Whatever you call it – bog roll, TP, thunder sheets or others names we can’t say here – it’s got one main job and you want it to do it well.

Two ply or three? Double length or triple? Patterned or embossed? Recycled or bamboo? Since when did toilet paper become so complicated?

If you choose toilet paper that’s rough, tears at the worst moment, or clogs up your pipes, you’re basically flushing money down the toilet.

Stats show that each Aussie rolls through about 10kg of toilet paper per year, so this is a purchase you want to get right.

To help you get the best dunny roll for your dollar, here’s a handy round-up of the best and worst performers in our latest toilet paper review.

How we test to find the best

Our experts selected 42 of the most popular products and tested them to see which is the tip-top TP.

They score each product on four key areas:

1. Softness (Is it gentle?)
2. Separation (Does it tear off easily?)
3. Strength (Will it rip when you wipe?)
4. Sewer-friendliness (Will it clog your bog?)

We use these scores to give each product an overall score. We call it a ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating.

For a loo roll to be recommended by our experts, it needs a ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating of at least 70%, plus scores of 65% and higher on all four tests.

To misquote Meatloaf, three out of four ain’t bad – but when it comes to toilet paper, you really want an all-rounder. 

Compromising on even one of these elements can land you in a sticky situation, but if you choose a toilet paper recommended by our experts, it’ll deliver on all fronts (and backsides).

On a roll: The best toilet paper

Here are the products that our experts recommend as being best for your bottom.

Quilton 4 Ply Softness Gold

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 78% (Recommended)
• Softness score: 90%
• Price: 69c per 100 sheets

Quilton Shea Butter in Gold 4 Ply

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 77% (Recommended)
• Softness score: 90%
• Price: 69c per 100 sheets

Vevelle (Woolworths) Luxury Soft Double Length

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 77% (Recommended)
• Softness score: 80%
• Price: 29c per 100 sheets

Quilton King Size 25% Larger Sheets in Gold 4 Ply

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 76% (Recommended)
• Softness score: 90%
• Price: 63c per 100 sheets

Naturale 100% Recycled 3 Ply Softness

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 75% (Recommended)
• Softness score: 80%
• Price: 28c per 100 sheets

Best budget buys

When every dollar matters, it’s hard to justify spending extra on something that literally ends up going down the gurgler.

Some of the top scoring TPs in our test are also at the top end of the price range, costing up to 69 cents per 100 sheets, which can really add up when you’re literally buying kilos of the stuff every year.

But if you’re on a budget, do you have to settle for bog-standard bog roll? Not necessarily. 

Look out for our Best Buy products: they offer great value for money but may not quite meet the criteria to be recommended. To be classified as a Best Buy, the product must score at least 70% in our performance tests but also cost 30c or less per sheet.

This means that they all scored well across most tests, but some may have fallen short in others.

Many didn’t fare well in our puncture test, for example – which measures how likely your finger is to burst through the paper mid-wipe. That’s a real bummer.

If you don’t mind rolling the dice on the dunny, though, these are great toilet papers in other respects.

At a budget-friendly 18 to 30 cents per 100 sheets, our Best Buys are a good choice on face value, but some perhaps not so much on the, er, other end.

Saving money on essentials feels good, but you just can’t put a price on knowing that your toilet paper isn’t going to give way mid-wipe.

Our equal-highest scoring Best Buy is the Coles So Soft & Strong 3 Ply Embossed White Double Length with a ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating of 78% and a cost of 30 cents per sheet.

It received solid scores in most of our tests, just falling short of a recommendation due to its performance in the puncture test (64%).  

Another supermarket own-brand buy, the Woolworths’ own-label Vevelle White Toilet Tissue 1 Ply, also has a ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating of 78%. It scored highly in the softness stakes and is very kind to your budget – it’s the cheapest roll in our review at just 18 cents per sheet. But it let the team down in the puncture test with a nerve-wracking score of 45% (not surprising given its 1-ply status).

If you’re petrified of a puncture in your paper but you’re still on a budget, a cent extra per sheet gets you an extra ply (and another Best Buy) with Vevelle White Toilet Tissue 2 Ply. It scores high on softness and a slightly more respectable 65% in our puncture test.

(Bear in mind that toilet paper prices can change frequently; these prices were correct at the time of testing.)

Best eco-friendly toilet paper

ÌÇÐÄVlog has been reviewing toilet paper for close to 25 years, and in the past, recycled, eco-friendly toilet paper hasn’t traditionally had a great reputation for softness or quality.

“Toilet paper that’s kind to the planet may not always be kind to your behind,” says ÌÇÐÄVlog expert Chris Barnes.

This year, however, we’re able to recommend two 100% recycled toilet papers that hit the sweet spot on softness, price and performance (both Australian owned).

• Naturale 100% Recycled 3 Ply Softness scores 80% for softness, 74% for sewer-friendliness, 65% for strength and 78% for ease of sheet separation. 
• The Yarn’n 100% Recycled Aussie Manufactured Deadly Dunny Paper comes recommended by our experts with a score of 74% (and scoring well on sewer-friendliness and softness). It’s one of the high rollers when it comes to price though, at 43 cents per sheet. 

If you’re willing to put your money where your eco-credentials are, the next-highest scoring 100% recycled paper in our review Who Gives A Crap 100% Recycled Classic Soft Double Length scored a respectable 71% but also comes in at a pricey 36 cents per sheet.

Bog-clogging toilet papers to avoid 

If you have a sensitive sewage system at home, you’ll want to give these a miss. They’re all quite soft (scoring between 70% and 80%), but all of them scored poorly on our disintegration test. 

That means they take far longer to break up after flushing than most other toilet papers.

Kleenex Complete Clean

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 53%
• Disintegration score: 5%
• Price: 56 cents per 100 sheets

Kleenex Complete Clean Double Length

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 53%
• Disintegration score: 5%
• Price: 52 cents per 100 sheets

iCare Luxury Eco Toilet Tissue 3 Ply

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 55%
• Disintegration score: 17%
• Price: 56 cents per 100 sheets

iCare Double Length Tissue

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 55%
• Disintegration score: 17%
• Price: 39 cents per 100 sheets

How to save money on toilet paper

With the current cost of living, every little saving counts. And since toilet paper is a staple that you’ll use every single day, it makes sense to get the best deal possible so you’re not just flushing money down the toilet.

Toilet paper prices change frequently. And between sale prices, double-length rolls and bulk packs, it can be tricky to know whether you’re getting the best price. The best way to tell is to check the unit price so you can compare how much you’re paying per 100 sheets. 

If you have the storage space, buying in bulk is usually (but not always) cheaper, so check those unit prices before you settle on a pack that’s cheaper overall.

The age-old question: Over or under?

We have a conclusive answer to the controversial question of whether to hang your toilet paper over or under the roll. At risk of permanently losing members, we’re here to answer it once and for all: over is the correct method.

Perforated toilet paper was invented in 1871 by US inventor Seth Wheeler. He subsequently re-patented his invention in roll form in 1891.

His patent application includes detailed diagrams that clearly show the paper going up and over the roll, not under. 

So placing your toilet paper overhand is using this wonder product precisely as its creator intended.

Don’t agree? Join the conversation in our and tell us why. 

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The post The best and worst toilet paper we tested appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Ply count
• Virgin vs recycled toilet paper
• Certification
• Elemental chlorine-free (ECF) toilet paper
• Bamboo and wood pulp alternatives
• Other features and considerations
• Saving money on toilet paper

Toilet paper is a huge contributor to forest logging, so sustainability claims and environmental classification schemes are something we should be paying close attention to.Ìý

But what else should we be thinking about when when buying loo paper?

Ply count

Toilet paper generally ranges from one- to four-ply. This simply refers to the number of layers of paper used. Generally the higher the ply count, the thicker, softer, stronger and more absorbent the tissue should be.

Virgin vs recycled toilet paper

Virgin toilet paper uses no recycled or alternative fibres. Recycled toilet paper is made by re-using a variety of materials.

