Popular kitchen gadget sold on Amazon is urgently recalled over ‘serious risk of fire & EXPLODING'
NO-NO GADGET Popular kitchen gadget sold on Amazon is urgently recalled over 'serious risk of fire & EXPLODING'
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A KITCHEN gadget from Amazon has been recalled over a "serious" risk of exploding.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has now banned all imports of the Moongiantgo Food Dehydrator.
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There are serious fire risks with the product, and it has been pulled from UK sales
Credit: Gov.uk
The entire product appeared to be riddled with issues, including faults with its fuse.
On the OPSS website, it states: "The product is a serious risk of fire as the fuse has insufficient granular filler to ensure safe operation under fault conditions.
"If the product experiences an electrical fault whilst in use, it may catch fire or explode."
According to the body, it does not meet the requirements of Electrical Equipment Safety Regulations 2016 or the Plugs and Sockets Safety Regulations 1994.
The product was used to dehydrate various food items such as fruits, herbs, vegetables and meats.
A similar item listed on Amazon, which meets the regulation standards, says it is fitted with a high-powered rear fan which delivers "consistent airflow throughout".
The description reads: "A sleek digital control panel gives you full command of the dehydration process.
"Set the temperature anywhere between 30°C and 90°C, and use the programmable timer for up to 24 hours of continuous drying."
Another Amazon product was recalled over serious risk of injuries.
The Soppycid Reusable Water Balloons have been removed from the online marketplace following the safety concern.
Amazon's Affordable Foldable Tiny Home: Space-Saving Design and Features Revealed
The toy was available in a pack of six on Amazon for £18.
"The product presents a serious risk of injuries because it contains accessible magnets with a magnetic flux index that exceeds the acceptable level," the product's risk description reads.
"Small, high-powered magnetic products can easily be swallowed and, when ingested, have the potential to cause serious internal injuries within the gastrointestinal tract.
"The product also requires improvement to marking,
labelling and documentation."
Another children's toy was removed from the website over fears it could cause serious injury.
The swimming float was also urgently recalled over fears it could cause serious injury or even drowning.
The Joycat Baby Float, sold on Amazon, has been flagged as a safety risk.
Authorities found that its attachable canopy could lift the float from the water in windy conditions, putting children in danger.
The alert was issued in the UK following a border inspection.
The blue and yellow sea-themed swim seat, intended for babies and toddlers, poses a 'serious risk of injuries', according to the Product Safety Report.
If the float becomes airborne, a child could be thrown out and suffer an impact injury or drown.
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The gadget can be used to dehydrate a variety of foods
Credit: Gov.uk
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The Guardian
6 hours ago
- The Guardian
The best kettles to save energy and speed up your cuppa, tested
Despite the march of progress, the humble kettle remains a kitchen staple. It's what we turn to in times of strife, when spirits are flagging, or to start our day. And when a visitor calls, one of the first things we do is put the kettle on. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. While many small appliances have evolved beyond their original form, the kettle's basic principles remain largely unchanged. Water goes in and heats up until a thermostat switches it off; the water then pours out, and we enjoy a cuppa. However, the technology that goes into a kettle has been slowly improving: better insulation to keep water hotter for longer and reduce reboils; different temperature settings to suit every drink from green tea to herbal brews; and more features such as filters and concealed elements to keep scale out of our cups. When your existing kettle makes its last brew and must be taken to the big recycling centre in the sky, it pays to check out what's on offer to replace it. The next one you buy may make more of a difference to your day than you might think. Best kettle overall: Bosch Sky kettle£76 at Amazon Best budget kettle: Kenwood Ripple kettle£29.99 at Kenwood The forever kettle Dualit Classic kettle£140 at Currys Best quiet kettle:Zwilling Enfinigy Pro kettle£139 at Zwilling Best budget variable temperature kettle: Lakeland Digital double-walled kettle£44.99 at Lakeland When a friend heard I was writing this, she asked me, 'Aren't all kettles the same? They all boil water, don't they?' And while she's right about the second part, it took me at least 15 minutes to explain why she was wrong about the first. I've been testing kettles for years and they vary greatly – in design, weight, ease of maintenance, ease of use