liquefying and pulverisation.

Other points of difference are a comprehensive recipe book, a tamper to nudge frozen ingredients towards its blades and an on-off switch so it’s not accidentally flicked into life. In testing, it made a smoothie that was completely lump and fleck-free in about a minute, staying steady on the worktop even at the highest speed. Its count-up timer on the front came in especially handy for keeping an eye on blending times.

Similarly, it took a minute to blend cooked ingredients into smooth soup and 6 mins 30 to blend and heat using the friction of its blades. A few pulses were all that was required to crush ice, and it cleaned easily after messy jobs by using water and washing-up liquid, with the mixture even reaching the lid for a thorough clean.

Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars

7. Smeg BLF01 50s blender

Best looking blender with smart features

Type: Aluminium
Dimensions: 20 x 16.5 x 40cm
Power: 800 watts
Reasons to buy:

• Awesome 50’s retro style
• Incredibly sleek and easy to use
• Tritan jug is very sturdy

Reasons to avoid:

• Only one pitcher
• Can’t handle soup

With a die-cast aluminium body and six lovely colours to choose from, you won’t want to remove the Smeg BLF01 50s blender from your kitchen counter. We were impressed with just how smooth it left our drinks, even when they had ice and frozen blocks of spinach; a notoriously tricky ingredient. The soup had an almost whipped consistency because of how well the blender broke through tomato skins and peppers to incorporate, but Smeg does recommend waiting until your soup has cooled before blending, which is a shame.

The jug doesn’t need to be screwed in: just slot it into the base and select your setting. The Smeg BLF01 50s blender may have a retro style but the build is all modern. It features a pulse setting and numerous preset modes, including a button for blitzing ice.

You only get the 1.5 litre tritan jug with this one, so it’s not the most versatile. For pairing with a toaster or kettle though, the look really does impress. It also felt incredibly powerful and not too loud, which given the 800 watt motor was a surprise.

Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars

8. Philips HR3652

Best blender for crushing ice

Type: Glass
Dimensions: 21.6 x 43 x 31.6 cm
Power: 1400 watts
Reasons to buy:

• Fine blending
• Dishwasher-safe

Reasons to avoid:

• Speed settings are unnumbered

Most of us could probably do with eating more fruit and veg. Proven to motivate you into upping your five-a-day is the 1,400W Avance blender, which will turn unpalatable vegetables into smoothies and soups with ease. Its makers claim it produces 50% finer blending than a previous model – which is great news for the fruit and veg-phobic. For its price, it brings a lot to the table.

This blender has a two-litre glass jar with 1.5-litre working capacity, 13 speeds plus pulse, two one-minute programmes for smoothies and ice crushing. It has cable storage and a spatula that inserts through the lid to move contents around.

The manual speeds are only marked min to max without numbers between, so it’s more difficult to reproduce a recipe if you’ve already found the perfect setting. It also can’t be used for more than three minutes at a time. In tests, it turned a couple of handfuls of ice cubes into snow and made a fruit and veg smoothie, both using the dedicated programmes.

Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars

9. Ninja Blender with Auto-IQ BN495UK

Best personal blender

Type: Personal
Dimensions: 17 cm x 15.9 cm x 38.7 cm
Power: 1000 watts
Reasons to buy:

• Smart Auto-IQ settings
• Easy to use and clean

Reasons to avoid:

• A little noisy
• Not for larger drinks

If you’re looking for the best blender for smoothies, it’s a good idea to consider a personal blender. Personal blenders are designed for taking drinks on the go, and can blitz up ice, frozen fruit and protein powder into smooth and creamy drinks. The Ninja Blender with Auto-IQ BN495UK is a smart choice. It has two smart settings that use Auto-IQ to tackle even the toughest ingredients, it can chop through chunks of frozen spinach, banana, and ice to make thick milkshakes and creamy smoothies.

Personal blenders are far from versatile. This option comes with two 700ml cups that have lids for taking on the go, but nothing larger for blending family-sized dishes. What they do offer though is some seriously high powered blending power and a smaller footprint for your kitchen counter. We loved this model when we put it to the test, so if you’re after a personal blender, take a look.

Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Read our full Ninja Blender with Auto-IQ BN495UK review

10. Magic Bullet Kitchen Express

Best blender food processor combo

Type: Plastic
Dimensions:30.8 x 29.2 x 19.2 cm
Power: 250 watts
Reasons to buy:

• Get a blender and food processor in one
• Budget-friendly

Reasons to avoid:

• Single serve only

Affordably priced and multi-functional, the Magic Bullet Kitchen Express is the perfect choice for students or small households who want something that can blend as well as chop and slice. It has two drink pitchers, one of who has a to-go lid that stays very securely in place, and despite only being 250 watts this blender is very powerful. It was particularly effective at making smoothie bowls out of frozen bananas and berries, with little intervention.