The bottom line (no pun intended) – look for recycled products. The process of recycling is less damaging to the environment than producing virgin products, and it keeps waste out of landfill.Ìý

However, paper can only be recycled four to six times before the fibres become too short and weak, so there’ll always be a need for virgin paper.Ìý

Only a small number of the products we’ve tested are made from 100% recycled material.

Certification

FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification

FSC is an international, nonprofit organisation that promotes responsible forest management by providing certification of forest products.Ìý

You’ll find the FSC tree-tick logo on many toilet paper packs, but if you take a closer look at the fine print you’ll notice there are three classifications to the label:

• FSC Mix means the product can be a mixture of timber or fibre from an FSC-certified forest, reclaimed timber or fibre, or timber or fibre from other controlled sources. The entire production volume needs to contain at least 70% FSC-certified material, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that a particular product line will contain any FSC-certified material at all.
• FSC Recycled means all the timber or fibre in the product is recycled material, though 15% can be pre-consumer waste (manufacturing scrap that has been put back into production). Your best bet is to look for products with this logo.
• FSC 100% means all the timber or fibre in the product comes from an FSC-certified forest.

Ultimately, the FSC logo isn’t a guarantee that the whole product is from a sustainable source, but it does indicate that the virgin fibres (see virgin vs recycled toilet paper below) used to make the product came from forests managed to higher environmental and social standards.

PEFC certification

The Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) is an international organisation that works to promote sustainable forest management and ensure timber and non-timber forest products are produced using high ecological, social and ethical standards.Ìý

It has a third-party classification scheme, and you can identify its products by its PEFC-certified label. There are two PEFC classifications.

• PEFC Certified means at least 70% of the forest and tree-based material used in the product is PEFC-certified, and any remaining material is from “PEFC-controlled” sources, meaning there’s no forest and tree-based material from controversial sources.
• PEFC Recycled means the product contains only recycled forest and tree-based material.

Elemental chlorine-free (ECF) toilet paper

Many toilet paper products are bleached to make them whiter. You may have noticed the claim “elemental chlorine-free bleaching” on some of them. Elemental chlorine gas produces dioxins that can be harmful not only to the environment but also to your health.Ìý

An ECF claim doesn’t mean the product is chlorine-free, but rather that the product has been bleached using chlorine dioxide (instead of elemental chlorine gas), which reduces the potential to form these harmful dioxins.Ìý

It’s best to look for a product that is “unbleached” or uses alternatives to chlorine (like oxygen or hydrogen peroxide) to achieve whiteness.

Bamboo and wood pulp alternatives

A growing number of brands are making toilet paper from bamboo instead of timber fibres. Bamboo is a fast-growing, very sustainable crop that’s ubiquitous across Asia, so it’s a comparatively environmentally friendly option.

But be aware that unlike the majority of traditional paper-based toilet paper, which is manufactured locally, bamboo-based toilet paper is usually imported, so has a higher carbon cost in transit.

Other features and considerations

Printed, scented, embossed, quilted

These ‘features’ are all added for decorative and aesthetic appeal. Whether you choose to buy loo paper with these features comes down to personal preference.

Hypoallergenic

If you have a sensitivity to dyes or perfumes then look for a product without these, and one that claims to be hypoallergenic.

Packaging

Toilet paper can be wrapped in either paper or plastic packaging. While you can easily recycle paper packaging, it can be harder to find recycling for soft plastics.Ìý

Country of origin

Unlike most commodity goods these days, toilet paper is typically manufactured locally rather than imported. That’s because it’s a very bulky, low-volume product, so it doesn’t make financial sense to ship it halfway around the world, especially when we have plenty of raw materials for it here in Australia.Ìý

While some brands are imported, particularly bamboo-based products, if you see toilet paper from a mainstream brand that was manufactured overseas, you might be looking at a grey import.

Toilet paper delivery and subscription services

An increasingly common business model is goods delivered to your home. This is especially handy for toilet paper as it can be big and bulky, and hence a hassle to lug home from the shops.Ìý

You can even ‘subscribe’ to toilet paper now, receiving a regular delivery to your doorstep so you never have to think about whether you’re running low again.Ìý

This service typically won’t be offered by the traditional mainstream brands, but rather the innovative new players in the toilet paper business.

Saving money on toilet paper

You can spend anywhere from 17 cents to 69 cents per 100 sheets of toilet paper. It might not seem like much when you look at it like this, but over time that’s a lot of money to be flushing down the toilet.Ìý

You could save money by buying in bulk, as large packs will generally work out to be cheaper per 100 sheets.Ìý

But it may not be that easy to compare prices between products – double and triple length rolls can muddy the waters a little.Ìý

For example, you may be choosing between a 2-pack of double length toilet paper and a 4-pack of the standard length stuff.Ìý

You might expect to pay a higher pack price for a 4-pack of paper, relaxed in your assumption that it’s likely to work out cheaper per sheet, because you’re buying in bulk and that’s the way it usually goes.Ìý

But when the smaller pack contains twice the number of sheets than the larger pack, and therefore has the same number of sheets overall, paying more for that 4-pack means you’re getting the poorer deal.

So make sure you check the unit price, not just the overall price, when shopping. Unit pricing for loo paper is generally given as the cost per 100 sheets (it may be displayed as ‘100SS’).Ìý

You could also consider the ply number when looking for the best deal. You may find you go through low-ply toilet paper quicker than a higher ply as it’s thinner.Ìý

The post How to buy the best toilet paper appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Induction cooktops
• Dehumidifiers
• Coffee machines
• Stick vacuums
• Multi-cookers
• Fitness trackers and smart watches

A well-designed appliance really can change our lives, freeing us from drudgery and giving us extra time and energy for more meaningful activities.Ìý

The washing machine freed us from slaving over a hot copper and mangle, reducing an entire day (or even days) dedicated to washing down to just a few hours. And dishwashers make short work of multiple loads of washing and drying the dishes by hand (while hiding the dirty dishes in the interim).Ìý

Vacuum cleaners did away with laborious sweeping and beating carpets, and fridges improved food safety and reduced the need to shop as frequently.Ìý

ÌÇÐÄVlog experts deal with hundreds of appliances each year, so they’ve seen fads come and go. Here are the recent product innovations that they think are game-changers.Ìý

Induction cooktops

The very idea of induction cooktops sounds like something out of a 1960s sci-fi novel: an electro-magnetic force field that cooks your food. What’s next? A box that heats food by vibrating the water molecules? (Oh, wait – that’s a microwave.)

But seriously, induction cooking is changing the way we cook and – importantly – the energy that we use to power our cooktops. Gas has typically been considered more environmentally friendly than burning wood or coal, but there’s no getting around it: it’s still a fossil fuel that creates greenhouse gases. And gas extraction methods also have significant environmental impacts, even before the gas is burned.Ìý

Recent research also points to gas appliances causing poor indoor air quality, which can have a nasty effect on your family’s health.Ìý

Induction cooking delivers the responsiveness of gas cooking without those negative environmental and health impacts. (Obviously, induction cooktops still use electricity, but if you have solar panels or you’re buying green power you can significantly reduce your environmental impact by using them.)

Induction cooktops actually heat pans faster than gas, and give you better temperature control. They’re easier to clean and have safety features like automatic shut-off if a pan boils dry or you remove cookware from the cooking surface.Ìý

Want to know more about induction cooking? Our experts explain how to buy the best induction cooktop.Ìý

Dehumidifiers

With the wild weather conditions of the last few years, dehumidifiers have been in high demand, and it’s easy to see why: a damp home can quickly turn into a mouldy health hazard, so an appliance that reduces moisture in the air will make a big difference.Ìý

If you’re renting or can’t afford to renovate to improve ventilation and structural problems, a dehumidifier is a good investment. And if your home has been affected by a flood, leak or water damage, a dehumidifier can be your saving grace.Ìý

They’re not cheap, though, and even some of the expensive ones can be hit-and-miss, so it’s really important to make sure you’re spending your money on a dehumidifier that works well.

Most of the models our experts recommend cost $500 or more, so if you want a good one, be prepared to spend that or even more. Unfortunately, the cheaper models we’ve tested tend to perform poorly, with the cheapest dehumidifier we tested scoring just 3% for water removal.