and build quality. Some will last for decades while others will barely make it past the basic guarantee period. In short, yes, all kettles boil water – but they are far from being all the same. As you can imagine, I boiled a lot of water. Litres upon litres of the stuff. Enough to turn my kitchen into the steamiest hammam and clear my pores of blackheads I've had since I was a teenager. But testing wasn't just about making gallons of tea and having a deep skin cleanse on the cheap. I also brought a lot of gadgets to the party: a power meter to assess electricity use for each kettle when boiling exactly one litre of water from cold; a timer to measure how long that took; and a probe thermometer to gauge how long it took for the kettle to click off once it had reached boiling point. External temperature was measured using an infrared thermometer and the highest reading noted, while maximum noise levels were recorded with the Decibel X app. After boiling, water temperature was checked at the 30-minute, one- and two-hour points to see how much it had cooled. I tested 12 kettles in total. Those we tested but haven't included are Currys Essentials C17JKW17 jug kettle, which is a snip at £8.99 but lacks durability, and the Russell Hobbs Travel Light white small kettle 23840, which is probably one of the best travel kettles you can buy at £20, but took almost six minutes to boil its 850ml. The ones that made the cut were selected on the basis of good energy efficiency or low minimum fill, plus ease of use or maintenance. Value for money has also been considered, as have longer guarantees and durable build quality that should translate into a lengthy lifespan for the appliance. All samples have been returned to their supplier or donated to Caterham Round Table to raise funds for local causes and charity projects. £100 at John Lewis£76 at Amazon Offering variable temperatures and a double-walled stainless-steel housing, the 3kW Sky is a brilliant blend of robust form and function. It boasts a low minimum boil (300ml), a keep-warm setting and touch controls. Why we love itI found it difficult to select a best kettle from so many that performed well, but the Bosch Sky clinched it because it's such a good all-rounder that will suit most people. It pours well, has a button that's within easy reach of the handle so it's simple to open the lid without touching it, and it's insulated so the exterior doesn't become too hot to touch. From a design perspective, it has a more industrial feel than many others – no frippery here – but not too modern that it wouldn't fit into most kitchens. Its display is thoughtfully designed, easy to keep clean and lights up as it heats. The exterior doesn't get too hot (up to 40C), and while it wasn't the fastest to boil in testing, it was only seconds behind the Dualit below. It clicked off at boiling point, and the water was still a toasty 78C 30 minutes later. At the hour point, it was 66C, and two hours 52C, meaning you'll spend less time and energy reboiling. It's a shame that … its premium look ends at the handle, which seems cheap and plasticky next to the sleek aesthetic of the rest of it. Time to boil one litre: 2mins 22secsMinimum fill: 300mlPower use: 0.112kWh = 3p at 25.73p per kWhMatching toaster? YesMaximum noise recorded: 59dBTemperature settings: 70C, 75C, 80C, 85C, 90C, 95C, 100C, keep warmWarranty: two years £29.99 at Kenwood£29.99 at Amazon Available in four 'ocean-inspired' shades – eggshell blue, storm blue, pure white and midnight black – Kenwood's Ripple kettle has a subtle design that belies its affordable price tag. It's practical, too: there's a 3kW element, a wide pouring spout to prevent drips, and two water windows showing cups on one side and litres on the other (making it left-hander friendly). Why we love itMore affordable kettles tend to demand a higher minimum fill – usually 500ml – but the Ripple enables those on a budget to boil a single cup (200ml), providing excellent energy economy. There's even a plastic marker inside for one and two cups and max, so you don't need to watch the water window as you're filling. It's lightweight at 950g without feeling flimsy, has a pull-off lid for easier filling, and it boiled quickly in testing, retaining its heat well for the first 30 minutes (72C) and hour (60C). It's a shame that … the lightweight plastic body meant that the external temperature was very hot after boiling (80C). Its two-hour temperature (44C) was also much cooler than the one-hour point, meaning more energy is needed to reboil. Time to boil: 2mins 30secsMinimum fill: 200mlPower use: 0.118kWh = 3p at 25.73p per kWhMatching toaster? YesMaximum noise recorded: 57dB Temperature settings: 100CWarranty: one year £140 at Currys£149.99 at John Lewis Although it comes with a higher initial outlay, Dualit's Classic kettle is more of a 'buy right, buy once' appliance. It's as robust as they come, with a durable stainless-steel body, hinged lid, anti-wobble feet and non-drip spout. But it's the repairable nature of this kettle that makes it an eco-friendly buy. The 3kW element is replaceable, so