Can a steam cleaner kill the coronavirus? Here’s what you need to know to stop the spread of germs with home appliances

Trying to stop the spread of germs has come to the forefront recently with the spread of coronavirus, with people going to extreme measures to try and avoid in the infection.

The important thing to remember with coronavirus is that as it's so new, there's very little testing that's been done to show what's the most effective way of combatting it. For that reason, we're focussing on general cleaning tips that can sanitise your home and keep it spotless using technology. (Don't forget to also look at our guide to the best vacuum cleaner).

Where possible we've linked to current advice surrounding generic advice and the latest coronavirus information. For the latter, the picture is constantly changing, so look out for NHS and government guidance on what's best and treat this guide as one for the best ways to keep your house clean.

Cleaning vs disinfecting

The first thing to understand is what the difference is between cleaning and disinfecting. Cleaning concerns removing germs from a surface but doesn't kill them. Disinfecting means to kill the germs.

For example, washing your hands with soap for 20 seconds or more under running water will wash a virus away; using a hand sanitiser that is at least 60% hand gel can "help you avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others", according to the CDC.

Health organisations recommend a two-part process, starting with cleaning and then disinfecting. For cleaning, you should use disposable cloths that can be thrown away, otherwise, washable cloths, sponges and mop heads need to be cleaned thoroughly and disinfected after use.

Bleach, mixed to the right quantities as shown on the instructions is a good disinfectant, although you can buy premixed disinfectant that's designed to kill most common germs. Don't assume that these will kill coronavirus: Dettol has put out a statement explaining how existing products have been effective on existing strains of coronavirus:

"Specific Dettol products have demonstrated effectiveness (>99.9% inactivation) against coronavirus strains from the same family as the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in third party laboratory testing when used following the directions for use. These products are Dettol Antibacterial Surface Cleanser Spray, Dettol Antibacterial Surface Cleanser Wipes, Dettol All-In-One Disinfectant Spray, and Dettol Disinfectant Liquid."

Using a steam cleaner

Heat treatment has proven effective in killing past viruses, particularly in areas where you may not be able to use detergent, such as for soft furnishings. The Government advice on cleaning COVID-19 says, "When items cannot be cleaned using detergents or laundered, for example, upholstered furniture and mattresses, steam cleaning may be used."

This sentence also points out a useful element of steam cleaners: they don't require detergent to work. Instead, they use water that's heated and turned to steam, so can be used anywhere you have a tap and running water, which is handy if supplies of cleaning fluids are running low, or you simply can't get new cleaning products.

Steam has often been highlighted as a good way to decontaminate areas. After the norovirus outbreak, the UK produced a guide on cleaning cruise ships to prevent infection, including cleaning carpets and upholstery using steam at a temperature of at least 70C.

Note that the advice mentions upholstery and mattresses, but doesn't talk about hard surfaces. This is because the advice is that hard surfaces should be cleaned with detergent and then disinfected with chemicals to fully clean them. That's not to say that steam cleaners can't be used on hard surfaces, as a way to kill germs and to clean without using detergent.

However, if you want to follow best practice, it makes sense to clean your floors and other hard surfaces using detergent first, and then to follow up with the steam cleaner as a second option. Just remember that there are no official guidelines on this as a cleaning and sterilisation routine, although this technique will give you a deeper clean than just using detergent or just using steam.

There's also a big difference on how effective a steam cleaner is depending on whether you're using a standard accessory or a steam mop (or mop accessory). One of the reasons that steam cleaners are so effective is because the full steam temperature output is directed at the cleaning surface, and can penetrate and access gaps and cracks in surfaces. However, this is only true if you're using a regular steam cleaner, where the steam output is directed out of the nozzle. These types of steam cleaners (cylinder and handheld), often have cleaning attachments, such as brushes, but these don't typically affect performance, as you get a shot of steam first, and the attachment is then used to remove dirt.