Can’t afford one? If you already have air conditioning, you could use the ‘dry’ mode to remove some moisture from the air. Otherwise, ensuring good air flow using ceiling fans and pedestal fans will help.Ìý

We’ve also analysed how effective DampRid is compared to a dehumidifier if you’re on a tight budget and you only have a mild mould or damp issue.Ìý

Trying to justify the purchase? Your dehumidifier can also do an extra shift in the laundry after it’s finished drying out your bathroom. “Besides the obvious first purpose, a good dehumidifier will dry a basket of wet clothes overnight in the laundry room, which has saved us a lot of hassle and dryer use during the wet months,” says ÌÇÐÄVlog staffer Tom.Ìý

ÌÇÐÄVlog verifier Wendy uses a dehumidifier in concert with an air purifier at home. “They help keep the mould and allergens down in my house and have improved my indoor air quality so much,” she says.Ìý

Coffee machines

If instant coffee just doesn’t hit the spot but you’re choking on the cost of shop-bought coffee, a home espresso machine can save your weekly budget and your tastebuds. And getting your caffeine fix without getting out of your pyjamas is a big plus. Sign us up!

You can pick up a pretty good machine without overstretching your credit card – not to mention that in the long run you’ll be spending much less by DIYing your brew. We calculated that you’ll spend $1500 a year or even more if you buy just one coffee a day from your local cafe – that’s not a cheap habit! 

Is it worth buying a home espresso machine? Our cost analysis says yes.Ìý

With the cost of living skyrocketing along with the price of coffee, we predict that more and more Australians will try their hand at home-brewed coffee.Ìý

You don’t need to be a barista to produce a tasty coffee at home. Depending on your budget, skill level and just how involved you want to be in the process, you can find the right machine for you, from a basic pod machine to a hands-on manual machine to an automatic machine that does all the work with the press of a button.Ìý

To get you started, we can help you decide which coffee machine is right for you. And then when you’re ready to take the plunge (lol), here are the best coffee machines under $600. Or you can read our full home espresso coffee machine reviews to find your perfect match.Ìý

Stick vacuums

Doing the vacuuming used to mean dragging out a heavy, cumbersome upright vac and heaving it around the room while gradually becoming industrially deaf from the noisy motor. At least it was a good workout, right?

Stick vacs have revolutionised the way we clean, making quick clean-ups of high-traffic areas possible in less time than it’d take to lug out your heavy vacuum, plug it in and put it away again.Ìý

They’re also light and generally easy to manoeuvre, which means that cleaning the kitchen won’t wipe you out, so you’ll have more energy for other housekeeping tasks (or better yet, leisure activities).Ìý

While you can spend well over $1000 on a stick vacuum, there are cheaper models out there that well and truly deliver suck for your buck. We’ve rounded up three of the best stick vacs under $250 to help free you from a corded vacuum on the cheap.Ìý

An appliance that makes light work of boring housework? That’s definitely a game-changer in our book!

Multi-cookers

First, there was the slow cooker: it revolutionised the way we cook by taking care of dinner while you’re out of the house, meaning you could come home to a hot meal after doing some basic prep in the morning.

ÌÇÐÄVlog’s kitchen experts still swear by slow cookers: they make cooking healthy, cheap, flavoursome meals a cinch; they’re affordable to buy and run; and they’ll save you money because they’re great for batch cooking so you can always pull something out of the freezer instead of buying expensive takeaway.Ìý

If a slow cooker was already a game-changer, the invention of the multi-cooker really took things to the next level. The clever fusion of a slow cooker and a pressure cooker, the multi-cooker is one of the most versatile kitchen appliances you can own, giving you the option to cook low and slow or to bash out dinner quick smart.Ìý

Most multi-cookers now include plenty of other functions too, including steaming, searing, rice cooking, yoghurt making and more. And some multi-cookers now have air frying capabilities, so we can add air frying to that list. There’s not much a multi-cooker can’t do!

“I think multi-cookers are still more useful than a standalone air fryer, but the combination of a multi-cooker and an air fryer is a game-changer,” says ÌÇÐÄVlog kitchen expert Fiona Mair.

“Apart from having fewer appliances on your countertops and in your cupboards, they are very versatile, giving you ‘dry’ and ‘wet’ forms of cooking.

“Regular multi-cookers are great for long, slow cooking but don’t have the ability to crisp or brown foods such as roast meat or veggies. If your multi-cooker has an air fryer function, you can use it for crisping up your roast after slow cooking, making roast veggies and browning and crisping the tops of casseroles and gratins.

“Multi-cookers with air fryers are perfect for kitchens that lack an oven, small kitchens and things like motor homes and RVs.”

Our experts put multi-cookers under the microscope in our kitchen lab, assessing their ability to cook chilli beef, lamb shanks, white rice and brown rice, and how easy they are to use and clean – so you can find the best multi-cooker to revolutionise how you cook.Ìý

Fitness trackers and smart watches

Watches used to do just one thing: tell the time. But now there’s so much more you can do: record your step count and how far you’ve run, track your sleep, monitor your heart rate, get alerts for your messages, reply to texts, and even track your location. And they often link to apps so you can see more detailed breakdowns of your activities.

They’re essentially a mini smartphone for your wrist. But they’re generally not cheap: the models we’ve tested run from $399 to as high as $1399 for an Apple Watch so make sure you only pay for what you want or need.

While not as versatile, a more affordable option is a fitness tracker or fitness band. They don’t do quite as many things as a smart watch, but they’re perfect for monitoring your exercise and various aspects of health, such as heart rate and sleep quality.

Some smart watches and fitness trackers can also double as a personal alarm for elderly people or anyone who is at risk of falls or wandering off.Ìý

Dedicated personal alarms can be problematic for a number of reasons – and in fact, we gave the entire product category a Shonky Award for being unreliable and hard to use. Buying a smart watch with fall detection and health monitoring features instead can offer similar protections but with all the added utility of a smart watch.

“My mother has an Apple Watch, mainly for the fall detection feature,” says ÌÇÐÄVlog appliance expert Kim Gilmour.

“Her model has mobile connectivity so she doesn’t need her phone nearby if she needs to make or answer phone calls. It also monitors any irregularities in her heartbeat and reminds her to keep moving now and again.

“She hasn’t had to use it in an emergency, thank goodness, but she finds it reassuring.”

The products that have changed ÌÇÐÄVlogrs’ lives

We asked ÌÇÐÄVlog testers and staff to tell us which products have made the biggest impact on their lives. Here’s what they said.Ìý

• It’s a steam mop for me. No more big buckets of soapy water and a wet floor that takes hours to dry. – Laura
• My Vitamix. I use it every single day, multiple times a day, and it’s a godsend especially if you’re on a health kick or have little kids. I use it to make purees, smoothies and popsicles, to whizz up berries for yoghurt or porridge, and for making soup. It’s great to help you get a wider variety of ingredients into your diet, and it’s so powerful that everything is blitzed in seconds. – Pru
• I have two favourite products, and both are for the same reason: speed. My portable induction cooktop boils a saucepan of water or heats a frypan so much faster than our old electric cooktop elements. And when you have hungry children at dinnertime, an air fryer is a saviour as it cuts down the cooking time dramatically. – Danny
• A recent purchase that has changed my life is my water flosser (aka water pick) – it’s made a real difference to my dental health. – Chris
• The auto-doser on my washing machine was a real game-changer and the absence of one would now be a deal-breaker if we had to replace this machine. It’s not just the convenience of not having to dose it manually each time, it was more about the chemical safety and spillage aspect if you have younger children. Having the auto-doser meant I could delegate the kids to do their own washing while they were still fairly young… what a time-saver that’s been! – Deanna
• A good-quality coffee grinder is a must-have for me. Yes, it’s an additional cost and a whole extra appliance sitting on your bench but you just cannot beat freshly ground coffee vs pod or pre-ground. And it’s still way cheaper than buying a coffee every day! – Rebekah
• I used to loathe cleaning windows or any kind of glass but my window vac makes it so much faster and simpler. It never leaves streaks and cuts the job down to about a third of the time. – Chris
• My electric toothbrush – it pulses every 30 seconds so I move to a different quadrant and get the full two minutes of brushing without having to time myself. Is that incredibly dorky? – Marg
• My husband loves the smart tap timer. It checks whether it’s going to rain and if sufficient rain is likely, it lets you know that the sprinklers won’t run. But you can override this via the phone app, and you don’t even have to be anywhere nearby – you can do it from the pub or while out to dinner! – Deanna
• Blenders are a game-changer because they allow you to take in a lot of fruit, vegetables and protein in smoothie form. – Vincent
• Stick blenders with interchangeable attachments are essentially several appliances in one. They’re more cost-effective, easier to clean and take up way less space than having a food processor, stick blender and stand mixer in the kitchen. – Rebekah
• Getting mesh Wi-Fi saved us in my former sharehouse during lockdown. – Rafi
• The one for us is the carpet shampooer. With toilet training and two dogs, it has been the best. It’s oddly satisfying to see how much dirt comes out. – Amanda
• In terms of tech, simply being able to share and sync dates and appointments in each other’s calendars has been a big home-life admin upgrade. – Tracy

