0:00:03 > 0:00:06Hello, and welcome to London's glittering West End,
0:00:06 > 0:00:09for the programme that asks the top professionals
0:00:09 > 0:00:12what you should be spending your money on.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16I'm Cherry Healey, and in this series,
0:00:16 > 0:00:19I will be visiting iconic locations across Britain
0:00:19 > 0:00:25to ask the country's best experts to show you how to shop like a pro.
0:00:25 > 0:00:31From e-readers to food processors and travel luggage,
0:00:31 > 0:00:35our specialists will push the most popular products to their limits,
0:00:35 > 0:00:37to help you choose what to buy and why.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41Tonight, we are going behind the scenes
0:00:41 > 0:00:44of London's biggest theatre, the Coliseum,
0:00:44 > 0:00:46to see whether it is worth shelling out
0:00:46 > 0:00:47on the next big thing in ironing...
0:00:47 > 0:00:49Ooh.
0:00:49 > 0:00:50'..steam generators.'
0:00:50 > 0:00:52So, the fiddly bit. Oh!
0:00:52 > 0:00:54LAUGHTER
0:00:54 > 0:00:58We'll be drilling down to find the best-value DIY gadgets
0:00:58 > 0:01:01and see if the make-up team can slash the amount
0:01:01 > 0:01:03we spend on hair products.
0:01:03 > 0:01:07We are being bamboozled by the beauty industry.
0:01:07 > 0:01:08Here's what else is coming up.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11Our reporter Naga Munchetty investigates
0:01:11 > 0:01:15whether the expensive trainers can really take you the extra mile.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19The more scientifically advanced the shoe, the more you tend to pay.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22And we have more invaluable tricks of the trade.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25If your shoes have developed an annoying squeak,
0:01:25 > 0:01:27talcum powder eliminates the squeak.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31So if you want the inside track on the latest products
0:01:31 > 0:01:37from the people really in the know, then look no further.
0:01:37 > 0:01:38This is What To Buy And Why.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51Built in 1904 as a luxurious variety theatre,
0:01:51 > 0:01:52the London Coliseum is now home
0:01:52 > 0:01:55to one of the world's grandest companies -
0:01:55 > 0:01:57the English National Opera.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00With innovative staging and exceptional music,
0:02:00 > 0:02:04they wow audiences with over 150 performances every year.
0:02:08 > 0:02:09OPERATIC SINGING
0:02:15 > 0:02:17CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:02:17 > 0:02:19But I'm not here to see the stage show.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22I have been granted privileged access to dozens
0:02:22 > 0:02:26of highly skilled individuals who work flat-out
0:02:26 > 0:02:30to bring these incredibly complex productions to life.
0:02:30 > 0:02:31That is no mean feat.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38During the season,
0:02:38 > 0:02:40the company has three shows that alternate on a daily basis.
0:02:40 > 0:02:45Facilitating such rapid turnaround requires 11 individual departments
0:02:45 > 0:02:48and more than 300 expert members of staff.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54We are going to use that expertise to help you make the right decisions
0:02:54 > 0:02:56about stuff you want to buy.
0:02:57 > 0:02:59Now, imagine the largest pile of ironing
0:02:59 > 0:03:02you have ever let build up and then double it,
0:03:02 > 0:03:04and then triple it,
0:03:04 > 0:03:06and you wouldn't even come close
0:03:06 > 0:03:09to the amount that needs to be done here
0:03:09 > 0:03:12after each and every performance.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22Laundering every costume between shows is one of many jobs
0:03:22 > 0:03:25overseen by Karen Hopkinson and her wardrobe team.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28So they are the ideal people to decide
0:03:28 > 0:03:31if the latest steam iron technology is worth the money.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38Can I enlist you and your team to help me test out
0:03:38 > 0:03:40three steam generators?
0:03:40 > 0:03:42It's more ironing, I'm sorry.
0:03:42 > 0:03:44I'm sorry, but bear with me. Are you up for it?
0:03:44 > 0:03:46- Yeah, we will give it a shot. - Yes.
0:03:49 > 0:03:50Unlike conventional irons,
0:03:50 > 0:03:54steam generators are connected to a large, separate water tank.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59The biggest difference is the amount of steam that we can get out of it.
0:03:59 > 0:04:00Why do you need so much steam?
0:04:00 > 0:04:01If you have more steam,
0:04:01 > 0:04:04you definitely get the creases out much, much quicker.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06But they don't come cheap.
0:04:06 > 0:04:08They can cost as much as £250,
0:04:08 > 0:04:12compared to an average of £45 for a conventional iron.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16But are they really worth that extra cash?
0:04:16 > 0:04:17Right, ladies.
0:04:17 > 0:04:21None of you have any experience using this type of iron, no?
0:04:21 > 0:04:24- No.- I want you to have a go at ironing this shirt,
0:04:24 > 0:04:26and let me know how you get on.
