Helen McCue

Helen McCue

Helen started reviewing home and kitchen appliances in 2007 at the Good Housekeeping Institute and has never looked back. She’s now freelance and reviews all sorts of appliances from her home in a pretty village in the UK. Despite having reviewed hundreds of coffee machines in her time, she’s only recently developed a love for coffee and a daily coffee habit, which makes tasting all those coffees much more enjoyable!

Articles by: Helen McCue

A flower bed full of peonies and perennials

9 best plants that grow back every year

By Helen McCue last updated

Want an ongoing display of flowers in your yard? We’ve found the 9 best perennials for repeated blooms.

Japanese Maple Tree

7 best small trees for a compact yard

By Helen McCue published

Is your yard tight for space? We’ve found 7 small trees which won’t become overbearing.

An ice cube tray on a chopping board

7 clever uses for an ice cube tray

By Helen McCue published

Ice cube trays can be used for more than just freezing water and we've rounded up some clever ways to get more from them

Rain on flowers

7 ways to collect and reuse rainwater

By Helen McCue published

Want to save on your water bills? Here’s how you can collect and recycle rainwater

A bread machine and an open oven which is baking bread

Bread machine vs oven — which is better?

By Helen McCue published

Stuck between buying a bread machine or using your oven? Here, we breakdown the differences.

aluminum foil on wooden surface

7 surprising uses for aluminum foil

By Helen McCue published

Aluminum foil is great for roasting and baking, but we’ve found 7 more clever ways you can use it.

A peace lily in a wicker basket on a floor next to curtains

7 best plants to reduce indoor air pollution

By Helen McCue published

Want to improve your air quality at home? These plants can help

An open trunk of a car showing safety equipment including a warning triangle

7 things you should always keep in the trunk of your car

By Helen McCue published

The car’s trunk is often cluttered, but there are 7 things you should always keep in there.

A bottle of hydrogen peroxide with cotton balls in the background

7 ways you didn’t know you could use hydrogen peroxide

By Helen McCue published

Want to know how you can use hydrogen peroxide around the home? We’ve found 7 uses.

Nespresso Vertuo on kitchen counter

Nespresso Vertuo review

By Helen McCue published

The Nespresso Vertuo is the original Vertuo machine and its smart technology makes brewing coffee foolproof, but it’s bulky and can’t heat milk.

Creeping phlox growing alongside a path in a yard

7 uses for ground cover plants

By Helen McCue published

Ground cover plants are more useful than you know, Here are 7 benefits of ground cover plants.

A can of WD-40 on a table

7 places to never use WD-40 — you’ll be surprised

By Helen McCue last updated

WD-40 can work wonders, but there are some places it should never be used.

A circular patio with table, chairs, umbrella and plants

How to clean your patio without a pressure washer

By Helen McCue published

Want to clean your patio, but lack a pressure washer? Here, we break down how to clean patio slabs in 7 simple steps — no pressure washer required.

A selection of pots and pans on a kitchen cabinet against a blue wall

7 mistakes you’re making with your pots and pans

By Helen McCue published

Are you guilty of making any of these 7 mistakes with your pots and pans?

An orange robot lawn mower cutting the lawn around flower beds

Robot lawn mowers — 5 reasons to buy and 5 reasons to skip

By Helen McCue published

Should you get a robot lawn mower? Here are 5 reasons to buy one and 5 reasons to skip.

A hand pinching blackout curtains

Blackout curtains — 5 reasons to buy and 4 to skip

By Helen McCue published

Should you upgrade to blackout curtains? Here, we breakdown the pros and cons of changing the drapes.

A hand spreading grass seed next to sod being unrolled

Grass seed vs sod — what’s best for your lawn?

By Helen McCue published

Is it better to plant grass seed or lay sod? Here, we break down the pros and cons of each.

Dog in a dog bed

How to clean a dog bed

By Helen McCue published

Keep your pooch's pad nice and tidy with this useful guide to cleaning a dog's bed properly

Tomato plants in pots on windowsill

10 vegetables you can grow in pots

By Helen McCue published

Don't let a lack of space stop you from growing your own veggies. Here are 10 vegetables you can easily grow in pots in your back yard.

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