a pro can swap it for a new one or repair it if it wears out, meaning you may never need to buy a new kettle again. Why we love itRepairability aside, the Dualit Classic kettle also makes it easy to boil only as much water as you need, with a low minimum fill (250ml) and dual water windows indicating cups and litres via multiple markings. There's no button to raise the lid, meaning one less thing to go wrong; instead, it has a heatproof plastic handle. It was also the fastest boiling of all the kettles tested and clicked off bang on boiling point. It's a shame that … the exterior gets hot after boiling – our sample reached 71C. It also lacked a choice of temperatures and a keep-warm function, despite the higher price. Time to boil one litre: 2mins 15secsMinimum fill: 250mlPower use: 0.114kWh = 3p at 25.73p per kWhMatching toaster? YesMaximum noise recorded: 57dBTemperature settings: 100CWarranty: one year £139 at Zwilling£139 at Currys Taking variable temperature kettles to new heights, the Enfinigy Pro kettle doesn't just feature different temperatures for your tea and a keep warm option, it also boasts a baby bottle sterilisation setting. Add in the wipe-clean touchscreen, fast boiling and insulated dual-wall body to maintain the water's heat, and it makes a better gift for new parents than all the nappy cakes in the world. Why we love itWhile the 500ml minimum fill is higher than many, I liked the robust feel and sleek look of this kettle, with its cup and litre measurements marked neatly inside the jug. I also appreciated the clear display and choice of temperatures, as well as the reassuring lifetime warranty. It was easily the quietest when boiling and didn't grow hot on the exterior, reaching a cool-touch 31C. Heat retention was brilliant: after 30 minutes, the water was still 81C, dropping to only 71C after an hour and 57C after two. It's a shame that … it's a seriously slow boiler, due to its 1.85kW element, and it continued to boil for three seconds after reaching 100C. Time to boil: 4mins 7secsMinimum fill: 500mlPower use: 0.121kWh = 3p at 25.73p per kWhMatching toaster? YesMaximum noise recorded: 43dBTemperature settings: 40C, 60C, 70C, 80C, 93C, 100C, keep warmWarranty: lifetime £44.99 at Lakeland£44.99 at Amazon Lakeland's Digital double-walled kettle proves you don't have to splash the cash for a well-insulated, variable temperature kettle – or one with a decent warranty length. With a powerful 3kW element, a wide choice of temperatures and a keep-warm setting, plus easy controls, it's hard to ask for more at this price. Why we love itWhat impressed me most about this kettle, aside from its choice of 13 temperatures, was its large, clear display. It's easy to read from afar, and the temperature is easy to set with plus and minus buttons. The kettle looks and feels premium for the price, with its measurements all marked on the interior. The double-walled construction served it well: the exterior reached only 27C, while the water was still 78C after 30 minutes, dropping to 67C after an hour and 53C after two. However, it did take a couple of seconds to click off after boiling. It's a shame that … this kettle's lid catch isn't as well engineered as the rest of it: its flimsy feel makes me worry that it may not go the distance. Time to boil: 2mins 30secsMinimum fill: 500mlPower use: 0.112kWh = 3p at 25.73p per kWhMatching toaster? YesMaximum noise recorded: 57dBTemperature settings: 40C, 45C, 50C, 55C, 60C, 65C, 70C, 75C, 80C, 85C, 90C, 95C, 100C, keep warmWarranty: three years Sign up to The Filter Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. after newsletter promotion £60 at Ao£79.99 at Swan Best for: energy efficiency This wifi-connected kettle won't be for everyone, but it might appeal to those who, hands full with kids or shopping, would like Alexa to put on the kettle for them. Beyond its smart features, it's a decent kettle, using the least energy of those tested and letting you easily set different temperatures. It's well insulated too, with the exterior only reaching 32C after boiling and the water still registering a balmy 57C after two hours. It didn't make the final cut because … its 1.8kW element meant it was slow to boil, and it took about six seconds to click off after reaching boiling point. The display is difficult to read in bright light, and there's a 500ml minimum fill, with no markings between that and the max fill. Time to boil one litre: 3mins 59secs; minimum fill: 500ml; power use: 0.107kWh = 3p at 25.73p per kWh; matching toaster? No; maximum noise recorded: 55dB; temperature settings: 40C, 60C, 85C, 90C, 100C, keep warm; warranty: two years £99.95 at John Lewis£104.99 at Lakeland Best for: hard water If you live in a hard-water area, you'll know that descaling a kettle can be a chore. Sage's the Smart kettle makes it slightly easier thanks to its wide mouth and removable washable filter. It also features variable temperatures, which can be set with dedicated buttons for particular drinks and dual water windows clearly marked with cups and litres. It didn't make the final cut because … the minimum boil is 500ml, and its 2.4kW element meant it took longer to boil than others. In addition, the external temperature rose to a fairly hot 61C. Time to boil one litre: 2mins 40secs; minimum fill: 500ml; power use: 0.12kWh = 3p at 25.73p per kWh; matching toaster? Yes; maximum noise recorded: 56dB; temperature settings: 80C, 85C, 90C, 95C, 100C, keep warm; warranty: three years £49 at John Lewis£49.99 at De'Longhi Best for: personalisation Putting the fun into functional, De'Longhi's Eclettica kettle is one for those who like to be different. Available in colours including 'whimsical white' and 'playful pink', its USP is personalisation, with a fluted saucer accessory that you can add and remove as you please. Fortunately, it's a good, robust kettle too, boiling quickly thanks to its 3kW element and low minimum fill of 300ml. It didn't make the final cut because … heat retention was disappointing: although the water temperature was 70C after 30 minutes, it dropped to 42C after two hours. The exterior also reached 98C after boiling. Time to boil one litre: 2mins 28secs; minimum fill:300ml; power use: 0.114kWh = 3p at 25.73p per kWh; matching toaster? Yes; maximum noise recorded: 59dB; temperature settings: 100C; warranty: one year From £128 at John LewisFrom £149 at Smeg Best for: vintage style Instantly recognisable, Smeg's 50s-style kettle has a vintage aesthetic that has won it a legion of fans. However, there's no getting away from the fact that it's one of the priciest while not offering much more than the others. The good stuff: it's stylish, has excellent build quality and a 3kW element that boiled very fast. It also clicked off as soon as it reached 100C, and has a base that allows the cable to emerge from anywhere it pleases. There's an extensive choice of colours, too, plus a soft-rise lid for minimal splashes. It didn't make the final cut because … minimum fill appears to be 500ml, although it's not marked as such, and the external temperature reached a sizzling 99C after boiling. Heat retention was decent at first – 70C after 30 minutes – but after two hours, it had reduced to a tepid 41C, meaning more energy is required for a reboil. Time to boil one litre: 2mins 17secs; minimum fill: 500ml; power use: 0.114kWh = 3p at 25.73p per kWh; matching toaster? Yes; maximum noise recorded: 60dB; temperature settings: 100C; warranty: two years £24.99 at Tower£24.99 at Wayfair Best for: an affordable luxury kettle If the price of the two stylish kettles above has you wincing, fear not: you can bag an attractive kettle for less than £30. Enter Tower's Scandi kettle, available in black or two shades of matt grey, all of which have faux wood and chrome-effect detailing. There's good stuff besides the design, too: it's lightweight (940g), has a speedy boiling 3kW element, and water windows on both sides that are marked with cups and litres. It didn't make the final cut because … the minimum fill is 500ml, and it took six seconds to click off after reaching 100C. It's also not very well insulated: the exterior reached 84C after boiling, and while the water temperature was 72C 30 minutes after boiling, it registered at only 44C two hours later. Time to boil one litre: 2mins 21secs; minimum fill: 500ml; power use: 0.117kWh = 3p at 25.73p per kWh; matching toaster? Yes; maximum noise recorded: 59dB; temperature settings: 100C; warranty: one year How you use your kettle will probably dictate which functions you'll find the most useful, but generally, any feature that helps to save energy is valuable. For example, kettles that are dual-walled help to trap heat inside, so the water stays warmer for longer while the outside stays cool to the touch. Those with low minimum fills enable you to boil just enough water for a single cup, so you don't waste energy heating more than you need. Some kettles also have a keep-warm function that stops the water cooling below a certain temperature, which is ideal for those who become distracted after boiling or drink consecutive cuppas. It's a good idea to check for safety features too, such as an auto shut-off to prevent it from boiling dry if there's not enough water. Other features are more 'nice to haves': variable temperature models enable you to choose water heated to lower temperatures than boiling, such as 70C or 80C, for other types of tea or for filling a hot-water bottle. Concealed elements, which are easier to keep scale-free, and removable, washable limescale filters will be useful for those who live in hard-water areas. Then there's connectivity. While wifi-enabled and voice-controlled kettles can feel a little gimmicky, they can be a gift for busy parents who usually have their hands full. Rapid-boil kettles don't have a strict industry definition, so while a rapid-boil kettle should boil water quickly, it may not differ much from one that's not labelled as such. A more reliable indicator of how fast a kettle will boil is its power rating: this is listed either in watts (eg 3,000W) or kilowatts (eg 2.2kW). The higher the number, the more power its element can use to heat water