0:04:26 > 0:04:27Karen, you are up first.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34She's testing our cheapest model - Polti Vaporella Forever,
0:04:34 > 0:04:36average high-street price, £100.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40So the fiddly bit. Oh!
0:04:40 > 0:04:41LAUGHTER
0:04:43 > 0:04:45I mean, you are motoring through that.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47I think it's a good iron, to be honest.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51The amount of steam is really good. It is ironing quickly.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55- You're finished?! - Yeah.- That was so fast!
0:04:55 > 0:04:57- Let me see how well you have done. - Uh-oh.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00"Uh-oh." That's pretty good.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04Impressive start, but can you get an even better performance
0:05:04 > 0:05:06with a machine that costs more?
0:05:06 > 0:05:11Oh, she's fast. Karen, I think she might be a bit faster than you.
0:05:11 > 0:05:13- It depends what the quality is like afterwards.- Ooh!
0:05:13 > 0:05:15Jenna is testing the Tefal Effectis,
0:05:15 > 0:05:19which costs up to £120.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22You can steam vertically, so if you have got a dress hanging up,
0:05:22 > 0:05:23you can steam it.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25That's great. Does yours have that function?
0:05:27 > 0:05:28Yes.
0:05:28 > 0:05:30Yep.
0:05:30 > 0:05:31Also auto turn off.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34Handy, yeah, if you forget to switch it off once you are finished.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36Are you finding that it irons well?
0:05:36 > 0:05:37Yeah, it produces a good amount of steam.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39It is definitely pressing well.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44Finally, how will Laura find our most expensive machine,
0:05:44 > 0:05:49Philips PerfectCare Steam Generator, costing £200?
0:05:51 > 0:05:52Yeah, it feels nice.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55It's light, but I think that is just a general standard.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57If you know that you just do one quick swipe
0:05:57 > 0:05:59and all your creases are out, that's a nice job.
0:05:59 > 0:06:03So one of the things this iron claims is that it is so sensitive,
0:06:03 > 0:06:06it can tell what material you are ironing.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08There is no dial on there to change what fabric
0:06:08 > 0:06:10and therefore what temperature.
0:06:10 > 0:06:11You will never get it wrong,
0:06:11 > 0:06:14you will never melt your fabrics or burn them or anything.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16- Shall we try? - (Yes, let's try.)
0:06:19 > 0:06:20Let's have a look.
0:06:22 > 0:06:23- No, nothing.- Nothing.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26That is pretty clever.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30Before they decide which you should buy,
0:06:30 > 0:06:31they have another pass...
0:06:31 > 0:06:35There is a nice weight, I think. Do you want a go?
0:06:35 > 0:06:38..ironing trickier silk gowns...
0:06:38 > 0:06:40Oh, yeah, it glides much easier than the other one.
0:06:40 > 0:06:41It doesn't drag.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44..and getting hands-on with all three machines.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47I prefer this one to the other one. Do you want a shot?
0:06:48 > 0:06:51It was good on cotton, but I don't like it as much on the silk.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55Oh, yeah, loads more steam.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59Time for their verdict.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01After a hard day's ironing,
0:07:01 > 0:07:05which one of these do you think gives you the best value for money?
0:07:06 > 0:07:08Is it our cheapest iron, the Polti?
0:07:09 > 0:07:11The mid-priced Tefal?
0:07:11 > 0:07:15Or our most expensive, the Philips?
0:07:15 > 0:07:16So, Karen, which of these did you like?
0:07:16 > 0:07:18The middle one, the Tefal.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21If you're going to spend that amount of money on a steam iron,
0:07:21 > 0:07:24that one irons better, the steam is better.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26I personally think the cheaper, because I don't think you're
0:07:26 > 0:07:29getting many more benefits from paying more money
0:07:29 > 0:07:32with the higher priced.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34The most expensive, the Philips, what did you think?
0:07:34 > 0:07:37I mean, it was good, it produced a lot more steam.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41Definitely not worth that enormous leap in money.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44So it is neck-and-neck between the Tefal and the Polti.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47Deciding vote goes to Laura.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49Initially, I would have said the Tefal,
0:07:49 > 0:07:51but I'm going to go for the first one,
0:07:51 > 0:07:53because I think that is more value for money.
0:07:53 > 0:07:55It is not too dissimilar to the middle one.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57So if you are really counting your pennies,
0:07:57 > 0:08:00this steam generator is pretty great.
0:08:00 > 0:08:01Yeah, it is lovely, it is going to be great.
0:08:01 > 0:08:06So the Polti is our winner, but £100 is still a lot of money,
0:08:06 > 0:08:11given the average spend on a conventional iron is about £45.
0:08:11 > 0:08:16The big question, though, is you all have standard irons at home.
0:08:16 > 0:08:21Having had a go with steam generators, would you swap?
0:08:21 > 0:08:23I wouldn't, for the amount of ironing that I do.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25- No, it wouldn't be worth it. - Ditto.- Really?