The most important thing with these products is to use the steam cleaner close to the surface that you're cleaning. Steam loses temperature fast as it moves through air, so if you're a long way from the surface you make the cleaner less effective.

Using a steam mop is different, as the steam is directed into the microfibre cleaning cloth, which absorbs much of the heat, preventing it from transferring to the floor. As such, you're not getting the full disinfecting effect that you would if you could use steam directly. Steam mops aren't a lost cause, though. The heat generated helps loosen dirt and germs, which are picked up by the microfibre cloth.

Not that microfibre merely collects germs, rather than killing them. There's a good chance that the steam from the cleaner will disinfect your cloth, but you should wash all cloths at the highest temperature they'll take after use to disinfect them. Remember, don't use fabric conditioner with microfibre.

In all cases, it's important to use the steam cleaner for the right amount of time, as you must kill germs thoroughly. A simple swipe through will most likely not provide enough of a clean. How long you clean for depends on the temperature of the steam that you're using, with higher temperature steam cleaners able to do a job faster. The advice from WebMD for cleaning up after an illness is to expose upholstery to steam for at least five minutes at 70C or one minute at 100C. Our selection of the best steam cleaners can help you find a suitable model.

What is it safe to use a steam cleaner on?

As steam cleaners use pressured steam to clean, they can be used on a surprising number of surfaces, but not all. If you've got anything that's sensitive to heat and/or water, then you may not be able to use a steam cleaner. For example, avoid using a steam cleaner on anything that can be damaged by water or heat, such as painted surfaces; delicate items, such as silk; and porous surfaces, such as brick or marble. Also be careful using a steam cleaner on oiled wooden floors, as this can damage the surface protector and cause water to enter the wood and make it expand.

That all said, you can use steam on pretty much all other surfaces, including laminate floors, tiles, grout, sealed worktops (quartz, etc), sinks, baths and glass. You can also use steam on carpets and upholstery, although it's worth testing on a small area that's out of sight to see if there are any detrimental effects before you carry on. Just remember that you should steam for the suggest time, based on the temperature of your cleaner, and that hard surfaces should still be thoroughly washed with detergent in order to give you the deepest clean.

How to clean a hard floor or carpet

Cleaning your floors is an essential part of keeping your home clean. For hard floors, rather than simply mopping, which can spread germs around, using a device such as the Karcher FC 5 Hard Floor Cleaner is a better option. This product sucks up the dirty water into a separate tank, removing dirt from the floor, so the clean water is never mixed with the dirty. This process also leaves the floor almost dry.

In comparison, when using a mop, it's recommended that you have two buckets: one with detergent and one for rinsing, so that you don't contaminate the cleaning bucket and further the spread of germs. Mopping also leaves a floor much wetter.

Remember that using the FC 5 with detergent won't kill viruses. However, you can use this product with any cleaning solution, including disinfectant, provided it doesn't contain ammonia or bleach. To avoid damage to the machine, you may find it easier to clean with general detergent and then to mop afterwards with a disinfectant.

For carpets and upholstery that can be cleaned with liquid, you can use one of our best carpet cleaners. Again, carpet cleaners are good, as they pump out clean water mixed with detergent from one tank, and suck up the dirty water into a separate tank, preventing cross-contamination. To kill viruses, you should use them with a carpet shampoo that has anti-viral properties, or clean once and then use a carpet-safe disinfectant afterwards once the carpet is dry.

Washing soft furnishings and clothes

For clothes, curtains, washable sofa covers and the like, the current government advice for coronavirus is to wash items at the highest temperature that they will take. You can also use steam if you have a washing machine that lets you add this to a cycle but still wash at the highest temperature that you can. Our list of our best washing machines will help you find a new model if you need one.

The more generic NHS advice on how to stop germs spreading says to wash items at 60C to avoid germs, or at 40C with bleach. Check your care labels carefully before washing to avoid any damage.