While it’s not large enough to blend things like soups, the Magic Bullet Kitchen Express is perfect for smoothies and shakes, and it makes a top iced drink. The controls are simple, with an On, Off, and Pulse, but it’s by no means as multi-faceted as some of the options from Ninja and Vitamix, which offer a variety of blending modes for different drinks.

Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Read our full Magic Bullet Kitchen Express review

11. KitchenAid Artisan Power Plus Blender 5KSB8270

Best blender for power

Type: Plastic
Dimensions: 44.9 x 26.7 x 23.1cm
Power: 1800 watts
Reasons to buy:

• Excellent design
• Produces great smoothies

Reasons to avoid:

• Very noisy

If the smoothest of smoothies is a priority, the KitchenAid Artisan Power Plus Blender 5KSB8270 will deliver. Equipped with a peak 3.5hp motor and billed as the most powerful blender available, it liquefies everything from frozen fruit to nuts and grains.

There’s a choice of 11 speeds plus high or low pulse and three programmes for juice, smoothies and soups, plus a self-cleaning option. Its 2.6-litre blender jug is superbly designed – made from BPA-free dishwasher-safe plastic, it has a dual-wall construction so the exterior doesn’t become hot even when it’s heating soup. Inside the blender are four heavy duty 3mm-thick angled blades.

On top, a vented lid lets out steam, while a tamper comes in handy for solid food. The blender power cable also detaches for storage. Available in three glossy shades, the Artisan Power Plus blender is beautifully designed and rightly so – at 9.4kg, lifting it in and out of a cupboard would be a chore.

It’s more of an investment than your average blender, so you’d need to get lots of use out of it to justify the cost. It’s also an exceptionally noisy blender – anything over speed 7 may have you fleeing the kitchen. However, in tests, it gave a peerless performance with smoothies, soup and ice, and it will fit perfectly next to the best stand mixers.

Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars

How to buy the right blender for you

Image credit: Vitamix

1. Check how powerful your blender is

The wattage can work as a guide but higher doesn’t always mean a better blender. Take into account additional features that it uses to process food thoroughly, such as jug and blade design. A blender’s power can sometimes be displayed in horsepower (746W = 1hp) instead of watts. While basic liquidisers sufficed with two blades, most modern jug blenders will have at least four, sometimes with mini blades nestled around the stack. They’re usually angled, which helps them to whisk up pieces from the bottom of the jug and create a vortex to drag blender contents down from the top.

Take a look at the best juicers

2. Check blender settings and speeds

Basic models tend to have just a few speeds while more feature-packed models will have several. Both will usually feature a pulse option for quick bursts of speed. You can also find blenders with programmes for blitzing specific foods, such as soup, ice crushing, smoothie, pureé and frozen desserts. A cleaning programme is another handy option, allowing you to clean the jug in-situ by running it filled with water and washing-up liquid.

3. Check blender materials

The blender jug itself will be made from either glass or plastic. Glass tends to be sturdier and less likely to become scratched but a good quality BPA-free plastic, such as Tritan, is a smart choice. This is because it’s strong yet lighter than glass, which can make all the difference if you’re lifting a heavy jug of soup. Jugs vary in total capacity and working capacity (ie how much they can safely blend without the contents trying to escape). This is usually lower for hot liquids. A 1.6-litre jug should cover most everyday blending but to be able to get the most of out of your blender, look for around two litres.

4. Check blender practicality

Look for blender jugs that have two-part lids, too, so you can add food or liquid as it blends. This is ideal for making sauces that can easily split, such as mayonnaise, or when processing hot food, so steam can be released.

5. Check for extras

The lids may include small measuring cups. Some blenders have additional milling and grinding blades (which can be used for seeds, nuts and sometimes coffee beans), mini containers for mincing smaller amounts of food, personal blender cups and even food processor bowls. Another useful blender accessory is a tamper. This fits through the lid of the blender so you can move solid chunks of food, such as frozen fruit, towards the blades.

What other key questions do I need to ask about blenders?

Are blenders easy to clean?

You’ll get more use out of a blender that’s easy to clean, so look for those where all the removable parts are dishwasher safe. Some blender jugs will split apart so that the blades can be safely cleaned separately and more thoroughly. If the jug has fixed blades, it can be difficult to clean around them by hand, so always use a brush. Our how to clean a blender guide has more tips.

Are blender noisy?

All blenders will be noisy, though some more than most. The pitch can differ from blender to blender, too, meaning that some noises, while not louder, are more annoying than others. If possible, try before you buy.

Will my small kitchen accommodate a blender?

