From exploding gin to dating app disasters: our Filter writers’ guide to life

A cartoon dog surrounded by items including a vacuum cleaner, a bike and a coffee machine

We don’t just test products, offer expert buying advice, seek out hard-to-find, inspiring gifts, and help you become better, more informed consumers here on the Filter. Oh no. We also learn a lot of life lessons.

So, to celebrate our first birthday, we asked our writers, testers and all-round experts for the wisdom they’ve gained – from how to boost their step count to what to avoid on a dating profile – in the past year.

Testing, testing

Testing products isn’t always easy. “I learned that all those years of playing Tetris as a kid weren’t a waste,” says Rachel Ogden, our kitchen appliance reviewer. “Stacking multiple kettle/toaster/blender/air fryer boxes so they don’t fall on me in my office is a valuable life skill.”

Meanwhile, “filling your tiny one-bed flat with enormous beauty Advent calendars in the height of summer is a brilliant way to test your partner’s patience,” says beauty writer Sarah Matthews.

“I learned that some courier drivers do actually care: when I started receiving five-plus bouquets of flowers a day while testing the best online flower delivery companies, a few inquired into my wellbeing,” says Zoë Phillimore.

Some products require more care than others. “If you leave 25 bottles of gin unsealed but stoppered outside during a heatwave while you nip out for the school run, they will all explode and you will have to hunt around the garden for the lids,” says drinks writer Joanne Gould.

Life lessons

We’ve learned lessons beyond the products themselves. “Never trust a man who calls himself ‘one of the good ones’ on the first date,” says Olivia Petter, who gamely tested dating apps for us. While Caramel Quin learned she’s not alone going through menopause: “When I wrote “why you should trust me” as a fan reviewer, I talked about being a woman in her 50s and honestly not remembering the last time I felt cold. A lot of readers got in touch, feeling seen.”

In writing her monthly fashion edits, Jess Cartner-Morley has learned that it’s “absolutely fine to ask strangers where they got their fabulous shoes/earrings/jacket. They’re generally pleased with the compliment and almost always generous enough to share the intel.”

Should you always spend as much as you can afford? “Good-quality items that work well cost more money,” says Ella Foote, who wrote our guide to wild swimming. “There’s always a copy or cheaper alternative, but you do get what you pay for.” Until you don’t … “The biggest thing I’ve learned is not to judge a product by its attractiveness or its price,” says Matt Collins, our gardening writer. “Sometimes the more affordable, less stylish option delivers genuinely surprising results.”

Valuable discoveries

Some of our reviewers have found products they’ll use for life. “A walking pad is an awesome way of burning calories without breaking a sweat,” says Leon Poultney. “Racking up 20,000 steps a day while testing walking pads saw me get in the best shape of my life, all without really trying.”

A good camping chair “can change your life”, says Sian Lewis. “They work in the garden too, so it’s worth investing in a good one.” The same perhaps can’t be said of a waterproof jacket. “If it rains heavily enough, the best one in the world won’t save you,” says Paddy Maddison. “Spend long enough in it and it will find a way down your back, up your sleeves, into your pants, no matter the waterproof rating.”

Yet not everything we’ve tried has been great. “Not all beauty trends work. After hearing my teenage niece swear by mascara cocktailing (a TikTok trend that involves layering different types of mascara), I decided to give it a try while testing mascaras,” says Sabine Wiesel. “The promised false-lash effect was more like a clumpy, spidery-looking flutter – not the look I was after.”

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This week’s picks

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Editor’s pick

Over the course of testing 2,040 products, it’s only natural that we’ve developed a few favourites. We asked our reviewers and our readers for the best thing they’ve found on the Filter, whether that’s from their own extensive product testing or on another’s recommendation. The list includes everything from a microwave toastie maker to a life-changing potato masher. What’s yours?

Monica Horridge
Deputy editor, the Filter

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In case you missed it …

It hasn’t been the most fun year for all of our testers. “I doubt many people include the four minutes spent brushing their teeth as a highlight of even the most tedious day,” wrote Alan Martin. “So spare a thought for the months when it became my life’s obsessive focus.” Alan had to test 21 brushes to make his selection of the best electric toothbrushes.

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Get involved

The clocks are going back soon, and mornings are about to get that little bit harder. Whether it’s a sunrise alarm clock (above), a gentle stretch routine or a strong coffee, what helps you get out of bed when it’s dark and cold? Let us know by replying to this newsletter or emailing us at thefilter@theguardian.com.

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Tip Top Aware – Health & Wellbeing