Washing dishes

Current advice for dealing with dishes is to use a dishwasher where possible. Using one of our best dishwashers means that you don't have to physically handle anything while you're washing, and the machine will do a more thorough job, rinsing at the end of the cycle. In terms of coronavirus, there's no specific information on the setting to us, but given that general NHS advice for clothes is to wash at 60C, it would make sense to use the same or higher temperature setting in a dishwasher. Typically, dishwasher eco settings will be lower than this (often around 50C), so use one of the standard or higher programmes where you can.

If you can't use a dishwasher (or don't have one), you can wash up by hand. Wear rubber gloves and wash dishes in hot soapy water, leaving them to air dry before use.

Related: Whirlpool WIO3033 DEL

Dealing with glass

Our homes typically have a lot of glass surfaces, from shower screens to mirrors and windows. Standard window cleaner with a cloth has the same problems as using a mop on the floor. A window vacuum, such as the Karcher 10 Year Window Vac Anniversary Edition is effective a wet vacuum cleaner that sucks up the left-over dirty water off of glass and into a separate tank. This makes it faster to get good results, with dirt more easily being removed from the glass surface.

As with other surfaces, the advice remains to clean first and disinfect second, and this goes for cleaning windows. In the absence of disinfectant that you can use, windows can also be cleaned with a steam cleaner following the advice above. Remember, any cloths or squeegees that you use on a window should also be disinfected, either with sprays and chemicals or, for cloths, using a washing machine.

Home Technology Editor

Starting life on the consumer PC press back in 1998, David has been at the forefront of technology for the past 20 years. He has edited Computer Shopper and Expert Reviews, and once wrote a book on ho…

Unlike other sites, we thoroughly review everything we recommend, using industry standard tests to evaluate products. We'll always tell you what we find. We may get a commission if you buy via our price links. Tell us what you think – email the Editor

How Coronavirus Kills: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) & COVID-19 Treatment

You Can Make Beef Jerky at Home With This Five-Star Appliance

From Good Housekeeping

Apple chips, dried mango and beef jerky are all foods you can make in a food dehydrator, which dries foods at a low temperature over a long period of time. The lack of moisture intensifies the food's flavor, which makes fruit taste sweeter and herbs more pungent; it also allows it to store well for a long time.

In addition to being more flavorful and shelf-stable, homemade dehydrated snacks tend to be healthier than the ones you buy in a store; they typically feature one whole ingredient that has simply been dried with no additives, preservatives, or calorie-laden ingredients, like oil or sugar. They can also be customized exactly how you like (you can add extra salt or none at all, for example).

Dehydrating also retains the nutrients in food better than some cooking methods. When an ingredient like kale, which is full of water-soluble and heat-sensitive vitamin C, is boiled, it loses some of its immune-boosting potency. Dehydrating it at a low temperature preserves its nutrients and vitamins better.

How does a dehydrator work?

Dehydrators dry foods out by circulating air at a very low temperature. The foods must be arranged in a single layer without touching so they can dry fully and evenly. Different temperatures are recommended for different foods based on water content:

Water-dense ingredients, like fruit, usually benefit from a higher temperature, like 135°F, so they can dry quickly without becoming too crisp.

Vegetables can be dehydrated at a lower temperature, like 125°F.

Delicate foods, like herbs, should be dehydrated at even lower temperature, like 95°F, to prevent over-drying and discoloration.

For meat, the USDA recommends cooking it first to an internal temperature of 165°F and then dehydrating between 130°F to 140°F. This method is suggested to kill any potentially harmful bacteria and encourage the cooked meat to dehydrate quickly and safely.

Here's what else you can do with your dehydrator:

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Dry homemade pasta

Ferment yogurt

Make fruit leather, granola bars, dog treats, and more

Make potpourri

Recrisp stale foods like cookies or crackers.

DIY art projects, like dehydrated flour and water molds that can be painted

What kind of dehydrator is best?