Blender cables can be substantial, so look for machines with built-in storage to prevent the flex getting out of hand. Unless you’re buying a machine that you’re happy to have on display on the worktop, your blender will probably live in a cupboard. If so, choose one that can be easily dismantled, is light enough for you to lift in and out and won’t take up too much storage room.

The post Best blenders 2021: reviews of the top 10 blenders for soup and sauces appeared first on Ideal Home.

Find the best Shark vacuum for your home with our top 8 picks. We’ve reviewed upright and cordless Shark vacuum cleaners, many of which feature in our best vacuum cleaner roundup, to bring you our complete verdict. While some Shark vacuum cleaners are budget-friendly, others are premium picks that can rival the top Dyson and Vax models on the market. Of course, you’ll be able to find a Shark cordless vacuum deal with the Black Friday sales just around the corner, but these vacuums are regularly available at a discount.

See also: the best cordless vacuum cleaners

A lot of Shark vacuum cleaners are tricky to choose between, with subtle differences in the amount of tools available and the range of prices for each model. In our Shark vacuum reviews we noted that the models with pet attachments and added spare batteries do cost extra, but the machine itself will always be the same as the pet-free option. Keep an eye out for flexology, which means you can hinge the stick vacuum to fit underneath furniture, and powered lift-away, which allows you to take the canister off of the stick vacuum to clean the stairs or the car without any cumbersome handles or controls.

What is the best Shark vacuum in 2021?

The Shark IZ300UK Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner gets our vote for the best Shark vacuum you can buy for the year ahead. It’s jam-packed with all the tech spec you could possibly need to keep your home looking spick-and-span with relatively little effort. Got pets? It’s a good choice for taming pet hair, too, without running the risk of the floorhead bristles getting in a tangle.

Best Shark vacuum 2021

1. Shark IZ300UK Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner

Best Shark vacuum cleaner

Cordless? Yes
Dust tank capacity: 0.7 litres
Weight: 4.58 kg
Reasons to buy:

• Deep and effective cleaning
• Nifty storage
• Immense power
• Smart charging
Reasons to avoid:

• No pet attachment (although it still did a great job on hair)

The Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner with PowerFins & Flexology is one of Shark’s latest releases, and boy did it wow us when we took it for a spin. Firstly, it feels incredibly sturdy and well-made, with a separate charger for up to two batteries at a time, meaning you can double your runtime for larger homes.

Switching between carpet and had floors is very easy thanks to the DuoClean brushrolls, which switch over with the touch of a button. It’s also possible to go between three power levels, although we found the lowest level perfectly strong enough for the majority of tasks.

At under 5kg it’s a sturdy but not too hefty model, and if you struggle with storage, you’ll enjoy the fact that the Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner with PowerFins & Flexology hinges forwards to fold when stored. It does have a smart touchpad at the top of the vacuum that shows battery level very clearly, too.

The newer feature that Shark added to the Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner with PowerFins & Flexology is its PowerFins tech. These are essentially flexible silicone paddles that dig deep into carpets and effectively pick up dirt from right down at the base of rugs and carpets. This was immensely successful at picking up pet hair and dust that we didn’t even know was there. Opt for the Shark IZ300UKT Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner for a double-battery model, or the regular Shark IZ300UK  if you’re happy with just the one battery.

Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars

See our Shark IZ300UK Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner review

2. Shark ICZ300UKT Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Upright Vacuum Cleaner

Best Shark vacuum cleaner for serious power

Cordless? Yes
Dust tank capacity: 0.6 litres
Weight: 6.2 kg
Reasons to buy:

• Very strong on pet hair
• Has the power of a corded vacuum
• Long battery life
• Lift away to clean stairs or cars

Reasons to avoid:

• It’s hefty

Another recent drop from Shark, the Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Upright Vacuum Cleaner with PowerFins, Powered Lift-Away & TruePet has everything you need to stay on top of the busiest of homes, in a cordless model. Shark claims that it has all the power of a corded vacuum cleaner but in cordless form, and we couldn’t agree more. It’s got DuoClean which makes switching modes immensely straightforward, and the controls make it easy to see how much battery you have left. To charge, simply lift out the battery on the side of the dust tank and pop it into its charging port.

The vacuum has lights that illuminate its path, and it left a visible path of clean carpet when we took it through the floor around the bed of a fluffy black labrador. Very impressive, so prepare to remember what colour your carpet was when you moved in!

At over 6kg the Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Upright Vacuum Cleaner with PowerFins, Powered Lift-Away & TruePet is quite heavy, but it does have the Powered Lift-Away to make it easier to tackle stairs and upholstery. Another minor gripe was the small dust tank, which fills up very quickly indeed when you’re dealing with pet hair. The battery life does extend to around one hour though, so this Shark cordless can tackle your entire home in one go.

Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Read our full Shark ICZ300UKT Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Upright Vacuum Cleaner review

3. Shark Anti Hair Wrap & DuoClean Cordless Vacuum Cleaner IZ251UKTDB

Best Shark vacuum cleaner for attachment options

Cordless? Yes
Dust tank capacity: 0.7 litres
Weight: 4.1 kg
Reasons to buy:

• Mega long run-time
• Good set of attachments
• A good choice for homes with pets

Reasons to avoid:

• A little noisy
• Can be tricky to manoeuvre directly under furniture

Whether you have a home with pets or feel more confident with a cordless vacuum that holds a long runtime then this vac would be a good shout for your needs. Shark seem to have ploughed all their top tech into this model which makes it a solid contender for the main vacuum cleaner in the house, not just the back up.

It delivered pretty consistent results on the flooring, leaving carpet – including on the stairs – tiles, and parquet clean. The DuoClean floorhead had a big part to play in this as it can easily transition across the various floor types, on which its twin bristle brushes work their magic. Anti Hair Wrap – a feature designed to stop hair accumulating around the brush roll – had some impressive results, too. This meant that neither human hair nor the hair of small furry housemates lodged itself around the brushes of the floorhead or the motorised pet tool.

The relatively new innovation to Shark’s portfolio is Flexology which allows the wand to go from straight to angled, is a feature which we highly rate. It means that you can get your vac under the beds and various items of furniture that are raised up on legs. What we found, however, is that the floorhead wasn’t as easy to direct accurately as is the case when it’s used with the rigid wand.

Even if you prefer to use a smaller, handheld vacuum cleaner, the IZ251UKTDB has got you covered. We found that when equipped with the motorised pet tool it did an extremely thorough job and was easy to use on steps, even those awkwardly shaped.

Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

4. Shark IZ201UK Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

Best Shark vacuum for pet hair

Cordless? Yes
Dust tank capacity: 0.7 litres
Weight: 4.1 kg
Reasons to buy:

• Lightweight
• Ideal for pet hair
• Very easy to manoever

Reasons to avoid:

• Quite noisy

The Shark IZ201UK Cordless Vacuum Cleaner is one of the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair on the market. It has a 0.7 litre dustbin which, while not the largest, is adequate for cleaning most homes without the need to empty mid-way. We also enjoy how lightweight it is, at just over 4 kg.

This vacuum is good on both carpet and hard floors, but we found that the latter just slightly held the edge. It offers flexology, which simply means that you can pivot the vacuum under furniture thanks to the elbow-style latch. The anti-hair wrap is a bristle guard and comb which separates and removes hair from the brush roll as you go. This does an exceptional job not just on pet hair, but on human hair too.

Attachments include a crevice tool, dusting brush, and upholstery tool which is perfect for stairs and sofas. The vacuum can convert into a handheld too, so you can use these attachments in a range of modes. Of course, opting for a more expensive Shark vacuum will deliver more attachments and extras such as DuoClean, Shark’s self-adjusting brushroll, but this is a great pick for budget-friendly, high-powered cleaning.

Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

5. Shark Handheld Cordless Pet Vacuum Cleaner CH950UKT

Best handheld Shark vacuum cleaner

Cordless? Yes
Dust tank capacity: 0.45 litres
Weight: 1.39 kg
Reasons to buy:

• Great suction
• Versatile
• Lightweight
• Good on pet hair

Reasons to avoid:

• Battery life may not be long enough for everyone

If you’ve got pets around the home then this handheld vacuum cleaner is a must to have handy for those quick tidy ups. It’s cordless which always helps with moving around the home (and car) quickly since you’re not tethered to a plug. And the (more than) 10 minutes battery life is suffice enough for sweeping up dust, and crumbs and taming those stray hairs which seem to get anywhere and everywhere. Oh and did we mention, it’s our top pick of the best handheld vacuum cleaners, too.

Something which our reviewer was impressed by during testing was that the diminishing battery did not affect the suction of this vac. The only way you knew that it was about to run its course was the flashing blue power button, which did go a-miss in a few instances when vacuuming-away. Although it would always be helpful to have more charge, this one does only take four hours to fully charge or less if you just want to quickly finish what you started.

Maintaining this handheld vacuum will just mean that the 0.45L capacity will need emptying as and when it gets full of fluff. And the dust cup and filter can be washed with water from the tap.

Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

6. Shark DuoClean Upright Vacuum Cleaner with Lift-Away and TruePet NV702UKT

Best Shark upright vacuum with a cord

Cordless? No
Dust tank capacity: 0.3 litres
Weight: 5.25 kg
Reasons to buy:

• Pet-friendly
• Can be used on all floor types
• Available in a lovely colour

Reasons to avoid:

• Some may prefer cordless

For those of us who find comfort in being plugged into the mains as we vacuum our homes, this Shark vacuum could well be the best option for you. It’s a good combination of where a stick vacuum meets a 8 metre-length cord which ultimately means no charging, whilst still being lightweight.

