Editorial standards

Home advice travels quickly and is often wrong in small ways. A cleaning mix that should never be combined, a humidity figure with no source, a tip that works in one climate and fails in another. These standards describe how this handbook tries to avoid that, so you can judge how far to rely on any page.

How we source

Every guide lists its sources at the foot. We prefer public bodies such as health agencies, fire and rescue services, environmental and energy agencies, emergency-preparedness agencies and university extension services. A figure goes into a guide only if we have opened the source and found it there. When we cannot confirm a number, we leave it out or describe the idea without it.

We try not to lean on one country. Building rules, climate, insurance conditions and safety advice differ around the world, and we say so where it matters.

How we handle safety topics

Several subjects here touch health and safety: mould, water systems after long shutdowns, pools, cleaning products, electrics and fire. On those we report what named public bodies say, we attribute it, and we point to a qualified professional when the sources do. We do not give legal, tax, insurance, medical or engineering advice, and we do not recommend products, brands or companies.

How we write

We use plain words and short paragraphs, and we define a technical term when it first appears. We state exceptions instead of hiding them, and we avoid scare tactics and promotional language. The guides carry no advertising banners and no product recommendations.

Updates and corrections

Each guide shows when it was last updated. We add and revise guides over time, and we recheck one when a major source changes its advice. If you find an error, an out-of-date statement or a broken link, tell us through the contact form. We correct factual errors in the guide itself and change the date, and we do not leave a known mistake in place.

Independence

This handbook is independent of any business, agency, manufacturer or service provider, and it sells and arranges nothing. Naming a type of product or a public body describes it and does not endorse it. Read more on the about page, or see how we approach cleaning in the cleaning guide.

The short version

Sources are named and opened, figures are verified or left out, and the handbook stays out of professional advice. When something is wrong, it is corrected where you will see it.