Rachael Penn

Rachael Penn

Contributor

Rachael has been a freelance journalist for 15 years for various publications including Tom’s Guide, Creative Bloq, Independent, The Spectator, Daily Express and more. She has written extensively on home and technology news as well as reviewed hundreds of products across home and technology. She has a keen interest in AI and also written articles on this topic for Tom’s Guide. She also enjoys reviewing home, travel and tech gadgets, especially anything that has been designed to make life easier like smart home gadgets. She’s covered most tech including laptops, cameras, projectors, smartphones, headphones and more. When she isn’t writing Rachael can be found working out on her peloton, taking her two dogs — Murray a Sealyham terrier and Maggie a West Highland terrier on walks and getting sucked into a rabbit hole of watching true crime documentaries. 

Latest articles by Rachael Penn

A hand presses into the Nectar Classic Memory Foam Mattress to test the temperature regulation and pressure relief

Is a memory foam mattress right for you? We break down their pros and cons

By Rachael Penn published

We look at the benefits and drawbacks of memory foam mattresses, to help you decide if memory foam is right for your sleep needs

Mattresses
A tom's Guide tester sitting on the Nectar Luxe memory foam mattress on a bed frame in the studio

How to stop your memory foam mattress sagging in 5 easy steps

By Rachael Penn published

If you have a memory foam mattress and want to keep it comfortable for longer, here’s how to stop it from sagging.

Mattresses
The Nectar Classic Hybrid mattress on a bed frame in a minimalist bedroom

What is the Nectar Classic Hybrid mattress and should you buy it in the Presidents' Day sales?

By Rachael Penn published

The Nectar Classic Hybrid mattress is on sale, but is it the right choice for you? We look at design, materials, support and comfort.

Mattresses
The image shows a woman sleeping on the Beautyrest Black Luxury Foam Pillow

How to wash a memory foam pillow

By Rachael Penn published

If you have a memory foam pillow but don’t know how to wash it, here’s a step-by-step guide.

Mattresses
A split screen of the Nectar Classic mattress vs the DreamCloud Memory Foam Mattress

Nectar vs DreamCloud: Which memory foam mattress should you buy in the Presidents' Day sales?

By Rachael Penn last updated

We compare the Nectar Classic vs the DreamCloud Memory Foam mattress to help you decide which to buy in the Presidents' Day sales

Mattresses
Easeland Pillow Top Mattress Pad

How to clean a mattress pad — easy steps for foam, down, cotton and wool

By Rachael Penn published

Mattress pads can end up with stains, smells and even dust mites. Here’s a step-by-step guide for how to clean them, no matter what yours is made from.

Mattresses
Someone holding a pillow over a bed and fluffing it

How to wash a down pillow — 5 easy steps to cleaner, softer and fluffier pillows

By Rachael Penn published

If you have down pillows and need to know how to wash them, we've compiled a step-by-step guide.

Mattresses
A person sits on the edge of the Plank Firm mattress, Extra Firm side, to test the edge support

Are memory foam mattresses good for stomach sleepers? I’m a sleep writer — here’s my take

By Rachael Penn last updated

Memory foam mattresses provide body-hugging pressure relief, but are they too soft for stomach sleepers? Here's what I think...

Mattresses
Saatva Organic Quilted Mattress Topper on top of a Saatva mattress, cropped; it's discounted in the after Christmas mattress sales

How to clean luxury, organic and natural mattresses — pro tips for cleaning premium materials

By Rachael Penn published

Keep your luxury, natural or organic mattress in great condition with these cleaning tips.

Mattresses
A woman sits on the foot of the Saatva Classic mattress on a bed frame in a bedroom

What is a luxury mattress and how much do they cost?

By Rachael Penn published

If you’re looking to invest in a luxury mattress but unsure what makes it worth the premium price tag — we take a look at exactly what they are and what they cost, to help you decide.

Mattresses
A woman sat on bed wearing white vest and orange shorts with a glass of water in hand, looking out of window with wooden frame and plants outside.

These 5 habits are making your mattress dirty — here's why and how to stop

By Rachael Penn published

Are your little habits making your mattress dirty? These hygiene habits that could be damaging your sleep quality.