It’s designed to deal with daily cleaning challenges and is one which will effortlessly navigate around furniture with enhanced swivel steering. This means that furniture and other obstacles will be no mean feat for this one to work around. And the DuoClean floorhead – as with the others in this guide – will mean that the two motorised brush-rolls work together in one floorhead to clean all floor types. But then if you need a more portable vacuum cleaner then you can transform this vac with just the push of a button. This is with thanks to Powered Lift-Away which is super handy for using the suite of attachments to refresh upholstery or vacuum skirting boards.

One of the attachments which comes with this Shark vacuum is the pet tool. As with many of the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair, it’s purposely designed to draw out embedded hair from rugs, blankets and anywhere else your four-legged-friend likes to reside. Allergens, such as pet dander, can also be tamed with the Anti-Allergen Complete Seal which captures and traps 99.9% of dust and allergens inside the vacuum rather than releasing them back into the air.

Ideal Home rated 4 out of 5 stars

7. Shark Anti Hair Wrap XL with Powered Lift-Away AZ950UK upright vacuum cleaner

Best Shark vacuum with large floorhead

Cordless? No
Dust tank capacity: 1.65 litres
Weight: 7.5 kg
Reasons to buy:

• Large capacity
• Easy to empty
• Onboard tools
• DuoClean makes it easy to switch

Reasons to avoid:

• Heavy

Last but by no means least on our list is this Shark vacuum which boasts one of the largest dust capacities with Powered Lift-Away. It’ll give you the freedom to clean more without you feeling the need to continuously empty it thanks to its mega 1.65 litres which is available to be filled. Although it is a corded vac, the 8 metre-long cable will give you an adequate radius to work your way around the various floors in the home.

To help lift as much as possible as quickly as possible from the flooring is the DuoClean floorhead which has been enhanced with Anti Hair-Wrap technology. This will actively remove hair from both the bristles in the floor head so you don’t need to worry about de-tangling any locks at the end of each clean. This is ideal for long hair, short hair and pet hair.

There’s a suite of onboard tools which can be used when the vac is transformed into a portable vacuum cleaner. And as an extra level of added reassurance for allergy sufferers, there’s Shark’s Anti-Allergen Complete Seal which will help to keep the air you breathe clean after a vacuum.

Ideal Home rated 4 out of 5 stars

8. Shark DuoClean Powered Lift-Away and TruePet cordless vacuum cleaner IC160UKT

Best Shark vacuum with Powered Lift-Away

Cordless? Yes
Dust tank capacity: 0.6 litres
Weight: 5.7 kg
Reasons to buy:

• Great suction
• Floor illumination
• Battery can be charged out of vac

Reasons to avoid:

• Doesn’t cope too well with long pet hair

If you have moulting moggies in the home then we can vouch that this Shark vacuum will do your carpets and hard flooring justice. Just as with the vacuum cleaner above, it has a DuoClean floorhead which can alternate between floor types with just a push of the carpet or floor button located above the on button. Our reviewer found that it had some rather pleasing results, especially on restoring flattened carpet pile.

The Powered Lift-Away feature that comes in with this vac means that the pod comes away from the stick so there’s only the small pod to hold or set down, and the wand – also detachable – to do the job with. There’s a button to also make this happen which is another positive because that’s one of the many good things about Shark – they make using your new (and old) vacuum cleaner super easy. This is echoed by the ability to remove the battery for charging which helps with storage because you can put the main unit away whilst just keeping the battery out. Ingenious.

Arriving equipped with a suite of attachments to include a crevice tool, dusting brush, wide upholstery tool and a motorised pet tool (that’s the TruePet) you’ll be able to tackle all areas of the home by attaching these to either the vac’s wand or handle. For pet owners you’ll be interested to know that the pet tool will deal with hair that’s got itself knitted into upholstery (including in the car, dog owners!) and stair carpet. This performed really well on the upholstery but longer cat or dog hair does get tangled somewhat in the brushes.

Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

How to choose the best Shark vacuum

There are a few terms you’ll need to grasp before you choose your Shark vacuum.

• LiftAway offers a removable central canister that can be lifted around to clean stairs and upholstery. This makes is easier to access tough spots, even cars.
• Flexology means your vacuum can be pivoted under furniture using an elbow hinge at the centre of the tube. It saves you from bending and reaching, but it’s only available on cordless vacuums.
• Anti Hair Wrap offers a self-cleaning brush roll thanks to an in-built comb. This removes pet and human hair before it gets the chance to get tangled.
• DuoClean is Shark’s self-adjusting brush roll that automatically adapts to carpet and hard floor without you having to switch over.
• PowerFins are Shark’s newest invention. These silicone attachments sit on the carpet brushrool of your Shark vacuum to reach even deeper into your rug and stair runners, picking up more dirt in a single pass.

