I’ve tested thousands of gadgets

As editor-in-chief of Good Housekeeping for seven years, Gabi Huddart has seen countless products undergo testing by the Good Housekeeping Institute.

When I was an editor Good cleaning I’ve seen thousands of gadgets and gizmos submitted to the famous Good Housekeeping Institute for testing. Many of these products were so impressive that I had to buy them myself and use them often. As the temperature drops and Christmas is coming to usHere are the gadgets that will accompany me in winter.

Beurer HD75 Cozy Heated Bed RRP £69.99 (currently £57.99, Amazon)

When the temperature plummets, there is a constant battle in my house over the thermostat knob: my husband turns it down, and I turn it up! I hate be coldespecially in my own home. This blanket is the answer: perfect for snuggling up on the couch for a Sunday afternoon nap or a cozy evening in front of the TV.

Lakeland Dry: Ambulance Luxury Kit with 3 Heated Levels and Graphic Cover, £294.98, Lakeland

While dryers have their place (especially when it comes to sheets and towels), they are expensive to operate and not as environmentally friendly as heated air dryers. It dries clothes on heated runners within a day or so (faster if you put a tent on top) and costs just a few pence to run per hour. I have the largest version for a family of four with a lot of dirty sports equipment, but there are other sizes for smaller families.

Lumie Desklamp Touch Dimmable SAD Light, £120, Lumi

Like many people, the long dark days of the British winter definitely affect my mood, especially when I work from home where there is no artificial office lighting. A couple of years ago I bought a Lumie desk lamp that works great as a desk lamp, but the adjustable head allows the light to shine directly on my face for a while.

Seasonal affective disorder – or SAD – lamps imitate natural light. They promise that they can help improve your mood by encouraging your brain to reduce production of melatonin (the hormone that makes you sleepy) and increase production of serotonin (the hormone that improves your mood). While my research on one of these is not a scientific study, I have found that it does help improve my mood and this light has also performed well in GHI tests.

Breville Sandwich/Panini and Toast Press VST025 RRP £35.99 (currently £31.95, Amazon)

We invested in one of these (which received a high GHI rating) during the dark days of lockdown, when lunch became the highlight of the day. Creating interesting toppings for toast became a competitive sport in our family, and my two daughters (both teenagers at the time) pushed the boundaries of how much food could be squeezed into one sandwich.

Personally, I’m not a fan of putting chips inside along with ham, cheese and tomatoes, but the girls praise the crunch factor. I prefer to melt the tuna myself. Luckily, the non-stick surface of this gadget is easy to clean.

Asics Fujitrail Waterproof Jacket, £129, Asics

I’ve run the London Marathon for the last two years and hope to do a hat-trick of running it again in 2025. But as any serious marathon runner will tell you, training should be done during the dreary winter months. Most of us will start work either shortly before or just after Christmas, which isn’t easy when it seems like it never stops raining. One of my best investments in rainy 2024 was wearing a good running jacket – and this one was voted best by GHI for running in the rain.

AnySharp Pro Metal – World’s Best Knife Sharpener with Suction Cup, RRP £24.99 (currently £17.49, Amazon)

As we approach Christmas I would recommend this gizmo to anyone organizing the big day. A dull knife can tear a perfectly cooked turkey into pieces. But with the help of this little guy, you can sharpen your knives and professionally cut up a large bird in no time. Culinary team in Good cleaning told me to buy one of these last year and they were absolutely worth the money!

Gray meat thermometer with digital fork, £11, procook.co.uk

This little gadget was another recommendation from Good cleaningculinary team. It takes the guesswork out of knowing when meat is cooked, making it a hassle-free purchase for anyone who enjoys cooking a Sunday roast or is responsible for cooking meat. Christmas Türkiye this year. It’s programmed for six different meats, from rare to well done, so whether you prefer your beef red or brown, you’ll know exactly when it’s ready to eat.

Steamworks Handheld Clothes Steamer, £26, Argos

Once you discover the ease and speed of a steamer, you’ll likely leave the ironing board behind forever. While you can buy larger, professional versions, my little portable one works great and gets rid of creases in seconds. I can decide what to wear in the morning, steam in minutes, and be ready to go with no creases or clumps in sight. Especially good in winter, when shirts and trousers are in fashion.

Fulton Birdcage-1 umbrella, £22.97, Amazon

There is nothing more annoying than a flimsy umbrella that gets blown inside out by a gust of wind. But that hasn’t happened since I bought one of these umbrellas a couple of years ago – it’s now in its third winter and still working. The birdcage shape also means it provides adequate protection for delicate hairstyles, so while bad hair days aren’t a thing of the past, it definitely helps. Oh, and Queen Camilla was recently spotted with one while on tour in Australia, so it gets the royal seal of approval too!

Warmies Fully Heated Wellness Boots, French Lavender, £19.95, Amazon

Give whoever came up with this a knighthood now! For those who, like me, suffer from cold feet in winter, here is the answer – in an instant. Pop them in the microwave for just over a minute and they’ll reach a temperature of 41 degrees – pure heaven for cold babies. They stay warm for about an hour, are very soft and flavorful to boot (pardon the pun).