The post Our top 6 game-changing products appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• The best value bathroom cleaning products
• The best value toilet paper
• The best value tissues

But while they’re not a fun way to spend your money, products such as toilet paper, tissues and toilet cleaners are necessities for most of us.Ìý

And unfortunately if you buy the absolute cheapest product available, you might end up disappointed and even downright uncomfortable.

To help keep your budget and your frustration levels in check, we’ve rounded up the bathroom products that deliver the best performance for the best price.Ìý

The best value bathroom cleaning products

Cleaning the bathroom is a job most of us don’t enjoy, so spending more money than you need to on cleaning products for a task you dislike is a double-whammy.Ìý

Thankfully, our expert testers have uncovered the budget-friendly products that’ll take the pain out of cleaning so you won’t be flushing as much money down the toilet.

Two of these products are only available at Aldi and IGA, so in case you can’t access these stores where you live, we’ve also included products that you can pick up at Coles and Woolworths.

The best value toilet cleaners

Aldi Power Force Bright & Clean Oxy Thick Toilet Gel

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 75% (Recommended)
• Price: 31 cents per 100mL

Coles Ultra Advanced Oxy Action Toilet Gel

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 70% (Recommended)
• Price: 33 cents per 100mL

The best value bathroom cleaners

Community Co Clean Freak Bath & Shower Cleaner

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 88% (Recommended)
• Price: 33 cents per 100mL

Earth Choice Bath & Shower Rapid Clean

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 88% (Recommended)
• Price: 47 cents per 100mL

The best value toilet paper

Some toilet paper products cost as much as 69 cents per 100 sheets – that adds up quickly, especially if you have a large family.Ìý

Buying the cheapest toilet paper on offer might save some dollars, but is it really worth it if you’re stuck slogging through roll upon roll of scratchy toilet paper that tears mid-wipe?

If you shop smart you can pick up toilet paper that’s soft, strong and kind to your budget.Ìý

ÌÇÐÄVlog tip: When you’re looking for affordable TP, don’t just look at the overall price: the price per 100 sheets will give you a much better indication of value for money.Ìý

Here are our experts’ top picks for loo roll that ticks all the boxes. (As above, we’ve included options available at Coles or Woolworths in case you can’t get to an Aldi store.)

Best overall budget buy

Aldi Confidence 3 ply Extra Soft Toilet Tissue

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 76% (Recommended)
• Softness score: 90%
• Price: 25 cents per 100 sheets

Coles So Soft & Strong 3 ply Hypo-allergenic

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 71% (Recommended)
• Softness score: 70%
• Price: 30 cents per 100 sheets

Best value recycled toilet paper

Coles So Soft & Strong 100% Recycled Toilet Tissue 3 ply

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 74% (Recommended)
• Softness score: 80%
• Price: 30 cents per 100 sheets

The best value tissues

When you’re struck down with a nasty head cold, you’ll plough through a box of tissues in no time. And with tissues costing up to $6.48 per 100 sheets, that’s a big blow to your shopping budget – especially if the whole household is sick.Ìý

Our expert tissue reviews tell you which tissues:

• are the softest
• are strong and can resist puncturing
• absorb the most liquid
• won’t tear easily when wet.

Unfortunately, the cheapest products we tested didn’t perform well on these measures.ÌýSo if you’re shopping during cold and flu season, you might need to spend a bit more to find a good balance between cash and comfort.Ìý

While they’re not the cheapest, these tissues hit the sweet spot between performance and price. They’re recommended by our experts.

Best value box of tissues

Quilton Extra Thick Hypo-allergenic 3 ply Soft 110 Tissues

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 70% (Recommended)
• Absorption score: 71%
• Price: $3.45 per 100 tissues

Best overall budget buy

Woolworths Azure Hypoallergenic Pocket Tissues 6 pack

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 72% (Recommended)
• Absorption score: 75%
• Price: $2.59 per 100 tissues

The post Best value bathroom buys appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• How to unclog a blocked toilet
• What makes toilet paper so special?
• Can you flush paper towels or tissues down the toilet?
• Can you flush baby wipes, moist towelettes or 'flushable' wipes down the toilet?
• What to do if you run out of toilet paper

The COVID-19 pandemic showed us just how tenuous our toilet paper supply chain can be, and you may have even had to resort to alternatives like tissues, baby wipes, paper towels or even newspaper to get you through until normality returned to supermarket shelves.

They all work, of course, but many of us learned the hard way that you can’t flush them down the toilet (they’re not water soluble) and were left with an expensive plumbing bill.

So what should you do if you’re ever caught short again? And if your toilet’s already blocked, how can you fix it?

How to unclog a blocked toilet

Reach in yourself (sorry)

To start with, you’ll want to try reaching in and dislodging any obstructions in the bowl or S-bend. Yes, it’s going to be unpleasant, but it’s an unavoidable first step.

Use a plunger

Still blocked? OK, now wash your hands thoroughly, grab your plunger and get to it – plungers aren’t expensive, so although you’re not going to be using it on a daily basis (we hope) it’s handy to have one in the house in case of emergencies. Modern plungers have a bellows-like design and are more effective than the plungers of old, but you’ll probably still need to work it up and down a fair bit. If this works, then great – you’re back in business.Ìý

Call a plumber

If plunging away has driven you round the bend but ultimately failed to clear the blockage, it might be time to call a professional. Plumbers have a whole range of specialist tools, such as electric eels and other nifty devices, which can make short work of blocked pipes. Plumbers can be expensive, particularly if you need one at short notice and/or in the dead of night, but it’s probably money well spent.

If you’re an owner-occupier, you can call whichever plumber you like. But if you’re renting, then your landlord may have specified which emergency plumber you have to call. This may mean the costs are covered, but it also means that if you don’t use that plumber you may be liable for the full cost.

If you don’t have a nominated emergency plumber, or if the agent’s changed plumbers and hasn’t notified you, you can still call a plumber, but you’ll most likely need to pay upfront and attempt to recover costs from the agent later. Make sure you keep all receipts and be prepared that you may have an uphill battle on your hands.

What makes toilet paper so special?

Toilet paper has a unique requirement. It needs to safely navigate the array of pipes, bends and subterranean channels between toilet and wastewater treatment plant without causing any blockages, and without the need for human intervention.

Toilet paper needs to be readily water soluble, while still being strong enough to safely do its job. This important characteristic is a key element in our toilet paper tests, and according to Sydney Water, anything that takes longer than a minute to dissolve from when it goes down your toilet can cause problems.

Can you flush paper towels or tissues down the toilet?

No, you can’t. In contrast to toilet paper, things like tissues and paper towels are designed to retain their strength as much as possible, especially when wet.

Flush a tissue or paper towel down the toilet and it won’t break down, at least not readily, so it’s a prime candidate to clog your pipes.Ìý

Can you flush baby wipes, moist towelettes or ‘flushable’ wipes down the toilet?

No – they’re just not that flushable. According to Sydney Water, about 75% of all sewer blockages involve wet wipes, and they have to remove around 500 tonnes of wipes from the sewer system each year.

We’ve reported widely on this vast problem and as a result manufacturers have ‘redesigned’ their flushable wipes, claiming they’re flushable – but they’re not. We’ve found even the new ones still don’t break down readily in the sewer system.