There are two main types of dehydrators: Dehydrators with shelves that stack and dehydrators with pull-out shelves. The main difference between these two styles is the placement of the fan, but in our dehydrator tests, we saw minimal difference between the two styles when we dried apple slices, parsley, and beef for jerky. We also found that both styles offer models with wide temperature and timer ranges, an important feature to look for so you can control your results with precision.

Dehydrators with stacked shelves have a small fan is on the base and circulate air upwards. Stacking dehydrators often take up less space and are less expensive. Some are round and others are more rectangular in shape; we prefer the rectangular ones that create more surface area and accommodate different-shape ingredients better. Stacking dehydrators are ideal for dehydrating newbies or infrequent users.

Dehydrators with pull-out shelves have a large fan in the back that tends to circulate the air better and more evenly, which results in more consistent results. Dehydrators with pull-out shelves are typically made of more solid materials to better control the temperature. Some have metal shelves instead of plastic for those who avoid cooking on plastic.

Can you use the oven as a dehydrator?

Like ovens, food dehydrators work by circulating air at very low temperatures for an extended period of time. But instead of cooking with heat, dehydrators draw moisture out of foods so they dry out and can be enjoyed for a long time.

Most ovens do not offer the same low temperatures that a dehydrator does. Some new models offer dehydrating as an option, but it is still not ideal due to the limited amount of racks and accessories most ovens come with. We do, however, like dehydrating in a toaster oven, especially large capacity ones like the June Smart Oven and Breville Smart Oven Air, which allow you to buy additional air frying/dehydrating racks to dehydrate more ingredients at once.

Is buying a dehydrator worth it?

Dehydrators are a useful appliance for mindful eaters. They encourage eating real, whole ingredients and are a good aid in eliminating food waste. They're particularly great for parents who try to feed their kids healthy snacks, those who suffer from allergies, and those have a hard time finding additive-free snacks in stores.

Dehydrators are also very cost-effective in the long-run. They allow you to buy produce in bulk, especially when it is in season or on sale, and store it to use later on. They're also a great tool for gardeners who often have a surplus of ingredients on hand.

The downside of dehydrators is they take a long time to dry out food and their yield is often easy to devour in one setting. If you buy a large one with a timer, however, the process is quite hands off and rewarding.

Tips for dehydrating

Cut foods into even pieces before dehydrating. The thinner the food, the quicker it will dehydrate.

Arrange food in a single layer, with at least 1/8 inch of space in between.

For a chewy texture, dehydrate foods for less time.

Turn dehydrator off when foods are flexible but still dry. They will be come less flexible as they sit.

Foods must be fully dehydrated before storing for long periods of time. Y0u can check for this by placing dehydrated food in a sealed plastic bag. If any moisture droplets accumulate over the coarse of a day or two, the food is not fully dry. Dehydrate again.

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Chrissy Teigen and John Legend Drop $5 Million on Modern L.A. Home

Chrissy Teigenand John Legend just scooped up another home in the ritzy neighborhood of West Hollywood.

According to Dirt, the A-list pair recently forked over $5.1 million for a 3,440 sq. ft. home that's just a hop, skip and a jump from their current residence in the Beverly Hills. The house was built from the ground up and is thus equipped with all the features a famous family could need, including a Smart Home system and floating gardens. 

It's unclear what purpose the house will serve for the couple, as Chrissy and John still live in their massive mansion, but it's the perfect space for the cookbook author to work. The home designer equipped the home with high-end Miele appliances and a large countertop. What's more is it seamlessly transitions into a spacious living room that opens up to the backyard. 

When they're not in the communal areas, the members of the family can go to their respective rooms, as there are four bedrooms and four baths. 

A lot of big things happened for the family this week. Luna Stephens turned 4-years-old on Tuesday, which called for a major celebration: Breakfast in bed!

