We do a lot of testing here at the Filter, and that means our experts can end up with a lot of products, from air coolers to suitcases, mattresses to sunrise alarm clocks. We are particularly proud of our commitment to donating them to charity if they don’t need to be returned, so as Christmas approaches, we asked three of our writers where their unwanted items ended up – and who they helped.
“The best part of reviewing mattresses isn’t the naps or the lie-ins – it’s the part where someone comes to take them away,” writes Jane Hoskyn. “Donating them to my local hardship charity Scratch is a win-win: families get to sleep in comfort, and my house gets its floor space back.
“Meanwhile, my heated airers are now being used by the Yellow Door domestic abuse refuge in Southampton, and the weighted blankets I tested recently went to Southampton Hospitals Charity, specifically the Bassett ward for dementia patients.
“I also took the chance to comfort myself – after losing one beloved pet in 2025 and adopting another – by donating to Farplace animal rescue, which sold my squishy mountain of mattress toppers to help fund veterinary care and rehoming. ‘[They] didn’t hang around long,’ says Farplace’s Southampton shop manager, Lucy Wildsmith.
“The story that gladdened my heart the most, though, came from Scratch. ‘Our loyal volunteer, J, took one of the artificial Christmas trees home,’ said volunteer manager Lizzie Osborne. ‘He’s an asylum seeker and has six children, so the whole family will be able to enjoy it.’”
Furnishing hope
“I’ve chosen to donate the air coolers, fans and dehumidifiers I tested this year to Furnishing Futures, a charity based in east London that fully furnishes the empty social housing in which women and children are placed after surviving domestic abuse,” says Caramel Quin.
“It was founded by Emily Wheeler, who has more than 20 years’ experience in frontline social work. She has worked closely with women and children experiencing multiple disadvantages alongside the combined challenges of severe domestic abuse, poor housing and inequality.
“She is also a trained interior designer, writer and stylist. She’s combined her two careers in this charity, cutting industry waste by repurposing items that have been used once, briefly, in photoshoots. Meanwhile, the families Furnishing Futures works with feel safe and cared for, with new homes that are beautiful, not just bearable.
“‘Good-quality fans and coolers can literally be a life saver, especially for young children and babies,’ says Wheeler. ‘Damp and mould are also huge issues in poor-quality housing, so dehumidifiers help reduce the likelihood of dangerous black mould. It can be devastating when precious belongings get ruined by damp and mould, compounding families’ distress at an already difficult time, so products like these are really welcome.’”
Hooked on a feline
“When I’ve had leftover product samples for donation – suitcases, sunrise alarm clocks, and so on – I haven’t been short of reminders that Cat Action Trust 1977 would be a worthy recipient,” writes Pete Wise. “We’ve looked after 14 of the charity’s rescue cats at home in the past two years.
“This small national charity is entirely volunteer-run. Acting on tipoffs from the public, they track down stray cats (formerly pets) and feral cats (born wild), then trap, vaccinate and spay them. Some are then fostered and put up for adoption, while others are released safely.
“I’m glad we’ve been able to contribute to the Leeds branch. Local vets provide their services at a discount, but the cost of caring for cats (often found in poor health) is staggering.
“One easy way to help is by donating. But if you have a little time and love going spare, perhaps you could go one better and adopt a cat from your local rescue. It will be the making of you both.”
If this inspires you, do consider donating any unwanted Christmas gifts, too. Charity shops take clothes, books, homewares and more; and the British Heart Foundation will arrange to pick up furniture and electrical items. Or choose a charity that’s close to your heart.
This week’s picks
Velvet, tartan and puff sleeves: 22 sequin-free party looks for Christmas and beyond
The Christmas gifts you love the most, from cosy hand warmers to personalised chocolate
Beauty sets, posh tomatoes and a miracle hairbrush: Sali Hughes’s favourite gifts for Christmas 2025
Brat-core tees, butterfly bling and a hot-to-go hat: the best Christmas gifts for pop girlies
The best Christmas gifts for mums: 63 thoughtful ideas they’ll love
The best Christmas gifts for dads (that aren’t whisky or novelty socks)
‘Best eaten with a hangover’: the best (and worst) supermarket Christmas crisps, tasted and rated
‘The smell of truffle is genuinely glamorous’: the best Christmas sandwiches in 2025
Cheers! The best Christmas drinks, from gingerbread rum to mulled rose
‘Delicious, glossy … beautiful hot and cold’: the best Christmas ham joints, tasted and rated
‘A malevolent festive Jammie Dodger’: the best (and worst) supermarket mince pies, tasted and rated
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Editor’s pick
We’re curious sorts here on the Filter, and we also love a good shopping tip. So we’ve combined these twin passions and launched a new column, How I Shop, where we ask celebrities all those nosy questions you wish you could ask yourself: where they shop for food; what everyday items they scrimp on; what’s the best gift they’ve ever received; and much more.
We’ve kicked off with Gok Wan: find out what he buys on repeat, what his “saved search” is on Vinted, and the purchase he regrets the most …
Hannah Booth
Editor, the Filter
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In case you missed it …
Our Filter Christmas gift guide is bigger and brighter than ever this year – so whether you’re deep in the present-buying trenches or yet to make a start, you’ll find everything you need, from stocking fillers to grooming products, kitchenware to toys, condiments to garden tools. Even better, it’s all been tried, tested and tasted by our experts (and, in the case of baby toys, their parents). Happy shopping!
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Get involved
What are your best last-minute Christmas hacks? We’d love to hear the tricks you turn to on Christmas Eve when you’ve suddenly got an extra person to buy for, or your teenager brings over seven friends unannounced. Perhaps you have something up your sleeve for when the house is looking a bit un-festive, but you can’t bear to buy any more decorations.
Let us know by replying to this newsletter or emailing us at thefilter@theguardian.com.