“Just because something is flushable doesn’t mean it breaks down,” a Sydney Water spokesperson told us in our article on the messy truth about flushable wipes. “Technically, my phone is flushable, but that doesn’t mean it should go down the toilet.”

Look closely at the wrapping of your toilet paper and you might see a note telling you to finish the job with one of the new, improved flushable wipes. If you do end up using them, be sure to place them in a bin, not down the loo.

What to do if you run out of toilet paper

So the worst has happened and your supply of toilet paper is exhausted. You may be tempted to reach for alternatives: tissues, baby wipes, paper towels or even newspapers. And you absolutely should – but you still shouldn’t put them down the toilet.

Take a leaf from one of the many places around the world where people don’t flush toilet paper (or anything other than organic matter) down the toilet and add a small lined bin to your bathroom for paper disposal. Just be sure to empty it frequently.

You can also cut old towels into pieces that can be washed and reused, or retrofit a bidet seat or other water-based cleaning option. The point is, don’t panic because you still have plenty of options.

What caused the COVID-19 toilet paper shortage?

The early 2020s were truly strange times. Rather than a run on gold we saw a run on toilet paper. This doesn’t make a lot of sense, because toilet paper production continued as normal, and no one’s rate of consumption increased in light of the pandemic.Ìý

So really the reason people were panic-buying toilet paper is just that they’d heard people were panic-buying toilet paper. What did change though is the location we were using toilet paper – we went from using it both at home and at the workplace, to exclusively at home during lockdowns – and the supply chains for commercial versus domestic are very different.ÌýCommercial suppliers actually had a glut, because they had no way to connect to domestic toilet paper retailers.

The good news is, we know what to do now in the advent of another pandemic – grab all the toilet paper you can from work before you’re sent home. And remember, the best thing you can do is only buy what you need so there’s enough to go around, and also be community-minded in the meantime – if you’re well stocked, then share a roll or two with your neighbours if they’re running low.

The post How to unblock your toilet – and what not to put down it appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Pillows
• Sponges

But what about everyday household items that, technically, aren’t perishable? How often should you replace your pillow or mattress? What about your chopping board or toothbrush?

To find out how long some common everyday household items should last, we spoke to a number of retailers and manufacturers in the relevant industries and compared what they had to say with advice from non-industry experts.Ìý

To get the consumer’s perspective, we also asked 487 members of Voice Your Choice, our member research community, how often they replace everyday items from sponges to steam mops.

Pillows

Most of us probably don’t think a lot about what’s inside our pillow, let alone how often we should replace it. According to manufacturer Tontine, your pillow collects dead skin cells, dust mites and fungi as you sleep.Ìý

In 2010, Tontine started stamping their pillows with a two-year replacement date, leading to a 20% increase in sales over the following year. But was this just a clever marketing ploy?

“That guideline is putting it strongly; I’m not going to endorse a two-year period,” says Associate Professor Euan Tovey, an allergen and dust mite expert from the University of Sydney.Ìý

Tovey says most of our exposure to dust mites comes from our clothing, not our bedding. And for the record, he adds it’s the dust mites’ faeces (not the mites themselves) that some people are allergic to.

Hygiene aside, how do you know if your pillow is giving you enough support or if it’s time to cast it aside?

According to the , your pillow may not be supporting your spine and neck if you are waking up with headaches or neck pain. Whether you’re lying on your back or your side, a pillow should place your head and neck in a neutral or midline position.Ìý

When buying a new one it’s important to know that not one size fits all. You should replace your pillow when it stops providing you adequate support.

Therapeutic Pillow Australia, a manufacturer of contour and memory foam pillows, recommends replacing these every 12 months to two years. Pillows that contain memory foam and latex are more durable than other types (polyester, for example), maintaining support for longer without a reduction in comfort. They also hold their structure for longer which means they need to be replaced less often.

When to replace

The manufacturers we spoke to say at least every two years, but our experts tell us it all depends on the type of pillow you have.

Voice Your Choice results

39% of respondents said pillows should be replaced every two to three years.

Mattresses

The longevity of a mattress depends on several factors, including how well it’s made and how much you use it, according to The Better Sleep Council (a ‘consumer-education arm’ of the industry group International Sleep Products Association).

The council says to consider replacing your mattress if you wake up with stiffness, aches and pains, if you had a much better night’s sleep somewhere else, or if your mattress shows visible signs of overuse such as sagging, stains and rips.Ìý

David Hillman from the Sleep Health Foundation says there’s no specific timeframe in which to ditch your mattress. He says they generally have a lifespan of around 10 years, but you should replace yours when it starts to feel uncomfortable. A mattress topper is a good way to add comfort if you’re not ready to invest in a new one.

Studies have shown that changing an ageing mattress can help improve your quality of sleep. You can improve the longevity of your mattress by rotating it once every few months and flipping it over. We spoke to both Sealy Posturepedic and SleepMaker and were told that most of their beds come with a 10-year guarantee. Tempur mattresses come with a five-year full warranty, and 15-year ‘limited’ warranty.

When to replace

About every 10 years.

Voice Your Choice results

47% of respondents said mattresses should be replaced every 10 years.

Steam mops

°¿³Ü°ùÌýsteam mop reviews suggest that, while steam mops are reliable, customers aren’t always satisfied with the performance of their purchases. Could this be because the benefits of steam mops are largely overstated? Some, for example, claim to remove bacteria, dust mites and other allergens.

Allergen expert Euan Tovey says that to some extent these claims are true, as the steam from the mops will likely be hot enough to kill dust mites – but the mites themselves are more likely to be found in carpet than hard flooring.Ìý

Using a steam mop on your carpet can get rid of allergens, but Tovey says it may not necessarily kill mites, as the heat may not penetrate deep enough into the carpet.

Our in-house steam mop specialist, Chris Barnes, says the common problems with steam mops are excessively wet floors, water leakage, poor steam production or the mop ceasing to work altogether. He also notes that when a steam mop breaks down in some way, it tends to fail completely.

When to replace

Most steam mops come with a 12-month warranty and, depending on the price, you can expect a steam mop to last about five years.

Voice Your Choice results

54% of respondents expect a steam mop to last five years without experiencing a major problem or needing a repair, while 23% said they expect a steam mop to last six to 10 years.

Sponges

It probably comes as no surprise: your kitchen sponge is a germ magnet.Ìý

“Sponges are an excellent breeding ground for germs because they’re kept moist and in contact with nutrients. Whether the types of germs are harmful is another question,” says , a Research Fellow in Synthetic Biology who has studied bacteria found in the cloths used to wipe down tables in shopping centres.

The crevices of a sponge also make for an attractive expanse of surface area for bacteria to colonise, he says.

Tips

• Avoid letting your sponge sit in water by wringing it out after each use, and make sure food particles don’t get trapped inside.
• To avoid cross-contamination, never use your kitchen sponge to wipe up meat juices. Use a paper towel instead.

How to clean your sponge

Researchers at the US Department of Agriculture found that over 99% of bacteria, yeasts and moulds were killed after microwaving damp sponges for one minute (but make sure they’re moist before microwaving, or they could catch fire). Aside from this, the simplest and most effective way to care for your sponge between replacements is to kill germs with bleach or really hot water and detergent.

We contacted some well-known cleaning brands to ask when their sponges should be replaced. “Our Stay Clean products should be replaced once they are no longer performing as intended,” said a spokesperson from Scotch-Brite. “This timing can vary depending on what they are being used to clean, how heavily and how often.” A Chux representative agreed with the latter, but recommends replacing cloths when they become discoloured or have an odour.

When to replace

There’s no hard and fast rule – it all comes down to the amount of use.

Voice Your Choice results

66% of respondents replace their sponge at least once a month.

Chopping boards

When it comes to choosing between a plastic or wooden board, our microbiology expert says there’s no real advantage ether way: plastic is less permeable than wood, but wood has natural antibacterial properties.Ìý

We also enquired about an ‘end grain chopping board’ at Myer that claimed to be more durable than regular cutting boards due to a greater tolerance for chopping motions, and were told that, with proper care, the board can last ‘years’.