quickly. However, this isn't the whole story: boiling times can also be quicker in double-walled kettles (as they lose less heat to their surroundings) and those with concealed or flat elements (which provide more surface area to heat the water than a coil). Limescale reduces your kettle's efficiency, costing you more to boil each time, and shortening the appliance's lifespan. Descale it monthly, especially if you live in a hard-water area. Standing water encourages the buildup of limescale, so try not to leave water in the kettle after use. While you can buy descaler in the supermarket, a lower-cost and more eco-friendly option is to combine a weak food-safe acid, such as white vinegar or lemon juice, with water. Fill the kettle three-quarters with either water and the juice of one lemon or equal parts water and vinegar. Let it soak for an hour, then boil the kettle (once for vinegar, three times for lemon). Once it's cooled, rinse thoroughly. If your kettle has a removable filter, take it out and rinse it under running water at the same time. Rachel Ogden has worked as a consumer journalist for decades, becoming an expert unboxer before it was a thing, although she's much less adept at repacking. Her home has hosted hundreds of small appliances, from kettles and toasters to robot vacuums. When outside, you'll find her messing about with pizza ovens, barbecues and heaters. It takes a lot to impress her – many appliances have tried and failed
The Sun
12 hours ago
- The Sun
I asked ChatGPT how to jazz up my council house porch for under £100 – my budget privacy screen & Temu buys look fab
A DIY enthusiast was desperate to jazz up her council house porch, but didn't know where to start. As a result, Emily Beatrice, a mum-of-five from the UK, asked ChatGPT for advice on how to add style to her space. 2 2 Using bargain buys from Amazon and Temu, the photographer was able to totally transform the front of her home, without breaking the bank. In fact, the DIY makeover cost Emily less than £100 in total - yes, you heard that correctly. Posting on social media, the bargain hunter and interior lover shared a before and after look at her 'budget transformation.' She then explained: 'I asked ChatGPT how I could improve my council house porch for less than £100.' What was once a blue door with wellies and shoes all over the floor, has since been transformed into a stunning, as well as neat and tidy space. Emily was keen to 'make full use of space,' as she added: 'I wanted everything to have a place and a bit more privacy. To carry out the makeover, step one involved Emily sanding her front door. Following this, she then filled in any dents and added a primer. Once this was done, she added a black trim and gave the door a fresh lick of paint using Frenchic in the shade Wise Old Sage Al Fresco. She even painted her floor a bright blue colour too. I didn't want to fork out hundreds for a new front door but a 99p Shein buy & a lick of paint worked wonders To finish off the space she added shoe racks, a privacy screen to the window of her front door, and a gorgeous wreath for added style. Emily confirmed that she bought her privacy film from Temu and nabbed a pack of two wall welly boot racks from Amazon for just £15. Not only this, but she also revealed that she is 'tempted' to add a light to the space too. Emily confirmed that it cost her less than £100 in total for the DIY project, which included the cost of paint, brushes and primer. Rules on transforming your council house According to Gov, the kind of improvements you can make to your council property depends on the type of tenancy you have. Introductory tenants are usually limited to minor improvements like redecorating inside. If you're a secure tenant, you have the right to carry out improvements to your property. These include: installing a new bathroom or kitchen building an extension putting up a garden shed or greenhouse installing a new gas fire or fireplace cavity wall insulation redecorating the outside of a house fitting an aerial or satellite dish You might need your council's written permission for work you do. Contact your council if you're not sure. She acknowledged that she has 'plenty left for other projects' and already owned a sander, which cost her £50 in the Homebase sale. Showing off the final result, she beamed: 'Looks so much more inviting now!' DIY fans beam The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ emily__beatrice, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 133,400 views in just 13 hours. Not only this, but it's also amassed 6,050 likes, 122 comments and 235 saves. Social media users were impressed with Emily's mega makeover and eagerly rushed to the comments to express this. One person said: 'Love it, what a glow up.' Another added: 'Wooooooow.' A third commented: 'Looks lovely…I love ChatGPT.' Meanwhile, someone else beamed: 'Looks amazing!! Well done you.' Whilst another DIY fan chimed in and wrote: 'This actually looks so cute!!!' However, at the same time, one user advised: 'Black rug would have been smarter.' home!' Black just says 'hi, I'm a rug!''