How we test Shark vacuums

We really like to get a hands-on experience with the products which we feature across the Future Homes titles. It means that we get to understand more about what you are getting for your money.

Each time we hear of a new vacuum cleaner that’s been added to the brand’s portfolio, or we see one with outstanding user reviews, we just have to try it out. You can read what we really thought about each model in the descriptions in this guide where you’ll also see our marks out of five. Each one with descriptions like these have been tested for a number of weeks (sometime months) so they’ve been faced with some real-life challenges. In some instances we’re even fortunate enough to be able to keep the vacuum cleaners so the test is always ongoing, if you like.

Everything has been considered during our in-depth reviews. Factors such as manoeuvrability, run-time, emptying of the canister (or bag) and general controls. In any instance where we have been unable to review but couldn’t miss not featuring the vacuum cleaner in this guide, we’ve taken into account feedback from other users who have left reviews on the website where they’ve bought it from.

The post Best Shark vacuum 2021: the 8 top cordless and upright options appeared first on Ideal Home.

Wood flooring is a natural winner, bringing warmth, character and timeless style to any space. So naturally, here at Ideal Home we were excited when we got the chance to partner up with Tile Giant to add a brand new collection of engineered wood and premium vinyl flooring to our existing range of tiles with Tile Giant.

Whether you’re looking for kitchen flooring ideas (or for a stylish flooring solution for any other room), updating your floors can have a big impact on the look and feel of your home, as well as how it stands up to day-to-day living.

Image credit: Tile Giant

‘Wooden flooring is a regular feature in many of Ideal Home’s decorating schemes, projects and real homes – and reader feedback shows that YOU love wood too,’ says Ideal Home Editor, Heather Young. ‘So the opportunity to share our design expertise with Tile Giant in putting together the new wood and vinyl flooring ranges was one that we couldn’t miss.’

‘Warm, hardwearing and versatile, wood is a classic choice for flooring that will go with any scheme, from traditional to contemporary. And with a range that includes real wood and wood-effect vinyl flooring too, there’s something to suit every style, space and budget in this collection.’

Choose real wood flooring for enduring style

Image credit: Angelique Beechwood engineered wood flooring, £50.29 per sq m, Tile Giant

Get the look of real wood, but with all the benefits of an engineered wood floor with Tile Giant’s Ideal Home Real Wood collection. Think real wood finishing, but with an ultra-strong wear layer application that gives a natural grain and warm wood colour but with significantly more resistance to wear, scratches and stains.

In a choice of beech or oak finishes and pale or dark wood tones, the floors have bags of character, warmth and timeless appeal. The construction makes them more stable, durable and friendlier to the budget than solid timber and they feel warmer underfoot than standard laminate flooring.

Image credit: Angelique Beechwood engineered wood flooring, £50.29 per sq m, Tile Giant

The easy-to-use click-fit system means that no gluing is required so installation is a breeze. While the real wood top layer can be sanded and varnished multiple times, should it be required, meaning that this flooring will stay looking great for years to come.

Keep it practical with wood-effect premium vinyl

Image credit: Blaise White Oak stick down vinyl flooring, £21.50 per sq m, Tile Giant

While real wood is a natural winner, when it comes to high-traffic areas and moisture-prone bathrooms and kitchens, wood-effect vinyl offers an all-round option that not only looks great, but is practical and hard-wearing too.

Tile Giant’s Ideal Home premium Vinyl collection features a realistic wood-effect finish that looks just like the real thing. And in a choice of plank or herringbone styles and a range of wood grains, it will look fabulous in any space, from living room flooring ideas and hallways to kitchens and bathrooms.

Image credit: Dolores Dark Oak stick down vinyl flooring, £21.50 per sq m, Tile Giant

Tile Giant’s Ideal Home Vinyl flooring comes in two options. ‘Click-fit’ vinyl is super-easy to install, with a Stone Polymer Composite core and integrated underlay, making it extra durable and with a warm surface to walk on.

‘Stick-down’ vinyl is simply glued into place, creating a secure floor that’ll withstand impact, scratches and spills, so is perfect for kitchens, bathrooms and high traffic areas – so ideal for hallway flooring ideas.

Image credit: Zabini light stick down vinyl flooring, £21.50 per sq m, Tile Giant

To see the Tile Giant Ideal Home Real Wood flooring range and premium Vinyl flooring ranges in full, head to your nearest Tile Giant store or visit tilegiant.co.uk

If you’re looking to update your floors then this exclusive offer is not to be missed! Whether you’re keen to shop the Tile Giant Ideal Home Real Wood flooring or the premium Vinyl collection, use code IDEAL10 to save an extra 10% (on top of any existing promotions running) on all Ideal Home tiles and flooring, valid in stores and online. Offer ends 30 November.

