Articles by Ruth Hamilton, Homes Editor

Ruth is TechRadar's Homes Editor specializing in air (vacuum cleaners, robovacs, fans and air purifiers), and hair (hair dryers, straighteners and stylers). She has been in consumer journalism since 2020, reviewing and writing about everything from outdoor kit to mattresses and wellness gadgets, with stints on Tom's Guide and T3 before joining TechRadar. Before that, she worked on various design titles, in print and online.

Articles by: Ruth Hamilton

How social media impacts your sleep (and what to do instead)

By Ruth Hamilton published 1 April 24

It might not be blue light that's the biggest threat to your wind-down routine, says sleep scientist.

Attendees asleep at the Emma Scores of Sleep concert

The Emma mattress brand's new Spotify album is scientifically designed to help you fall asleep – and trust me, it works

By Ruth Hamilton published 26 March 24

I have yet to make it to the end of Scores of Sleep without dropping off.

Person turning their morning alarm clock off from their bed

"Sleep happens" – it's time to stop micromanaging your nights, says sleep specialist

By Ruth Hamilton published 20 March 24

Focusing on clocking up 8 hours a night isn't the be-all and end-all for good sleep.

Amazon Echo Dot smart speaker on a bedside table

Your Alexa is your secret weapon for better sleep

By Ruth Hamilton published 16 March 24

Here's how to use your smart speaker to help you wind down and sleep better.

Amazon Echo smart speaker on a bedside table

How to use your Alexa to create a relaxing sleep routine (no screens required)

By Ruth Hamilton published 14 March 24

Alexa routines can help you follow a regular wind-down routine... and they can make your mornings brighter too.

I tried to bully an AI chatbot into giving me a mattress discount – but it started bullying me right back

By Ruth Hamilton published 12 March 24

Nectar's new AI chatbot lets you haggle for your new mattress, and it's as hellish as it sounds.

Mattress in a box vs traditional mattress

Bed in a box mattress vs traditional mattress: which is better?

By Ruth Hamilton published 20 January 24

We run down the pros and cons of bed-in-a-box mattresses versus traditional models, delivered flat, in terms of quality, convenience, price and more.

I swapped doomscrolling for reading before bed and I regret to inform you it did improve my sleep

By Ruth Hamilton published 19 January 24

Can shutting your phone away at night really make such a difference? Sadly, yes.

This AI-powered pillow has a smart way of shutting up snorers

By Ruth Hamilton published 9 January 24

CES 2024 The Motion Pillow's snorer-silencing tech has won a CES innovation award.

woman asleep with phone on bed next to her

These are the best (and worst) iPhone alarms to wake up to, according to science

By Ruth Hamilton last updated 3 January 24

Some alarm tones are just setting you up to fail. Cue one of these up to start the new year with a spring in your step.

Close up of person's feet, wearing trainers and walking through an urban area

I walked 10,000 steps every day for a week instead of going to the gym – here are 3 things I learned

By Ruth Hamilton published 2 January 24

Will walking 10k steps a day get you fit? I tried it to find out.

Girl listening to Christmas songs on headphones, relaxing next to the tree

These are the best Christmas songs to help you fall asleep, according to science

By Ruth Hamilton published 20 December 23

Jingle bellzzzzz?

Are bed in a box mattresses good quality? Here's what two mattress manufacturers had to say

By Ruth Hamilton published 18 December 23

Bed-in-a-box mattresses are everywhere; we investigate if you're sacrificing quality for convenience.

7 ways to get rid of bedbugs, without chemicals

By Ruth Hamilton published 9 October 23

Bedbugs are extremely difficult to get rid of on your own, but here are some techniques that can help.

What is the best type of memory foam?

By Ruth Hamilton published 22 September 23

Not all memory foam mattresses are created equal. Here are the things to look for in a comfortable, high quality, durable foam

woman in bed with duvet pulled over her head

How to keep your bedroom warm (without putting the heating on)

By Ruth Hamilton last updated 26 December 22

Want to avoid a sky-high heating bill? Here's how to trap the warm air in your bedroom, and keep the cold draughts out.

6 tips to help you sleep better when you've got a cold

By Ruth Hamilton published 22 December 22

Warning: contains multiple instances of the word 'mucus'

Man lying in bed and turning his alarm clock off

Why is waking up in the dark so difficult? And how can I make my body adapt?

By Ruth Hamilton published 12 December 22

Here's how to ease the pain of winter mornings, according to a sleep expert.

Scared sleepless? 4 expert tips for avoiding nightmares after a horror movie binge

By Ruth Hamilton published 28 October 22

For scaredy cats who want to get some sleep this Halloween.

Sheep looking at the camera, with more sheep behind in a field

Does counting sheep really help you sleep? We asked an expert

By Ruth Hamilton published 14 October 22

It's an age-old technique, but does it actually do anything? We spoke to a Sleep Scientist to find out if counting sheep can help you drop off faster.

Woman crouched next to a washing machine in a kitchen

How to wash pillows in a washing machine without ruining them

By Becks Shepherd published 21 September 22

Wondering if you can wash pillows in a washing machine? We asked an expert for their tips to machine washing your bedding without damaging it.

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