How to care for your chopping board

We spoke to two retailers, who both recommend that boards should be ‘cleaned thoroughly’ (and seasoned with oil, in the case of wood chopping boards) to maintain the surface.

Chopping boards can be a danger item in the kitchen because of the risk of contamination if you use the same board to cut up low-risk and high-risk foods. The riskiest food is raw chicken. “All chicken you buy has some levels of salmonella; it’s found in their gut,” Coleman says.Ìý

“Be wary of how you handle it in the kitchen,” including cleaning your chopping board immediately after use. The simplest and most effective way to clean your board is with hot water and detergent.

When to replace

When your board is looking worse for wear.

Voice Your Choice results

34% of respondents have been using their current chopping board for more than five years, and 60% used a separate board for different food groups.

Smoke alarms

The date should be visible on the base of your smoke alarm. In between battery changes, smoke alarms should be lightly dusted to keep the vents clear. The WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services recommends you check them every month, replace the batteries every year, and get a new one every 10 years.

We also called and spoke to a customer service representative from Quell, a manufacturer of fire-safety equipment, and were told that all smoke alarms have a 10-year warranty.

When to replace

Every 10 years.

Voice Your Choice results

29% didn’t know when to replace a smoke alarm, but 28% agreed with our experts and said they should be thrown out every 10 years.

Toothbrushes

Brushing is the main way most of us maintain oral hygiene, so it’s important to know when your toothbrush is no longer effectively cleaning your teeth. Over time, the bristles break down and lose their ability to get at all those tricky areas inside your mouth.

The Australian Dental Association’s Oral Health Committee recommends replacing toothbrushes when the bristles are worn or distorted, normally every couple of months. It’s better to use a soft bristled brush, and if it’s wearing out quickly (i.e. within a month or so) you might need to evaluate your brushing technique.

Toothbrush brands Sensodyne, Colgate, and Oral B recommend replacing your toothbrush every three months. Many toothbrushes have bristles that change colour when it’s time to throw them out.Ìý

Some people advise throwing out your toothbrush after you’ve had a cold or flu virus, since germs could linger in the bristles. But according to the Oral Health Committee, that theory is not based on evidence.

When to replace

Every two to three months.

Voice Your Choice results

50% of respondents thought a toothbrush should be replaced every two to three months.

The post How long to keep your everyday items appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Our expert testers
• How we choose which toilet paper we test
• How does ÌÇÐÄVlog test toilet paper?
• Test criteria explained

You need to decide what ply you want, if you want a scented roll or ‘quilted’, and then work your way around all the labelling claims on the pack.

Ultimately, we all want our toilet paper to be soft and strong, tear easily at the perforation and disintegrate quickly once we’ve flushed it down the toilet.

Here we’ll tell you what goes on behind the scenes when we test toilet paper, to get the results that help you buy the best.

Our expert testers

We buy toilet paper available from the major supermarket retailers and send it to an external laboratory for testing.

In-house, we work out the value for money of each product by determining how much it costs per 100 sheets.

We also take a closer look at the labelling claims to find out what they all mean.

How we choose which toilet paper we test

As with most of our product testing, our aim is to test the most popular brands on the market and what you’re most likely to see in stores.

In the case of toilet paper, our aim is to cover as much of the market as possible. Our buyers purchase all the toilet paper products they can find in the major Australian supermarkets like Coles, Woolworths and Aldi, plus a few subscription products.

How does ÌÇÐÄVlog test toilet paper?

Perforation

We measure the ease of separating the toilet tissue at the perforation. The easier it is for the toilet paper to tear, the better.

Puncture

We measure the strength of the toilet paper by testing its resistance to puncturing. In this test a higher force is the most desirable result, meaning your finger is less likely to go through the paper.

Disintegration time

We time how quickly the toilet paper disintegrates. The faster the better – you want your toilet paper to break up quickly as it moves through sewage, making it less likely to block pipes.

The quickest product takes just over a minute to disintegrate while some products took just over 16 minutes to disintegrate.

Softness

In this test we measure how soft the toilet paper is. This is a subjective assessment conducted by a panel of five people. We then convert their rank order into a percentage score.

Test criteria explained

The ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating, the overall score that determines which products we recommend, is made up of:

• disintegration time (30%)
• softness (30%)
• separation (tear) force (20%)
• puncture (strength) force (20%).

Weighings are listed in brackets.

The post How we test toilet paper appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Ikea 'leather' couches
• Bonded leather at Fantastic Furniture and Dare Gallery
• What to ask before you buy a leather couch

These days leather couches and chairs are advertised everywhere, and are often priced at well under $2000. But with the recent drop in cost comes a trade-off: not all leather couches are equal. In fact, some are not really leather at all.

At ÌÇÐÄVlog we’ve heard from unhappy consumers who’ve bought ‘leather’ couches that turned out to be more plastic than animal, while others have found their furniture peeling and cracking in a way that genuine leather shouldn’t, and still don’t know exactly what they’ve bought.Ìý

And with no national standard for leather labelling in Australia, it’s not easy to know exactly what you’re buying when you see the word ‘leather’ on a label.

We investigate what you get when you buy a leather couch in Australia.

What is leather, exactly?

To get technical, the British Standards Institute defines leather as follows: “Hide or skin with its original fibrous structure more or less intact, tanned to be imputrescible. The hair or wool may, or may not, have been removed. Leather is also made from a hide or skin that has been split into layers or segmented either before or after tanning.”

The amount of surface coating applied to the leather influences whether or not the item can be described as ‘genuine’ leather. “If the leather has a surface coating, the mean thickness of this surface layer, however applied, has to be 0.15mm or less.”

Too complicated?

In a nutshell, there are three basic types of genuine leather.

Full grain

The full hide of the animal has been used with minimal interference. It’s the most durable kind of leather but also the rarest and usually the most expensive.

Top grain

Top grain leather is the uppermost layer of the animal hide which has been buffed and polished.

Split

Split leather is taken from the bottom of the hide; it’s fairly fragile but it’s the cheapest type of leather available.

Corrected-grain

Another common description, corrected-grain leather refers to any of the above leather that has had an artificial grain applied to its surface. Any imperfections are corrected or sanded off, and an artificial grain embossed into the surface and dressed with stain or dyes.

Not quite leather

While the definitions above sound reasonably straightforward, if you go shopping for a leather couch, you might see the words ‘cow hide leather’, ‘genuine leather’, ‘100% leather’ or made-up names like ‘Lucia leather’ or even ‘bonded leather’ instead.

None of these names really give any indication of what kind of leather is being used or if indeed it’s leather at all. Bonded leather (despite the name) has more in common with synthetics and is technically not considered leather at all.

Other pieces of ‘leather’ furniture may have the ‘contact areas’ (such as the seats, arm rests, vertical seat backs and rolls) upholstered in leather, but the ‘non-contact areas’ (such as the outside arms and back) upholstered in a leather-like synthetic material.

Leather certification in Australia

While the UK has a leather certification and testing body, in Australia it’s up to shoppers to do the hard work when buying a couch. We found several couches that were advertised as leather yet the fine print disclosed only the contact areas were actually leather, and with other retailers there was little to no information about what the various components were made of.

Paul Simmons, project co-ordinator at the Australasian Furnishing Research and Development Institute (Furntech), runs a voluntary certification scheme for leather goods in Australia. He says it’s likely in many cases that while a couch may be all ‘leather’, it’s made of differing types of leather, which can affect the quality.

Furntech’s certification scheme is used voluntarily by some manufacturers and retailers in Australia, and the furniture that’s been been tested will carry a swing tag confirming the certification.

Ikea ‘leather’ couches

Earlier this year, the Ikea website stated: “There’s something special about leather sofas. It comes from their natural look and texture and the way they age so beautifully.” Underneath was a range of sofas priced from $795–3000. Sounds good, but the devil’s in the detail.Ìý

It’s only when clicking on the individual pieces that it became clear leather doesn’t always mean leather. One couch was described as being covered in a “durable fabric that has the same look and feel as leather” and is actually not leather at all.