Of course, Chrissy cooked a marvelous meal from scratch and recorded one of the many moments they shared from the day. At the end of the clip, Luna shouted, "Thank you three, you've been good to me!" 

All in all, the Legend-Teigen-Stephens' have been keeping their fans thoroughly entertained during the coronavirus pandemic. John and Chrissy have their respective TV shows that are on the air and continue to post tid-bits from their day-to-day life. So stay tuned!

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Inside MasterChef star Poh Ling Yeow's incredible Adelaide home

A meditation room, vegetable patches and an art studio: Inside MasterChef star Poh Ling Yeow's incredible Adelaide home ...just DON'T ask her about her dining room table

By Joshua Fox For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 01:54 BST, 16 April 2020 | Updated: 02:03 BST, 16 April 2020

MasterChef Australia star Poh Ling Yeow's talents go way beyond the kitchen. 

The 47-year-old has spent the past decade perfecting her interior design skills and creating her dream home in Adelaide after moving into the property in 2010. 

From a heavenly garden with vegetable patches to a tranquil meditation room and art studio, Poh's 1959-built home is now complete,  and it's full of colour and creativity. 

Queen of interior design! MasterChef's Poh Ling Yeow (pictured) has spent ten years creating her dream home in Adelaide after moving into the 1959-built property in 2010 

As expected, Poh's kitchen is state of the art - yet still feels homely and cosy. 

Vibrant Turkish tiles create an upbeat cheery atmosphere, distracting from the large stainless steel appliances and surfaces used to create her masterpieces. 

The bright colours continue to run throughout the entire house, with large pieces of art decorating her stylish lounge, hanging above a brown leather sofa. 

She lives with husband Jono Bennett and their Scottish Terrier dogs, Rhino and Tim. 

Vibrant: Poh's home is flooded with colour and creativity. Pictured: Her main lounge 

Entertaining: In the basement, Poh has created a trendy bar - with endless bottles of wine

Stunning: As expected, Poh's kitchen is state of the art - yet still feels homely and cosy. Turkish tiles create an upbeat cheery atmosphere against the steel appliances 

In the basement, Poh has created a trendy bar - with endless bottles of wine. 

There's a home studio for the talented artist to paint too, with book shelves and retro furniture, such as a vintage record player, scattered around the home. 

'There's so much space for us to express all our creative urges in it and through it,' Poh told Real Estate when asked what she loves most about her home. 

Family: Poh lives with husband Jono Bennett (pictured) and their Scottish Terrier dogs

Tranquil: The couple have a chilled out 'meditation room' inside their Adelaide property 

Creative: There's also home studio for the talented chef and artist to paint

Vintage: They have decorated their home with retro items, including a record collection

Although everything has a place, there's one area Poh doesn't keep quite so clean.

Her dining table is a hive of activity, scattered with books, papers, deliveries and electronics as she runs her various businesses from home. 

'Just in case you mistakenly think my life is charmed just because I'm on television sometimes, cop an eyeful of my dining table,' she recently joked on Instagram. 

'Cop an eyeful': Poh recently joked on Instagram that her dining table is the only place that isn't kept immaculately clean, as she uses it as a very functional office space during the day 

Magical: Poh's garden is her most cherished part of the incredible home

Dreamlike: There's vegetable patches, fruit trees, a honeybee colony, fireplace, space to lounge and a swimming pool to cool off from the heat in South Australia

Poh's garden is her most cherished part of the incredible home.

There's vegetable patches, fruit trees, a honeybee colony, fireplace, space to lounge and a swimming pool to cool off from the heat in South Australia.

To mark her 45th birthday in 2018, Poh's husband Jono built her the type of cosy day bed she said she'd 'dream about her whole life'. 

'I really go for it when I collect and decorate. Every nuance of my home is an opportunity to express myself,' she previously told Home Beautiful. 

Poh found fame on MasterChef Australia's first season in 2009. She placed runner-up behind Julie Goodwin, but managed to go on and achieve much success. 

