Storage and cleaning

Containers whose lids seal hard enough for soup and stack flat in the fridge.

Best for

Batch cooking, leftovers and anyone tired of leaking lunch boxes.

Watch out for

Cheap sets crack at the hinge within a year — that is the part to inspect.

Extends freezer life and makes sous-vide practical.

Best for

Freezer users, batch cooks and anyone cooking sous-vide.

Watch out for

It needs a flat, dry sealing edge and channels in the bag — cheap bags fail.

The vacuum you actually use daily, provided the brush roll comes out.

Best for

Quick cleans on hard floor and low pile, and stairs.

Watch out for

Battery capacity falls with age, and on most models the battery is not user-replaceable.

Pulls hair out of a drain instead of dissolving it with chemicals.

Best for

Bathroom sinks and showers that drain slowly.

Watch out for

It will not clear a solid blockage in a main line.