Articles by Ruth Hamilton, Homes Editor

Ruth is TechRadar's Homes Editor specializing in air (vacuum cleaners, robovacs, fans and air purifiers), and hair (hair dryers, straighteners and stylers). She has been in consumer journalism since 2020, reviewing and writing about everything from outdoor kit to mattresses and wellness gadgets, with stints on Tom's Guide and T3 before joining TechRadar. Before that, she worked on various design titles, in print and online.

Articles by: Ruth Hamilton

Dyson's new vacuum is as thin as a broom handle and appears to float across the floor

By Ruth Hamilton published 22 May 25

The new Dyson PencilVac looks nothing like any vacuum I've seen before – here are the 6 strangest things about it.

Roborock Saros Z70 robot vacuum holding a cloth

4 things I loved about the world's first robovac with a mechanical arm – and 3 that need work

By Ruth Hamilton published 20 May 25

The Roborock Saros Z70 can tidy up as well as vacuuming, and while it has big potential it's not quite there yet.

Roborock Saros Z70 robot vacuum with its arm out

Roborock Saros Z70 review: this robot vacuum has an arm, but it's not yet all that handy yet

By Ruth Hamilton published 20 May 25

The RZ70 boasts some truly groundbreaking features, but it needs refining if it's to be truly useful.

How do robot lawn mowers navigate without a boundary wire?

By Ruth Hamilton published 18 May 25

Modern lawnbots can find their way around without wires – here's how.

Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni robot vacuum and mop

I test robot vacuums for a living, and this new bot has the best mopping system I've seen

By Ruth Hamilton published 13 May 25

The newly unveiled Deebot X9 Pro Omni promises less gunk and less smearing.

The HEPA filter from inside the Blueair air purifier sits facing forward on a wood surface against a pink background.

What is a HEPA filter, and what is it used for?

By Ruth Hamilton published 11 May 25

HEPA filters are common in air purifiers and vacuums. Here's more on what they do, and whether they're worth prioritizing in the appliance you're shopping for.

Picture shows a Molekule Air Mini Plus air purifier sitting on a glass bedside table with a candle, cosmetic bottle, and potted plant to its right.

6 questions to ask before choosing an air purifier

By Ruth Hamilton published 10 May 25

Top tips to help you choose an air purifier that fits your needs and works in your space.

Shark Detect Pro cordless vacuum being tested in a living room

Shark Detect Pro Cordless vacuum review: lightweight, efficient and modern

By Ruth Hamilton last updated 9 May 25

Recommended

Although not the most powerful vac we've tested, the Shark Detect Pro Cordless is an excellent all-rounder that'll suit most people's needs.

Dyson V8 against an orange and blue background

The best vacuum for carpet 2025: powerful suction for deep cleaning

By Ruth Hamilton last updated 7 May 25

Keep your home spotless, with minimal effort, by using the best vacuum for carpet.

Dyson Ball Animal upright vacuum cleaner

Which type of vacuum cleaner should I buy?

By Ruth Hamilton last updated 6 May 25

We compare the pros and cons of the various vacuum types, from nimble cordless stick vacuums to robust and powerful uprights.

6 ways to extend the life of your Dyson Airwrap

By Ruth Hamilton published 23 April 25

Top tips to make your Airwrap last as long as possible, plus sustainable options for what to do if you need to replace yours.

Reviewer having her hair done with a Dyson Airwrap i.d. in a salon

How to get your Airwrap curls to hold, plus more top tips for getting the most from your Dyson multi-styler

By Ruth Hamilton published 21 April 25

I had my hair done by a celeb stylist – here's what he taught me about how to use the Dyson Airwrap the right way.

Dyson Gen5detect vacuum (left) vs Shark PowerDetect Cordless vacuum (right)

Shark PowerDetect Cordless vs Dyson Gen5detect: which brand's range-topping vacuum cleaner is better?

By Ruth Hamilton published 18 April 25

I tested Shark and Dyson's most expensive vacuums side-by-side – here's what I found out.

Dyson Supersonic Nural hair dryer (left) and Airwrap (right)

Dyson Supersonic vs Airwrap: do I need both?

By Ruth Hamilton last updated 15 April 25

Two ultra-popular tools, but both pretty pricey – I've tested both, so which one should you buy?

This curling wand looks like a drill and I'm not sure if it's dumb or genius

By Ruth Hamilton published 14 April 25

MDLondon has reinvented the curling wand, and if it actually works it could be a game-changer.

Dyson Airwrap i.d. with conical airwrap barrel attached

Dyson Airwrap i.d. review: a major upgrade on the original

By Ruth Hamilton published 12 April 25

Recommended

The 2024 Airwrap i.d. might look like its predecessor, but that extra button on the front is the key to effortless curls.

Bagless Dyson V8 (left) and bagged Gtech ProLite (right) vacuums

Bagged vs bagless vacuums: which is best for you?

By Ruth Hamilton last updated 7 April 25

We run down the differences between bagged and bagless vacuum cleaners, to help you choose which one to buy.

Roborock Saros 10 robot vacuum in its dock, in reviewer's home

Roborock Saros 10 review: a game-changer for getting under the sofa

By Ruth Hamilton published 5 April 25

This robot vacuum has a retractible navigation puck that lets it venture places taller bots can't. Here's my review.

Remember the Shark fan that spits on you to keep you cool? Now it has a portable sibling for on-the-go misting

By Ruth Hamilton published 1 April 25

With the FlexBreeze HydroGo, you'll never have to be without your own personal wind (and mist) machine again.

Miele Guard L1 Comfort XL cyclinder vacuum

I've been patiently waiting for the newest vacuum tech to make its way into cylinder vacuums, and Miele has finally delivered

By Ruth Hamilton published 20 March 25

Miele is bringing cylinder vacuums into the modern age at last, with new auto-adjusting, app-connected model.

Shark FlexStyle in reviewer's home, with auto-wrap barrel attached and oval brush and diffuser sat behind it

Shark FlexStyle review: a versatile multi-styler to rival the Airwrap

By Ruth Hamilton last updated 14 March 25

The Shark FlexStyle is versatile and comfortable to use, but a few attachments fell flat for us.

This new Roomba finally solves the big problem I have with robot vacuums

By Ruth Hamilton published 13 March 25

I don't have room for a bulky dock in my home, but the Roomba 205 has an innovative solution.

iRobot is overhauling its robovac range, and for the first time in years I'm excited about a new Roomba

By Ruth Hamilton published 12 March 25

Rotating mop pads, heated docks, and – at last! – LiDAR. iRobot is finally catching up with the competition.

Dyson vacuums have one big problem and I don't understand why

By Ruth Hamilton published 10 March 25

Dyson needs to fix this basic usability issue across its full range, not just the most expensive model.

The Apple MacBook Air next to the Dyson Supersonic R and new AMD GPU

ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech stories from the best tech at MWC to Apple's new iPads and MacBooks

By Hamish Hector published 8 March 25

The week's 7 biggest tech stories from MWC, Apple, Meta and more for March 8, 2025.

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