Lucky: To mark her 45th birthday in 2018, Poh's husband Jono built her the type of cosy day bed she said she'd 'dream about her whole life'

'I really go for it when I collect and decorate. Every nuance of my home is an opportunity to express myself,' she previously told Home Beautiful of her interior design

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I've been spending a ton of time in my kitchen lately. Here are the 15 appliances gadgets and tools I'm using the most

source Alyssa Powell/Business Insider

It's safe to say I've never cooked more than I have in the past five weeks.

I love to cook. But with a busy job, a long commute, and a passion for eating out, I generally only cook somewhere in the ballpark of five meals per week in "normal" times. I drink most of my drinks at bars with friends and hardly ever eat dessert, unless I'm out for a special occasion.

But these are strange times! Homebound, due to the coronavirus pandemic, I find myself cooking 20 or so meals per week. My husband and I break for "happy hour" cocktails every day at 6 p.m. to help transition out of work-from-home mode. And I've developed a sweet tooth that just won't quit.

All of this time in the kitchen spent preparing meals, cocktails, and dessert has made me very reliant on kitchen tools.

Here are the 15 gadgets, appliances, and tools I'm using the most.

Dutch oven

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Janelle Monae Buys Midcentury-Style Hollywood Hills Home

Janelle Monae's new midcentury-style home is just as unique as the singer/actress/activist herself. Situated in the celebrity-friendly neighborhood of the Hollywood Hills, the "Electric Lady" singer's $3.9 million property is made up of two separate houses connected via a shared central breezeway, with a total of 3,403 square feet of living space, Variety reports.

Built back in the 1950s, the dwelling still retains much of that decade's funky aesthetic, with exposed wood beams and a decidedly tropical feel to its surrounding courtyards and grounds. The two-bedroom main house features an open floor plan with a main living area that spills out onto an outdoor dining area through a wall of floor-to-ceiling glass sliders. The kitchen is chic and modern, with stainless-steel appliances, built-in wooden shelves, and a temperature-regulated wine fridge. The master suite has its own intriguing components, including an indoor/outdoor steam shower, a private patio surrounded by tall trees, and an in-ground cedar spa. A serviceable claw-foot bathtub is tucked against the house elsewhere on the property for warm-weather dips.

The second house has its own separate entrance and boasts two bedrooms. Its kitchen is considerably smaller, but no less equipped for an aspiring chef. It is perfect for a guesthouse or a music studio. Other offerings of the Hidden Figures star's new property include a full outdoor kitchen with built-in BBQ and stainless-steel appliances, a lavish patio area, and a large rectangular pool.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest

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How to turn your old Android phone or tablet into a remote control for your smart home (Update: More apps)

This story was originally published 2020/03/30 7:00am PDTon Mar 30, 2020 and last updated 2020/04/11 2:10pm PDTApr 11, 2020. 

Smart devices add a great level of convenience to your household, including the ability to control them remotely and using your voice. However, there are times when it's much easier to operate them the old fashioned way with the push of a button rather than with your voice. Sadly, not many come with physical controls, and even if they did, that would mean you'd have a bunch of remotes lying around.

To solve this issue, we've looked at how you can turn a phone or a tablet into a remote control for all of your smart home devices, without having to switch from one app to another. We've explored several options, and the one that's right for you will depend greatly on what smart devices you have at home, as compatibility with third-party services may greatly vary.

Google has turned its Home app into a smart control hub since October 2018, letting you operate various devices directly without having to use any other software. What's particularly convenient is that all of the devices you use with Assistant will automatically appear within the app without the need for extra configuration. For instance, all of my lights, smart plugs, speakers, thermostats, and even my vacuum cleaner appear in the app, with the ability to control them.

