How we test

CompactHome is an editorial site, not a laboratory. We still take evidence seriously. Every product record has a testing status so you can see whether something was used in a real home, reviewed from specifications and reporting, or not yet tested.

Testing statuses

• Home-tested: used in a small UK home over days or weeks, with notes on fit, noise, moisture and faff.
• Editorial review: assessed from manufacturer specifications, user reports, returns patterns and comparable products we already know.
• Lab-tested: reserved for measurements we have actually taken, such as humidity drop or drying time in a defined room.
• Untested: included for context, not as a recommendation.

What we look at in small homes

• Does it fit through a standard UK doorway and a narrow hallway?
• Where does it live when you are not using it?
• For drying and damp kit: what happens to moisture in the room?
• Noise, emptying, spare parts and whether it is usable in a rental.

What we do not do

We do not invent star ratings, “award badges”, countdown timers or a live price. Amazon prices move. If a price band is given, it is a rough UK retail band at last check, not an offer.