Save 10% on Tile Giant Ideal Home flooring

The post Tile Giant’s new wood flooring range gets the Ideal Home seal of approval appeared first on Ideal Home.

Christmas lights are key for adding a touch of extra sparkle to festive proceedings. From twinkling LED lights on the tree to larger teardrop bulbs illuminating the porch, the right lighting plays such an integral role in setting the scene for Christmas cheer.

If you’re looking for creative ways to decorate with lights we have some show stopping Christmas ideas to light up your home with festive delight. Be inspired by our simple but effective decorative ideas for festive lights and look forward to a magical season all lit up in chic style.

Decorating with Christmas lights

With so many designs to choose from, firstly consider how you wish to use lighting to enhance your home over the festive period? If you’re looking to create an ambient glow choose the warmer copper coloured LED lights that seem to more popular than ever in lighting collections – in stark contrast to the cooler tones of white bulbs from previous years. Fairy lights are so versatile, perfect to dress the tree or drape across a mantelpiece.

For creating a statement try industrial inspired light-up letters that spell out seasonal greetings and illuminated signs. If you’re simply looking to outshine the neighbours opt for a statuesque illuminated reindeer or a set of beaming cluster lights. Indoor or out, be inspired by our pick of creative Christmas light ideas to brighten up your home.

1. Brighten up hallways for a warm welcome

Image credit: Future/ Chris Snook

A simple string of fair lights draped across a hall coat rack is an effective way to dress the hallway with a touch of sparkle. It’s amazing how impactful simple fairy lights can be, inviting a warm glow with very little effort. Choose a clear or white string to allow the lights to blend in, the last thing you want is to ruin the look with a standout green wire dangling from rack.

Follow in the footsteps of this homeowner and intertwine the lights with sprigs of ivy to add an extra flourish of styling.

2. Hang an illuminated wreath

Image credit: Annabel James

Invite a halo-style glow to adorn any wall in your home with an LED illuminated wreath design. This mains powered wreath is composed of 270 warm white LED lights to give your indoor rooms a warming glow. Ideal above the mantelpiece or above a drinks trolley to set the scene for entertaining in style.

Buy now: Starburst LED Christmas Wreath, £49.95, Annabel James

3. Coordinate tree to fireplace

Image credit: Future

Create a symmetry with your lighting. Use the same colour and tone of lights throughout a living room decorating scheme to ensure it feels cohesive and soft, rather than jarring and distracting. Keep it simple, like this example, and still set the scene in style with a soft glow with matching lights.

4. Dress the windows

Image credit: Lights4Fun/ Oliver Perrott

Perfectly dressed windows are are treat for all, those inside and those who walk by. Frame the window pane with a set specially designed to fit the window, cascading down the window to fill the view with light and festive motifs.

This fine example features 258 warm white LEDs, including 9 metal stars hung at differing heights across the row of lights. Set on a 6 hour timer means you can set the switch to ensure the stars sparkle each evening.

Buy now: Osby Star Christmas Window light, £32.99, Light4fun

5. Spell it out above the mantel

Image credit: Future

Letters and festive sentiments are very on-trend for spreading Christmas cheer with punch of personality. In this characterful living room the light up Noel dresses the mantelpiece to perfection, alongside a string of colourful pompoms and real eucalyptus sprigs.

6. Set the table with lights

Image credit: Future/ Max Attenborough

Welcome an ambient glow to dinner for a more intimate approach to setting the table. Seek LED lights to place on the table, whether used to drape down the middle as a runner of lights or used to frame each individual plate fairy lights on the table will welcome a warm glow to proceedings.

7. Dress the stairs with faux candlelight

Image credit: Lights4Fun/ Oliver Perrott

Make a fabulous festive first impression by dressing the stairs and hallway with bountiful garland dressed with twinkling lights and a display of candles. Of course we’re not advocating you place real candles on the stairs, not safe at all! Look for thoroughly realistic looking faux flames that can be left safely to light up the hallway with ease.

Trail an assortment of lights, by way of LED pillar candles, from the top to the bottom of the stairs. Not only will this add visual impact for quests on arrival, it will also offer a soft glow to make navigating the stairs a little easier, after dark – and even after a few too many glasses of fizz.

8. Get creative with walls

Image credit: Lights4Fun/ Oliver Perrott

Get creative to curate a display for your walls with a light up star, simple string of fairy lights and Christmas cards or festive music sheets or illustrations – the artistic licence is yours. Choose lights on a thin wire, so they are almost weightless and stick them to the pieces of paper or card used to create your DIY tree shape. Of course you could make any festive motif, but a tree is the easiest to recreate.