Unfortunately, the Google Home app has some limitations. First, some devices can't be operated with it. For instance, I can't use it to turn off the TV, even though I can ask Assistant to do so. Similarly, although smart locks, window blinds, and air fresheners are shown in the app, there's no option to control them. What's particularly surprising is that devices like smart locks and TVs can be controlled from a Smart Display, so it makes no sense Google hasn't added that option in its Home app.

One way to solve this limitation is by using Routines, depending on what you want to achieve. In my case, I created one that lets me turn off the TV without having to use Assistant, and although it's far from being the most convenient way — you have to create it manually, and triggering it basically takes you to Assistant — it works. You could do the same to lock your door or open the blinds, but that still means you have to create these individually.

Lastly, Routines can also help you automate various things at home, such as turning all lights off when you're leaving, but these are relatively limited as they can't include any conditions, unlike some of the other services we'll talk about later.

Google Home is the app that will work for most people. Sure, it can't do everything, and you'll probably need to explore other apps if you'd like to perform more complex actions, but it doesn't require heavy configuration and is intuitive to use. It's unfortunate there's no way to customize the layout in the app and that there's no widget, as these would have made it even more convenient.

Olisto is not a control panel per se, but rather a way to automate most of your smart home devices and appliances and have them communicate with each other. It allows you to create "triggs" that can be conditioned based on various elements, such as the time, location, day of the week etc, to perform various actions. For instance, you can ask it to turn on the lights, lock the doors, and open the blinds every weekday at 9:00 AM. You can also automate various actions based on triggers from devices you already have at home, such as your smart camera, fitness tracker, and much more. Thank to Olisto's integration with an extensive range of services, you can imagine crazy "triggs" like locking the kitchen's door when you haven't exercised enough before 7:00 PM, for example.

What's particularly powerful, though, is its ability to create "now" buttons to perform "triggs." For example, you can press a single virtual button when you get home to open the blinds, turn on the lights, and start playing music on your speakers. The downside is that you have to manually create a button for every feature in every product, which can be particularly time-consuming to set up, but very convenient when used daily.

Olisto is probably not for everyone, especially if you're not looking at spending too much time on configuration. On the other hand, if you like to fiddle with technology and create some pretty neat home automations that are triggered at the touch of a virtual button, you should definitely give this app a try. It lets you create more complex routines than IFTTT, but supports fewer services, and tends to focus mostly on European platforms. Lastly, although there is no widget, there's an option to have a persistent notification, which can add a level of handiness, even though I personally hate these.

iHaus is one of the least eye pleasing apps I've seen, but it's actually quite handy. For starters, it doesn't require any extensive setup and can connect to your smart home devices without the need to log in. Instead, I managed to link my Roomba and Hue lights with the touch of a button, as the app automatically scanned my Wi-Fi network. Sadly, my plugs and cast-enabled speakers weren't supported, so I couldn't have all of my devices in the app.

Unlike Olisto, iHaus is more of a control panel for your smart devices, including some speakers, lights, plugs, kitchen appliances, locks, thermostats, and even your Tesla. It's easier to use than Google Home, in a sense that you can just tap a device's icon to turn it on or start it. What's also great is that it can automatically recognize groups, such as Hue rooms, so you can turn on all lights in a room at once, or change their color at the same time. You can also create routines to turn off everything at home with a single virtual button.

iHaus does offer the ability to create scripts with conditional triggers, but I've found them to be quite poor based on my usage. Again, this will depend on what you're trying to achieve, what devices you have, and whether they're compatible with the app.

All in all, iHaus can be a relevant option if you're looking for something simple and easy to use, but don't mind the looks.

If you can't bear the looks of iHaus, SmartThings is by far the nicest looking app covered in this article. Although it's made by Samsung, it's not exclusive to the brand's products and doesn't necessarily require the hub, as it can actually integrate with a great number of third-party services.

