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

The best cheap vacuum 2025: clean up without getting cleaned out

By Tom May last updated 9 January 25

Want powerful cleaning on a budget? Here are the best cheap vacuums that don't skimp on performance.

Narwal’s new robovac will moonwalk your floors to get even the thickest carpets clean

By Ruth Hamilton published 8 January 25

CES 2025 The Narwal Flow has a novel way of getting deep into those carpet fibers.

The best air purifier 2025: for cleaner, healthier air in the home

By Ruth Hamilton last updated 8 January 25

Your guide to the best air purifiers around, recommended by experienced testers.

Three of the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair, on a green background

The best vacuum for pet hair 2025: keep fur and dander under control

By Tom May last updated 8 January 25

Keep your home fur-free with the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair.

Levoit’s new pet-parent air purifier will switch on the fans when it senses your dog is being stinky

By Ruth Hamilton published 7 January 25

CES 2025 It's enough to give poor flatulent Fido a complex.

This robot vacuum can also bring you a sandwich, and it might be the greatest gadget we've seen yet at CES

By Ruth Hamilton published 7 January 25

CES 2025 The SwitchBot K20+ Pro does everything you want a robot vacuum to do, plus several more things you don't.

Eat your heart out Daleks: Dreame's newest robovac can climb stairs

By Ruth Hamilton published 7 January 25

CES 2025 The search for ways to get robot vacuums over tall thresholds reaches inevitable conclusion as Dreame launches bot with tiny mechanical legs.

Family relaxing on the beach next underneath the Anker SOLIX Solar Umbrella

Move over Mary Poppins: this solar umbrella will charge your devices while you chill in the shade

By Ruth Hamilton published 7 January 25

CES 2025 The newly-unveiled SOLIX Solar Umbrella is my unexpected summer essential.

Eureka J15 Max Ultra robot vacuum and mop approaching a liquid spillage

This new robot vacuum-and-mop is so eagle-eyed it can even spy clear liquid spillages

By Ruth Hamilton published 6 January 25

CES 2025 The Eureka J15 Max Ultra uses AI to detect even the most subtlest differences in texture and reflections.

This robot lawn mower promises to traverse awkward lawns with the agility of a mountain goat

By Ruth Hamilton published 6 January 25

CES 2025 The Lymow One lawnbot is designed to offer "sturdy, speedy, superior" mowing.

Roborock Saros 10R robot vacuum in its dock

Roborock's new robovacs are determined to get under your sofa – here's how

By Ruth Hamilton published 5 January 25

CES 2025 The new Saros 10 and 10R are ready to bust dust in places other bots can't go.

Roborock Saros Z70 robot vacuum picking up a sock with its pincer arm

Roborock’s new robovac has a mechanical arm that can pick up your socks and maybe also play with your cat

By Ruth Hamilton published 5 January 25

CES 2025 The Saros Z70 doesn't just clean your floors, it'll tidy up for you first.

4 ways to make your vacuum cleaner last longer

By Ruth Hamilton published 3 January 25

Good vacuum cleaners don't come cheap – here's how to keep yours running for as long as possible.

Why does my vacuum smell, and what can I do about it? We asked 4 experts

By Tom May published 2 January 25

Discover the common causes of vacuum smells and learn practical tips for keeping your vacuum odor-free.

Dyson Airwrap i.d. (left) and Dyson Airwrap (right)

Dyson Airwrap vs Airwrap i.d. – what's the difference?

By Ruth Hamilton published 31 December 24

These two styling tools look almost identical; here's how the 2024 Airwrap i.d. improves on the 2022 Dyson Airwrap.

best car vacuum buyers guide: Dyson V8 Animal against a blue radar background

The best car vacuum 2025: lightweight vacs to keep your car spotless

By Verity Burns last updated 19 December 24

Keep your car dust and crumb-free with the best car vacuums from the likes of Dyson, Shark and Eufy.

What to do if your vacuum cleaner smells like burning

By Tom May published 18 December 24

A burning smell can be a sign of mechanical failure – so turn your vacuum off immediately, then read this for the next steps.

This robot lawn mower turns into a snow blower, and I've never wanted to wake up to a blocked drive more

By Ruth Hamilton published 16 December 24

The snow must blow on.

L'Oreal's new hair dryer blows with the force of a Category 4 hurricane

By Ruth Hamilton published 5 December 24

Those water droplets won't stand a chance against the AirLight Pro.

Shark Stratos Cordless with Clean Sense IQ IZ862H

Shark Stratos Cordless vacuum cleaner review

By Alex Temblador last updated 18 November 24

The Stratos cordless vacuum is a powerful stick vac with some useful added features; a great choice for those with pets or lots of carpet.

Dyson vacuum floorhead (left) and Shark floorhead (right)

Shark vs Dyson: which vacuum cleaner brand is better?

By Ruth Hamilton last updated 15 November 24

We run through the key differences between the two titans of the vacuum cleaner world.

A manual stick vacuum sucking up oats on hard floor (left) and a robot vacuum sucking up flour on a rug (right)

How we test vacuum cleaners

By Ruth Hamilton published 8 November 24

We review dozens of vacuums and robot vacs every year – here's how we put them through their paces.

Yeedi C12 Pro Plus robot vacuum sucking up breakfast cereal

3 questions to ask before buying a robot vacuum in the Black Friday sales

By Ruth Hamilton published 7 November 24

Thinking of investing in a robovac this sales season? Here's how to narrow down your options, so you end up with the right model for you.

Dyson Nural in a hand, with sign saying TechRadar Choice Awards 2024 Winner

A hair dryer for our Home Tech Device of the Year? Here's how the Dyson Supersonic Nural blew us away

By Ruth Hamilton published 29 October 24

Dyson continues to lead the way in the haircare market, with new products that introduce genuinely useful innovations that no one else has thought of.

How to choose a robot vacuum: here's what to look for

By Ruth Hamilton published 20 October 24

As TechRadar's resident robovac expert, follow my advice to find the right model for you.

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