Another couch was listed as being upholstered in leather in the ‘contact’ areas, meaning the seat and back cushions are leather but the rest of the couch is covered in a mix of coated polyester and cotton. While the information was there if you know what to look for, it was buried deep in the product specifications and wasn’t particularly obvious.

ÌÇÐÄVlog recognised Ikea’s creative copywriting with a 2015 Shonky Award for their faux-leather couches. Within days, Ikea updated its Australian website to clearly reflect the different types of couches available in their leather sofas category – a ‘genuine’ win for confused consumers.

Bonded leather at Fantastic Furniture and Dare Gallery

In 2010 Fantastic Furniture was for “misleading or deceptive conduct” promoting its ‘Eurohide’ and ‘Pellisima’ couches as “the luxury of leather for less”.

However, the couches were upholstered in ‘bonded leather’. Bonded leather is made from a mishmash of plastics and bits of leather glued together. The actual leather content in bonded leather was approximately 10%.

Furniture retailer Dare Gallery was also found to have engaged in “false, misleading or deceptive conduct” by representing furniture as being ‘bonded leather’ on its website, where users navigated to this description by clicking on the hyperlinks ‘See all leather sofas’ or ‘See all leather sofa suites’.

Graeme Samuel, ACCC chairman at the time, said consumers seek out and often pay a premium for leather goods. “The ACCC will not tolerate traders in the furniture or any other industry misrepresenting predominantly synthetic materials as leather. If a trader chooses to use terms like ‘leather’ or ‘hide’ to describe goods that are only partially leather, then they should also clearly disclose the fact it is not wholly leather to avoid consumer confusion.”

Leather couches that peel and sweat

ÌÇÐÄVlog member Vicki contacted us because the leather couches she had bought for almost $2000 began to peel and flake after about five years of use. She says the material covering the armrests and back fabric looked and felt different to the seats and back cushions.Ìý

When she complained to the retailer, she was offered another couch at cost price. After speaking to ÌÇÐÄVlog Help, she was given a full refund. Vicki was told that while the original couch was actually all leather (and not part vinyl as she suspected), different types of leather of varying quality had been used all over the couch.

Another ÌÇÐÄVlog member, Robert (not his real name), was in battle with a well-known retailer after the ‘genuine leather’ couch he bought started peeling after just six months. He lodged a warranty claim, but after an assessment, he was told that the problem wasn’t covered by warranty because the couch had suffered from a build-up of sweat and excess body oils.Ìý

He says he wiped down the couch weekly and in no way treated it differently to his other leather couch, which is in perfect condition despite being eight years old. Robert was left with questions around what his couch was actually made of.

According to Paul Simmons, genuine leather kept under reasonable circumstances shouldn’t peel. “A corrected grain or genuine leather couch should not peel in most circumstances and definitely not in that [six-month] time frame. It could only possibly happen if the tanning process was extremely poor or it’s not leather.”

What to ask before you buy a leather couch

Our consumer law specialist Meredith Cridland recommends you ask these questions so you know exactly what you’re getting before you commit to buying a new couch.

“What type of leather is this couch?”

Go for full grain or top grain leather, depending on your lifestyle and budget. Be wary of anything else, including split leather, bonded leather, pleather, faux leather, vegan leather, bicast, and synthetic leather.

“Is this leather used all over the couch?”

A couch might have real leather on the seats and the tops of the arm rests, but not on the back or the sides. These will deteriorate faster than the leather parts.

“How long is the warranty?”

And “what parts of the lounge are covered?”

“Can I have it in writing?”

Once you’ve asked the questions, get the answers in writing in case there are problems later on.

What to do if your leather couch turns out to be fake

If you’ve been told that your couch is leather but it becomes clear that it’s actually not, you should do something about it.

• Go back to the business and tell them you don’t think the lounge is leather. Show photos if you can.
• You may have a right to a refund or a replacement, depending on the extent of the problem.
• If the business won’t help, you can contact your state or territory’s Fair Trading office for more information, or contact the .
• If you’re a ÌÇÐÄVlog member, contact ÌÇÐÄVlog Help for advice and assistance.

The post Fake vs real leather couches: How to tell the difference appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Repair or replace?
• 1. A leaking fridge
• 2. A flooding dishwasher
• 3. A stick vacuum cleaner that won't suck
• 4. A shaky or wobbly washing machine
• 5. Gas hobs that 'click' but won't light

When things go wrong with everyday household appliances, it’s easier if you can take matters into your own hands and fix it yourself. But sometimes, you’ll need to contact the manufacturer or call in a pro.Ìý

Stop! Is your appliance still under warranty?

Before you pick up the tools, check to see if your appliance is still under warranty or broken within a period that means you’re owed a fix under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). In these cases, the manufacturer is probably responsible for making any necessary repairs or giving you another fix, such as a refund or replacement.Ìý

If you do decide to have a tinker yourself, be cautious. Some manufacturers claim that any work done on your appliances by an ‘unauthorised repairer’ may mean you void your warranty. (At ÌÇÐÄVlog, we think this kind of restriction is unfair and we’re fighting to ban the practice).Ìý

In any case, under the ACL, you’re entitled to a refund, repair or replacement if a product develops a fault during a ‘reasonable amount of time after purchase’. All too often, businesses suggest that the ‘reasonable’ time period is the 12–24 month warranty period, but often it’s much longer.Ìý

We have a guide on the reasonable life expectancy for most appliances to help you work out if you should ask for a fix under the ACL.

Repair or replace?

If your appliance is broken and lasted longer than the warranty, or what you’re covered for under consumer law, it may be cheaper to replace rather than fix – although some people are willing to pay a bit more for repair if it means they can save the appliance from landfill.Ìý

It pays to look for local repair options, such as  (if the item is portable), which may be able to help you repair broken items yourself or fix problems for you. Of course, unless you can repair it, recycle it or return it to the manufacturer, landfill is the likeliest destination.

Not built to last

In an ideal world, we would have affordable products that last, with a repair process (with manufacturers or independent repairers) that is simple and fair. It would mean better quality products in our homes with a lower environmental impact.

Read more about what ÌÇÐÄVlog is doing about the ‘right to repair’ issue.

Common appliance issues you can troubleshoot yourself

The good news is that your issue may be something you can easily fix yourself. If you have a problem that’s not listed here, try searching online for advice, check troubleshooting guides on the ÌÇÐÄVlog website or in your owner’s manual, or use the manufacturer’s customer support services to see if other customers have had similar issues.

1. A leaking fridge

A budget to mid-range fridge should last at least six to nine years before you’d even consider replacing it instead of repairing it, but things can go wrong.Ìý

Spy a puddle of water under your fridge door? Check the back of the fridge to see if the defrost water tray is in the right position and that the drainage tube that leads to it is actually pointing at the drip tray.Ìý

How do you know where to find this? 

“Pull the fridge out and turn it around,”  ÌÇÐÄVlog appliance expert Ashley IredaleÌý²¹»å±¹¾±²õ±ð²õ.

“For many fridges there will be an opening at the bottom where you can see the compressor and various pipes and bits and pieces, and that’s where you’ll find it.Ìý

“Some fridges have a completely solid, sealed back – if that’s the case, then break out the screwdrivers to remove the panel. If the back’s not removable, then you may well be out of luck.”

Water leaking inside the fridge

If water is leaking inside the fridge, it could mean there’s a blocked drain or outlet (or maybe you just have old leaky food in there).Ìý

There are drainage channels in some fridge cabinets, so check to see if there is a blockage of food or dirt and clear it. If drainage channels aren’t blocked, the leak could be from condensation, so check the door is closing properly, isn’t left open for too long, and that the seals are working well (they may need to be replaced). This can also happen during spells of high humidity.

Ashley says: “Replacing a door seal is a relatively simple operation, provided a replacement seal is available. Or failing that, you can bodge up a repair with silicone and baking paper.”

Here’s a list of other common fridge problems and how to fix them.Ìý

2. A flooding dishwasher

If there is water pooling in the bottom of your dishwasher after a wash, or on the floor outside the dishwasher, there are a few things that could be causing the problem.