It's easy to set up and the app lets you split devices by room. Unfortunately, it doesn't work with my Roomba and required an additional hub to handle my smart plugs, which is a roadblock for me. Besides that, there's no option to change the color of all lights in a room, so you'll have to set these individually — unless you want to turn your living room into a club. There are some handy features, though, like the ability to set timers for the lights to turn off automatically after a certain amount of time, or at a specific hour. Another unique feature it offers is the ability to add various locations, so you can separate the devices from your city apartment and your country house, for example. Also, there's the option to add widgets to your home screen, which makes it even more convenient to use.

The built-in automation features are actually quite powerful, as they can be conditional and control various devices at the same time, which allows for an easy configuration and avoids using a third-party platform like IFTTT.

List of supported products and services

Yonomi is relatively similar to Olisto, in a sense that it's designed to help you automate things at home, but can also act as a remote control for lights and other devices. It's very easy to set up and can automatically detect what devices are on your Wi-Fi network, just like iHaus. Sadly, it doesn't support groups, so all your devices appear together, and although you can control them individually, you can't turn several lights on or off at the same time.

Yonomi can be very useful when setting up routines, though, as these can be conditional. However, I find the number of supported services to be quite low, so you'll have to see whether it's relevant for you compared to Olisto or IFTTT.

IFTTT is one of my favorite services around, and what's great about it is that once you've set up everything, you even forget it exists. For instance, I use a few smart plugs at home to control some lights, and I don't want to use different apps to automatically turn them off based on my location. Thanks to IFTTT, my Hue lights, plugs and other devices can be turned off when I leave, without me having to worry about it. In fact, IFTTT is so transparent that you rarely need to use the app, unless you're setting up a new applet or checking your activity log.

There also an option for you to control your smart devices directly from your phone, thanks to widgets and "Do buttons." Just like Olisto, this isn't a convenient option, as you'll have to create recipes manually, but they can be handy for a few of features, such as turning lights on or off, but you won't get to pick the color for instance.

IFTTT can be worth considering if you don't intend to create too many buttons, as the platform supports a very wide range of services and allows you to create tasks in just a flew clicks. The app also has a widget, which most others don't, so it might be a relevant option for many.

Amazon's app is relatively similar to Google's, in a sense that it offers the ability to control your devices and group them in rooms. It also has the benefit of being compatible with a very wide range of products and services, which is definitely an argument compared to some other ones in this post. Some might find it more convenient than other apps, as it lets you turn off all lights or plugs in a room using different icons, which can be handy. Unfortunately, Alexa isn't smart enough to recognize some of my plugs actually control lamps, while others don't, which means that if I turn on all lights in a room, it won't switch on the ones that are operated with a smart plug. Also, I was disappointed there was no option to control some devices, such as my vacuum clear, while the Google Home app can do it. Sadly, there is no way to create widgets to control your favorite devices. Similarly, you need to click on Devices every time you open the app to access them, which I find to be inconvenient, especially if you're planning on using the app as a smart remote control. This app has a very intuitive and pleasing interface and lets you organize your devices in groups and rooms, making it easier to navigate. It's designed to support a wide range of devices, including lights, plugs, thermostats, TVs, and speakers, but it's unfortunately only compatible with a limited number of services. For instance, while it supports Hue and LIFX, I couldn't link it to my Roomba and smart plugs, which was again a roadblock for me.   That's a bit of a shame because it's probably one of the easiest ones to use in this roundup. It's also customizable, with the option to rename devices and change their icons, but what's the point in being able to do so if you can't control most of your devices?

Whether you're trying to repurpose a spare phone or tablet into a remote control or want to use your current one to easily operate your appliances, we hope the above apps will help you aggregate everything in a single, convenient screen. This can also be a great way to help your household benefit from a basic digital remote control without your intervention, and without giving everyone full access to all apps and devices. Hopefully, you'll be able to find an app that suits your needs, and that can handle all the services you use. Don't hesitate to share your favorites with us in the comment section below.

Turn Your Old Android Phone/Tablet into the Ultimate Car GPS