Use a white tack or something similar to stick the walls, ensuring the paint underneath is not ruined by the material used to stick everything in place. You’ll need to arrange the display above a sideboard or mantel, to ensure there’s a ledge below so you can pop the battery pack of the lights on top.

9. Add ambience to guest bedrooms

Image credit: Future/ Dan Duchars

Ensure your guest bedrooms are well-dressed for Christmas guests. In addition to Christmas bedding and stockings at the foot of the bed, a Simple row of battery powered LED lights woven around the headboard goes a long way to make the room look instantly more festive and inviting.

10. Suspend lights overhead

Image credit: Future/ Dominic Blackmore

A hugely popular trend for tablescaping right now is to hang a decorative arrangement over the table, as if floating above. Of course this needs to be securely in place, because the last thing you want is for it to gatecrash on top while serving dinner! Simple hooks on twine from the ceiling above should support a lightweight foliage arrangement.

Add the wow factor to the hanging arrangement by suspending LED candles at staggered heights along the length of the table.

11. Light up your mantel

Image credit: Future/ Simon Scarboro

Make a statement with large letters that spell out a festive message, which will look right at home placed on a mantelpiece or used as a table centre for the big day’s feast. Decorate your seasonal sign with fairy lights and fresh foliage for added drama.

12. Create a striking winter scene

Image credit: Future/ Simon Bevan

Create the perfect winter wonderland in your home with pretty tea light holders shaped like houses. Placed on a side table they create a charming miniature town, lit by tea lights. A few well-placed miniature Christmas trees add to the snowy scene. Alternatively, wrap a simple string of white fairy lights to complete the look.

13. Add elegant candelabras

Image credit: Future/ Joanna Henderson

Dress the dinner table with elegant candle sticks, to support coloured tapered candles. Use the colour to add an accent shade to a more paired back decorating scheme.

Take a palette of icy whites, forest greens and woodland browns, add cosy Nordic accents and a sprinkling of Narnia for a bewitching festive scene to greet your guests come Christmas Day.

14. Warm with candlelight on a mantel

Image credit: Future/ Tim Young

Welcome guests into your home with a golden Christmas light display. An exotic stained black console table is filled with warmth and opulence using scented orange and cinnamon candles set alight in burnished and bronzed lanterns.

Complete the look with decorative luxe mini trees and pine cone garlands dotted with dainty, shimmering stars. Always be sure to use candles in a safe environment – never leave them unattended.

15. Take it outside

Image credit: Future Ben Anders

Show guests the way to your Christmas party with decorative outdoor Christmas lights. Here, three faux rattan stars make an eye-catching contrast against the leafy hedge, while a rope of mains-powered outdoor fairy lights entices people through the arch.

Use fairy lights as uplighters rather than all-over decorations to subtly draw attention to key features in your garden.

16. Brighten up a corner

Image credit: Future/ Tim Young

Even in a simple scheme, lights can be added to bring some festive cheer to the room. Throw light into a dark corner by adding a simple lighting feature with fairy lights and a plain, twig tree. Line a windowsill with a selection of pretty tea lights to add extra shimmer and shine.

17. Light the whole room

Image credit: Future/ Paul Raeside

Atmospheric lighting makes all the difference to the ambience of a room. Here, fairy lights have been strung over a twig tree in a large planter to eye-catching effect and entwined with faux garlands to decorate a sideboard. Both are complemented by the flickering candlelight in the foreground and a candle wreath hung low over the dining table.

18. Create your own fairy light covers

Image credit: Future/ David Giles

Give your fairy lights a festive makeover by creating simple DIY covers, made from basic paper cups. Whether you decide to drape them across a mantelpiece or hang them on your bed frame, these little lampshades will add a sense of fun to your space in next to no time.

Simply paper over a plastic cup with your favourite wallpaper, then apply a small amount of glue to the back of each cup and carefully stick through each cup. Place each cup upside down on a flat surface and draw a small cross in the middle of the base. Carefully cut through this cross using a craft knife and gently push the light into each hole. Use LED lights to ensure they don’t overheat.

What makes a good Christmas light display?

Ensure guests receive a warm welcome to your home this Christmas by choosing a mix of lighting. From the traditional fairy lights, to LED options in both static and eye-catching flickering settings, and icicles that can hang from mantelpieces and windows, the ways in which you light your home this Christmas can really bring the festive season to life.

Don’t forget outdoor spaces either, as there are plenty of choices available, from fun reindeer or Santa designs that kids will love, to more subtle wreaths and lanterns.

What is the most popular Christmas light colour?

You’re either a colour light fan or you’re not. But there’s a colour to suit all Christmas tastes.

The post Decorating with Christmas lights – ideas and arrangements to add festive sparkle appeared first on Ideal Home.