Blockages and kinks

The filter and pump may be blocked with food debris, which means you just need to give it a good clean. You should also check the drainage hose for blockages, damage or kinks (over time, these can also become loose). If the drain hose is leaking or damaged, remove it and install a replacement hose.Ìý

“How complicated this job will be depends on how the drainage hose is attached, says Ashley.”It’s certainly worth attempting, and if it’s a simple screw fit or hose clamp, then it should be relatively simple. If it’s moulded into the inside of the machine, however, then you might need a professional.”

Not draining properly

Another reason could be that your dishwashing cycle was interrupted, so it didn’t drain properly. Try doing a restart (the old on-again, off-again trick works for appliances as well as computers!), or take a look at our instructions on how to drain a dishwasher. Here’s a list of other common issues with dishwashers and how to fix them.

How long should a dishwasher last?

You should expect your dishwasher to last about nine years, although some repairs and maintenance are to be expected within that time. If you have an issue you can’t fix yourself and it’s out of warranty, you may need to call a plumber or service technician to see if the issue is worth fixing – or if it’s time to get a new dishwasher.

3. A stick vacuum cleaner that won’t suck

When we ask Aussie consumers what their major problems with stick vacuums are, one in four (25.4%) say short battery life and one in 10 (10.8%) say not picking up dirt.Ìý

The good news is that there are a few fixes you can do yourself, which means you may be able to avoid getting a new one.Ìý

If you’re charging your stick vacuum for the recommended amount of time and it’s cutting out or not performing well, it may be a problem with the battery. Alternatively, you may just need to clean or replace the filter (or there may be something obstructing it).Ìý

ÌÇÐÄVlog small appliance expert Chris Barnes says: “If you’re having issues with your stick vacuum, first check the hose/wand for blockages, including the inlet on the cleaning head and where the dust enters the bag/bin. Ensure you also keep the filters clean.”

Cleaning the filter

Dyson also suggests you clean your filter once a month to maintain efficiency of your stick vacuum (remove it, shake to remove any dust or debris, wash out with warm water and leave to dry before replacing). Check your manual or the manufacturer’s website for cleaning instructions specific to your model, or read our expert guide on how to clean your vacuum.Ìý

Replacing batteries

Batteries usually last three to four years and most models (apart from the cheapest ones) let you replace the batteries easily, usually just with a simple click and release. Unfortunately, the cost of replacing batteries, which could be about $100, means it may not be economical if your stick vac is on the cheap side.Ìý

4. A shaky or wobbly washing machine

All washing machines will usually vibrate a little during the cycle. But if your washer starts acting like it’s a bucking rodeo horse or causes damage to your floors, it needs attention.

Check the balance

First, ensure it’s level and not off-balance. Front loaders are more prone to vibration than top loaders. But most manufacturers agree that standing a front loader on a timber floor shouldn’t cause damage to the floor (due to the vibrations), as long as your floor is level and in good condition and your washing machine’s feet are adjusted properly, in good condition and stabilised.

Bad vibrations?

To stop excessive vibration, make sure you’re loading your washing machine evenly, alternating between small and large items, and don’t overload it (don’t wrap clothes around the agitator in a top loader). Don’t wash bed sheets and towels on their own – include smaller items in your load as well.Ìý

Another cause could be that your suspension springs or shock absorbers may be damaged and/or need to be replaced. But our experts suggest this is a job probably best left to a professional.

5. Gas hobs that ‘click’ but won’t light

If your gas hobs won’t ignite but the ignition switch is working (you’ll know because you can hear the ‘clicking’ sound), first check your gas supply.Ìý

If that all looks OK, your ignition/burner ports or nozzles may be out of alignment or clogged with food or debris, which is limiting the gas flow.Ìý

Turn off the gas, make sure the burners aren’t hot, then remove and clean the surface burners and ports according to the instructions in your manual (a toothbrush or a toothpick may be handy) and make sure they’re fully dry. Reinstall the burner, cover and grill.Ìý

If that doesn’t work, it may be a problem with your igniter or the ignition switch. Unless you’re a very confident DIYer, we’d strongly advise calling a professional for this.Ìý

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On this page:

• Tissues: Are they flushable?

Tissues tend to come with a lot of claims about their comfort and green credentials, so we’ll show you what’s worth thinking about when you next pick up a box at the supermarket.

Tissues: Are they flushable?

As part of our research, we found a lot of people throw tissues into the toilet, which can end badly for plumbing systems and public water utilities. Unlike toilet paper, tissues aren’t designed for our toilet system. In most cases, they take more than 20 minutes to disintegrate.

This means flushing your tissue down the toilet is likely to:

• block your system (costing you in plumbing fees), or
• block the water utility system at some point (costing everyone in sewage fees that get passed along to the consumer).

As Sydney Water told us: “The problem is that tissues are composed of different materials to toilet paper and facial tissues don’t break down anywhere near as quickly as toilet paper does.

“If flushed, facial tissues along with wet wipes and other cleaning wipes can get caught in customers’ sewer pipes. These can back up over time which can cause a serious blockage and potential damage to pipes.

“This problem is made worse if fats, oils or grease are also disposed of down the kitchen sink which can congeal to form a solid mass in the pipes, often referred to as a ‘fatberg’, which again will cause blockages and pipe damage.”

Ideally manufacturers should label their facial tissue products with a ‘Do Not Flush’ warning on the packaging to let people know about this issue.

Remember the three Ps – the only things that should be flushed are pee, poo, and (toilet) paper.

Ply count

Tissues generally range from one- to four-ply. This simply refers to the number of layers of paper used. Generally the higher the ply count, the thicker, softer, stronger and more absorbent the tissue should be.

FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification

FSC is an international nonprofit organisation that promotes responsible forest management by setting standards on forest products with a certification process. You’ll find the FSC tree-tick logo on many tissue packs, but if you take a closer look at the fine print you’ll notice there are three classifications to the label:

• FSC mix means the product can be a mixture of timber/fibre from an FSC-certified forest, reclaimed timber/fibre, or timber/fibre from other controlled sources. The entire production volume needs to contain at least 70% FSC-certified material, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that a particular product line will contain any FSC-certified material at all.
• FSC recycled means all the timber/fibre in the product is recycled material, however 15% can be pre-consumer waste (manufacturing scrap that has been put back into production). Your best bet is to look for products with this logo.
• FSC 100% means all the timber/fibre in the product comes from an FSC-certified forest.

Ultimately, the FSC logo isn’t a guarantee that the whole product is from a sustainable source, but it does indicate that the virgin fibres used to make the product came from forests managed to higher environmental and social standards.

PEFC certification

The Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) is an international organisation that works to promote sustainable forest management and make sure timber and non-timber forest products are produced with high ecological, social and ethical standards.

It has a third-party classification scheme and you can identify its products by its PEFC-certified label. There are two classifications to the label:

• PEFC Certified means the product includes at least 70% of wood from PEFC-certified forests; and wood from controlled sources.
• PEFC Recycled means the product includes at least 70% PEFC-certified material from recycled sources; and wood from controlled sources.

Elemental chlorine-free (ECF)

Tissues are bleached to give them their whiteness and you may have noticed the claim “elemental chlorine-free bleaching” used on many products.

Elemental chlorine gas produces dioxins which can be harmful not only to the environment but also to our health.

ECF doesn’t mean the product is chlorine-free, but rather that the product has been bleached using chlorine dioxide (instead of elemental chlorine gas) which reduces the potential to form these harmful dioxins.

It’s best to look for a product that is ‘unbleached’ or uses alternatives to chlorine (like oxygen or hydrogen peroxide) to achieve whiteness.

Other features

Printed, scented, embossed

These ‘features’ are all added for decorative and aesthetic appeal. Whether you choose to buy tissues with these features comes down to personal preference.

Hypo-allergenic

If you have a sensitivity to dyes or perfumes then look for a tissue that’s dye- and fragrance-free, and one that claims to be hypo-allergenic.

How much do tissues cost?

If you base your decision on price, based on the products we tested, you can spend anywhere from 58 cents to $6.48 per 100 sheets. That can add up to a lot of money being thrown in the bin over time.Ìý

As our prices are based on purchasing single packs, if you buy in bulk you’re likely to get some of these products at a cheaper price per 100 sheets.

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