Mattress Care
A close up of the edge of the Avocado Green mattress directly next to the edge of the Essentia Stratami mattress

Avocado Green vs Essentia Stratami: Which organic mattress suits your sleep?

By Rachael Penn published

We compare the Avocado Green and Essentia Stratami organic mattresses in terms of comfort, design and price to help you decide which suits your sleep best.

Mattresses
A woman cleaning up a spill on a mattress

I’m a mattress cleaning expert — this is when you should rotate, vacuum and deep clean your bed in 2025

By Rachael Penn published

Your complete guide to maintaining and cleaning your mattress in 2025.

Mattress Care
A a person uses steam cleaning on a mattress to keep it fresher for longer

Why you should always deep clean your mattress after your holiday guests leave

By Rachael Penn published

From cookie crumbs to mulled wine spills, here's why post-holiday mattress cleaning is essential for a fresh start to the New Year.

Mattress Care
The DreamCloud Hybrid mattress on a wooden bedrame in a spacious bedroom

Are DreamCloud mattresses non-toxic? We take a closer look

By Rachael Penn published

We're looking deeper at DreamCloud mattresses and their commitment to non-toxic materials and reveal what really goes in to these popular beds.

Mattresses
Woman wearing a pink vest top with her hand on her forehead as she wakes up with night sweats.

How to prevent night sweats — doctors share their top 5 tips

By Rachael Penn published

Night sweats can cause disturbed sleep and have a negative impact on your overall well-being, here are some expert-backed methods to prevent them

Sleep Problems
The Nectar Premier Hybrid directly next to the DreamCloud Hybrid mattress

DreamCloud Hybrid vs Nectar Premier Hybrid: Which luxury hybrid mattress should you buy?

By Rachael Penn published

We compare the DreamCloud Hybrid and the Nectar Premier Hybrid to see how they differ in terms of price, design and comfort.

Mattresses
A person uses a handheld vacuum cleaner to vacuum a corner of a mattress

By Rachael Penn published

Get your home Christmas-ready and prepped for guests with these simple steps for deep cleaning your mattress.

Mattress Care
A hand holding a cloth scrubbing the surface of a mattress with the other hand holding a spray bottle

I've written over 25 mattress cleaning articles — These are the best 3 tips I've learnt

By Rachael Penn published

I'm a mattress cleaning expert. There are my top tips to deep clean your mattress in time for holiday guests

Mattress Care
The DreamCloud Hybrid mattress shown on a light wooden bed frame and covered with white bedding in a white bedroom

How to clean a DreamCloud hybrid mattress

By Rachael Penn published

Discover the secret of how to clean your DreamCloud Hybrid mattress and keep it in good condition for longer in our guide.

Mattress Care
A woman working from her laptop in bed

By Rachael Penn published

The Office for National Statistics has revealed that working from home can increase your sleep time by up to 24 minutes, we investigate why

Sleep
Image shows black mold on a white mattress with blue disposable gloves.

How to prevent mattress mold in winter — 5 ways to keep your bed fresh

By Rachael Penn published

Discover what causes mattress mold and how you can keep it — and any resulting health issues — at bay this winter

Mattress Care
A couple lifting up a mattress to air it out

3 crucial reasons why your mattress needs to breathe — especially in winter

By Rachael Penn published

Letting your mattress breathe should be part of your cleaning routine — here's why and how to do it.

Mattress Care
A handheld mattress vacuum on white mattress - not vacuuming regularly is a common mattress cleaning mistakes

7 mattress cleaning mistakes that age your bed prematurely — and how to avoid them

By Rachael Penn published

From not vacuuming regularly to using too much water when getting rid of stains, these mattress cleaning mistakes will age your bed fast.

Mattress Care
The image shows a bare mattress and pillows and a crumpled white duvet on top of a black bed frame

5 reasons why your mattress and pillows smell, plus how to deodorize them

By Rachael Penn published

Here, we'll tackle the common reasons why your mattress and pillows smell unpleasant, plus our 3-step guide to deodorizing them.

Mattress Care
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