Things you're holding off buying because you don't know if they're worth it

[Insidelaurashed]

I've been holding off buying a hand held steam cleaner (I have a chronic pain condition so if it helps make cleaning physically easier, great!) as I'm not sure if they're as good as the Tiktok reviews I keep seeing say they are. I thought Mumsnet would be good to ask as everyone is very honest on here, and then I thought maybe a thread where we post the thing we're unsure of so others can say yeah actually that's decent, buy it-or not-might be a good idea?

Anyone using a steam cleaner, are they decent? Anyone else got things they're unsure if they're worth the cost that they'd like an opinion on?

The things I have and like...

Airfryer - basically a mini oven. We use ours all the time, especially when just cooking for one. I recommend one with two drawers that can be programmed independently of each other.

Karcher Window Vac - I use it to keep my shower panels clean. We live in a hard water area so a daily quick vac keeps them free of the scale build up.

Ninja Creami - got one for DD for Christmas and she's loving it. It's noisy for sure, and a bit of a faff with having to pre-freeze stuff. DD is enjoying experimenting though. However, I do wonder if it will be a five minute wonder.

What I don't like much....

Steam mop - it seems to get my floor tiles clean but I don't think it really works great on the grouting between the tiles which always looks grubby.

What I'm considering..

I have a Ring doorbell which is ok, but being outside it gets condensation and blurs any video footage. I'm interested in one of those small cameras that fix to the inside of a window. They're protected from the elements and can't be tampered with by anyone up to no good. Does anyone have one and have any comments?

I use my steam cleaner regularly, much prefer it to a mop, if that's the gadget you mean!

that's useful information but I think the poster was making a joke!

....Way to stomp a whimsical little joke into the ground there, Sparks.

"everyone is very honest on here"

😂 Yeah, if you believe that every poster has model looking children, look at least 20 years younger than they are and make people fall off bikes at their beauty, live in mansions in a rural locations and earns 6 figures (husbands do too!) despite spending hours a day on Mumsnet 😂.

That's given me a good laugh, thanks OP 😂

Just get a used Kindle, even the early ones are perfect for reading books. I paid £10 for mine about 4 years ago, and it's still going strong with zero defects!

this is interesting

COLLAGEN SUPPLEMENTS!
I am bombarded online by every celebrity and influencer telling my this or that brand is worth it. Is it worth it????

I use my kindle e very night and if I fall asleep it switches itself off. I woukdnt b without it. My steam cleaner after the initial using it all the time is now gathering dust and its going to the charity shop.

Collagen supplements gave me horrible indigestion and a weird taste in my mouth.

I do take collagen but not a powder advertised by celebs. I take a multi collagen with five types of collagen in it. Apparently you have to take it consistently over a prolonged period or it to have an effect.

I take creatine too, everyone should be on that and the vitamin d I think.

if you do opt to try collagen you apparently need to take it with vitamin c for it to activate properly.

Robot vacuum. How do they clean the tricky, hard to reach places. Usually I'd use the detached nozzle in places where the brush bit doesn't fit.

An ornamental cherry tree for the garden, I feel like it will just die. At £130, a bit of a risk.

Built in wardrobes, a lot of money and all I see are negative reviews unless you pay £££.

I do have a hand held steamer. I was worried I wouldn’t use it so bought a cheap second hand one. It’s been very good for certain things. Nooks and crannies of showers etc. I have also used it on the sofas and although not life changing I’m glad I got it.

Your right the robots don't get every nook and cranny but they do get the majority of the floor, inc under furniture, which means it gets done in-between me doing it.

I just got a Dyson airwrap. I love it as I can curl my hair fairly quickly and have stopped using my straighteners completely. It is very expensive and I only did it because I was able to buy it through salary sacrifice so it’s going out my wage £10 per month and it felt free. I don’t think I’d have paid up front for it. But if money is not an issue I’d recommend it

It curls/styles/straightens depending on which one you get. I love mine

I've a wonderful ornamental weeping cherry tree - it blossoms beautifully with absolutely no input from me....... well, I chat to it & tell it how glorious it is but thats all since it was planted in clay soil 6 years ago

I use Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 headphones. They're great. Bone conduction so you can hear everything around you which is great from a safety perspective. I use mine when running, cycling or just pootling around. I hate the idea that something might come out of nowhere and startle me and it's so much safer being able to hear cars, people approaching.

I have got several ornamental cherries and all have done well but I wouldn't buy such a big one. They grow quickly and the younger smaller ones are more likely to settle in without problems. the crocus website has got some amazing cherry tree bargains in their sale.....and I should NOT have gone looking!

I am such an idiot I was like" she used a steam cleaner for 3 months and then the hair grew back! "Duh!

I caved & take the collagen advertised by the celebrities - (annoyingly) my nails do seem stronger for it. I stopped dying my hair & the condition has improved but I can't tell if thats because of the collagen or not covering it in dye every month or so.
I need to find a cheaper version - hate that I was influenced

I meant to say i just bought mine in a shop my sister recommended them. Her skin and hair does look amazing tbf, i am annoyed that i couldn't take it

I've got a Shark speedstyle - it's great for a blowout look but takes too long for a regular hair wash and dry. I passed on my old hairdryer when i was gifted the shark but have just got a new bog standard Babyliss hairdryer for Christmas and have never used the Shark since.

Not a big fan of Olaplex. Colour Wow is worth the money though especially the Dream Coat.

ok I’m in after stalking this thread for a couple of days!!!

love my kindle so easy but I do find I still like to occasionally go into a book shop and hold a book I’m reading. But I’ve got used to looking at the cover in the kindle app on phone in colour for a better experience of the cover before reading in black and white on kindle. So easy for holidays to have 15 different books to choose from. (Note buying books is a totally separate hobby from reading books)

robot hoover and mop I love for kitchen as ours is relatively uncluttered. It goes most days which I love setting it off before school run and coming home to it nice and clean. Literally every room in our house is on a different level so it is limited to kitchen only. Occasionally I lift it up a step to do the living room and it’s awesome at getting under the sofas but we do have a bit too much clutter for this to be beneficial every week.

collagen supplements… I was in it for the great skin. Hasn’t happened but my back and hips are so noticeably better for it. More mobility and less pain. Thank you better vits.

have air purifiers been covered yet? Any feedback?

Talk to me about creatine please. I take a scoop in water after an exercise class (maybe 2x a week). It’s a basic H&B one but I don’t think it does anything