North Wales Live
a day ago
- North Wales Live
My 'boring' but best-selling Amazon essential that has saved my garden and my water bill
It maybe a rather surprising home product to be a little obsessed with, but I am a massive fan of water butts - yup, I am that interesting - but stick with me here because this product could save you money as well as help you make your garden look lush. Over the years after spending way too much of my hard earned wages on plants for my small but much-loved garden, only to see them wither and die during hot weather while I wrack up the water metre trying to save them, I decided a water butt might help with the water bill and help to remind me to actually tend to the garden when the sun is out. So, with only a modest budget I researched what was on offer and I played safe with Amazon's best seller, the Black Slimline Space Saver 100 litre Water Butt from Storm Trading Group that comes with all that is needed to connect it to a downpipe, a tap and a stand. Currently for sale for £36.99 from Amazon. For more property stories sent to your inbox twice a week sign up to the property newsletter here. Fitting a water butt to a downpipe is a bit of a worry for a clumsy person like me, so it was worth the investment to get the local handyman over to chop through the pipe and attach the supplied fitting and that was it - now about half of the water from the gutter is diverted into the product from the pipe. So I have been lucky in that there have been some showers between the mini heatwaves which have refilled this new water butt, so I can truthfully say I have only used the water collected in this water butt to keep my garden refreshed. Of course, if my garden was bigger this might not be the case, but for my little plot of Welsh haven, it was ideal. If I had bothered to replace my now perished hose pipe (why didn't I remember to store it in the shed?) and instead I use watering cans gives me a chance to inspect the plants, watch the birds, bees and butterflies visit my garden and generally is a slower pace way of watering but for me far more enjoyable and has helped me understand and connect with my plants far more than I thought possible. Of course, using a scenario of watering with one can while the other fills up under the butt isn't everyone's idea of excitement, but for me, I felt a lot more connected to my plants and, not being that great a gardener, could see who needed more water, who needed pruning, and who was about to be totally eaten by snails. It also meant not attaching the hose pipe, if I still had one, to the outside tap, letting it run nestled into the foliage, forgetting about it while going inside the house and watching Escape to the Country, and sending our water bill sky high. I still use this butt, even though it's leaning to one side somewhat, but my new product situated in the corner of the garden by the house doesn't bother me too much visually, I am trying to persuade a nearby climbing ever-green jasmine to divert some of its branches to give the water butt a cwtch and disguise it somewhat, but it's not convinced it wants to at this present time. There are more fancy water butts to consider - told you I was a bit obsessed - if you have a bigger budget and want the product to blend into your garden scheme or be disguised in some way. Manufactured by sweeek and available from B&Q for £149, the 300 litre, wall-mounted water butt in beige could be a good choice for blending into a white or cream painted exterior wall. Not everyone likes the idea of an imposing slab of plastic taking a prominent place in their garden - I didn't at the start, so my first water butt was called a beehive which had a rather fancy terracotta urn-style design, which is unfortunately currently out of stock. A visually attractive alternative that includes the option of adding plants to the top of it to make it look more like a patio container than a water butt is the Garantia Antique Amphora 250L in Terracotta currently reduced by £48 to £251.99 via Robert Dyas. If the option to plant is a great idea and if terracotta is not an option that fits into the garden design then the Elho Green Basics Rainbarrel priced £249.54 from Amazon offers an arguably more contemporary option in black. Disguising the water butt as something completely different is an option too, with Water Butts Direct offering a product that looks like a tree trunk, called the 475L Evergreen Tree Trunk Water Butt. Priced £349.99 the tree trunk is one inventive option but another is a water butt that is doing a grand job of pretending to be a big oak barrel, with this option from Water Butts Direct priced at £220. Amazon has an alternative that is cheaper at £199.95 manufactured by Novecrafto and called the Rustic Oak Barrel Water Butt Kit, it costs £199.95. Both options are plastic but made to look like wood. For going for the luxury end of the market is within budget Charles Bentley doing an eye-catching range via Amazon or directly from the manufacturer. Options include a contemporary grey container with the option of pebbles placed at the top and a chrome tap priced £254.99 and a water butt designed to look like a wooden garden storage shed, with using Scandi Spruce Wood Effect. Holding 230 litres of water it is available from Amazon and costs £449.99. Finally, if the aim is to catch and store as much rainwater as possible the Harcostar 227 Litre Green Water Butt Double Kit is the practical if not very pretty solution. Sold and shipped by Great Green Systems Ltd, the product costs £159.99 and available via the B&Q website. Pop a garden screen in front of this duo and no-one will ever know they were working hard to help keep your garden green through the summer sunshine.
