Readers have shared the everyday purchases that make their lives a little bit better, from breathable bedding and slanted tweezers to an indispensable garlic press. The items range from small gadgets that solve daily frustrations to more expensive pieces that have proved their worth over the years.
Sleep savers and gym buddies
Reader Janet wishes she had known about linen sheets from Piglet in Bed before she hit menopause. “All those sweaty nights tossing and turning could have been avoided,” she says. “They are soft, comfortable and, being a natural fabric, keep you cool on hot nights and cosy in the winter.” She also loves her mattress protector and pillows from Woolroom, describing them as “expensive but worth the money”.
Carolyn Richardson bought a Lanvin dress from its summer 2009 collection. “It’s never out of fashion and takes me everywhere as it’s unfussy, classic and beautifully tailored,” she says.
Stuart Hatcher recommends three life-changing items: a garlic press that removes the need for time-consuming chopping, a pair of wrist wraps for weightlifting that “cost virtually nothing by comparison with other exercise kit and are so effective”, and a tiny pump that earns him “envious looks at festivals when I effortlessly get my inflatable mattress ready”.
Kitchen heroes and garden helpers
Martin Millmore has also found an indispensable garlic press. “It minces unpeeled garlic, swipes the garlic off with its plastic blade, and auto-ejects the skin. Best of all, no garlic smell on your hands. It’s life-changing (slightly),” he says.
Diana Lovelock told us her George at Asda changing robe (now out of stock) “has proved indispensable for city breaks and dog walks”. She adds: “It is wind- and waterproof, insulated, and my old-lady phone case fits in the inside pocket. I bought it for a trip to New York, and I felt invincible! The dog is [also] happy because we can go out whatever the weather.”
For readers Lindsay and Lyn, the search for the perfect pair of tweezers is over. Lindsay says: “I am the happy owner of a £15 blue mini slant pair by Tweezerman. Excellent value for money and quality. I highly recommend.” Lyn says Vitry’s stainless steel slant-end tweezers are “perfect for removing everything from unwanted hair to splinters”.
Frances recommends her Vitry cosmetic pencil sharpener: “For decades I’ve been using regular pencil sharpeners for my brow, lip and eye pencils – usually found in my children’s discarded school pencil cases – which left them blunt and pulverised. Now I don’t have to experience the torment of scraping badly sharpened pencils across my skin.”
Ann swears by her Danish dough whisk: “It is so much stronger and easier to use than a wooden spoon, allows me to make no-knead dough with ease and is excellent at whisking. It also makes my cheese sauces lump-free.”
For speedy breakfasts, Amanda Nieurzyla-John loves her egg cooker: “I use it five to six days a week for all my egg cookery. It can do six hard-, soft-, or medium-boiled eggs, or two poached. It takes the guesswork out of cooking while you concentrate on the rest of the meal. I don’t know how I have cooked all these years without it.” A similar Salter egg cooker that can boil up to six eggs or poach two at a time costs less than £20.
Jennie recommends a jar key for those who struggle to open jars: “No more RSI. Every home should have one.” For gardeners, one anonymous reader recommended investing in a shredder to help clear up the mess made by clipping and pruning: “It’s a must-have for generating mulch for flower beds, disposal of branches and hedges.”
Walking poles put to the test
Walking – or trekking – poles aren’t just for serious mountain-goers. They can reduce strain on knees and hips, improve balance, and help spread effort across your upper body, and are especially handy on rocky descents. Outdoor expert Sian Lewis put 10 models to the test, hiking at least 10 miles with each across a mix of trails, inclines and surfaces, including mountain tracks in the Lake District and more relaxed rambles on the Cotswold Way.
As the season of damp approaches, a dehumidifier can tackle condensation and musty smells – and it is also great at drying clothes for a fraction of the cost of a tumble dryer. Caramel Quin tested 14 models and rated them on aspects from how well they did the job to how much energy they used.
Readers are invited to share the one thing they would most like to unwrap this Christmas, whatever their age, by emailing thefilter@theguardian.com.