0:08:25 > 0:08:26Not for the amount of ironing.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30If you have a mountain of ironing and lots of people in your family,
0:08:30 > 0:08:32then it would definitely be worth having one.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35But for one person on their own doing five shirts a week,
0:08:35 > 0:08:37it is pointless.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39Would you save it and take your shirts to the laundry?
0:08:39 > 0:08:41I would stop buying shirts.
0:08:41 > 0:08:42LAUGHTER
0:08:42 > 0:08:46In response, Tefal said that its range of steam generators
0:08:46 > 0:08:50offer a product to match every customer's needs and budget.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53Philips said the higher price is due to advanced technology
0:08:53 > 0:08:56and special features such as a locking mechanism,
0:08:56 > 0:08:59and it points out its machines have a higher steam output
0:08:59 > 0:09:01and bar pressure than the others.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13This show is all about giving you top tips from best in the business.
0:09:13 > 0:09:17So here is another collection of ingenious tricks of the trade.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24I'm David. I have been in the fresh produce industry for 30 years.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28There are plenty of uses for leftover fruit and veg waste.
0:09:28 > 0:09:29Take some orange peel,
0:09:29 > 0:09:33pop it in a spray bottle with some water for a couple of weeks.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36It is a cheap and effective aphid killer.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43I'm Andreas. I was voted Greengrocer Of The Year 2015.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47Fridges, you may be surprised to hear, dry out your fruit and veg.
0:09:47 > 0:09:48As you can see,
0:09:48 > 0:09:51we have a very fancy machine for keeping our vegetables hydrated.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54Not everyone has got room for one of these in the kitchen.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57What I can recommend is putting your veg in a fruit bowl
0:09:57 > 0:10:00and using one of these.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04If you like your G&T with ice and slice,
0:10:04 > 0:10:06then why not just ice your slice?
0:10:06 > 0:10:10Just slice up some lemon and lime, you could add some grapes.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13Pop them in the freezer, have them whenever you want them,
0:10:13 > 0:10:16just make your drink that little bit more fancy.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19Still to come, we will be
0:10:19 > 0:10:23with the English National Opera's props makers to find out
0:10:23 > 0:10:26if there is any point in buying DIY tools on the cheap.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29But first, Naga Munchetty investigates
0:10:29 > 0:10:33if runners really need to invest in pricey trainers.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37Before I ran the London Marathon in 2013, I wanted advice on injuries.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39I went to a specialist running shop.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42I did end up buying shoes, and they weren't cheap.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49There are around 3.5 million regular runners in the UK,
0:10:49 > 0:10:52so the trainer industry is booming.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56It is no wonder running shoes can cost a pretty penny.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00- £100 for mine.- £80 or £90.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02- 100.- £80.
0:11:02 > 0:11:03- 80.- £100, easy.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07Here at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park 10k, I want to understand
0:11:07 > 0:11:11why runners are so willing to fork out for expensive footwear.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14The priority for me is to get a shoe that supports my foot
0:11:14 > 0:11:16while I am running.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19I actually had shin splints because I was running with the wrong shoes.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22They made me run on a treadmill and then decided which side
0:11:22 > 0:11:23I should have more cushioning.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25I have been through a specialist running shop
0:11:25 > 0:11:27and just trusted the experts.
0:11:27 > 0:11:28I just gave them lots of money.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33Almost all the runners we interviewed said the same -
0:11:33 > 0:11:36you buy the shoes you are told are best suited to your running style,
0:11:36 > 0:11:40because you believe they'll make you less likely to get injured.
0:11:40 > 0:11:44And the more scientifically advanced the shoe, the more you tend to pay.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48Why do we think trainers help protect us?
0:11:48 > 0:11:51Well, just look at the language used in the marketing.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55We're promised impact control, lightweight cushioning,
0:11:55 > 0:11:57responsive shock absorption.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59It is all very convincing, and it is a message we have been
0:11:59 > 0:12:02listening to for decades, so it is no wonder we believe it.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04This advert is from more than 30 years ago.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07At Nike, we are putting that knowledge to work,
0:12:07 > 0:12:12making shoes that actually help athletes to run faster and safer.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17But is there any actual evidence to support this?
0:12:17 > 0:12:19We tried to find some, but no matter where we looked -
0:12:19 > 0:12:23manufacturers' publications, academic papers, medical reports -
0:12:23 > 0:12:27we couldn't find any proof at all that training shoes
0:12:27 > 0:12:29reduce the likelihood of injury.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31What is going on?
0:12:31 > 0:12:33I've come to Nottingham to speak
0:12:33 > 0:12:36to one of Britain's top physiotherapists, Roger Kerry.
0:12:36 > 0:12:37Roger has been working with athletes
0:12:37 > 0:12:41and studying their injuries for more than 20 years.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44So, Roger, why are we struggling to find scientific evidence
0:12:44 > 0:12:48that shows certain sports shoes can prevent injury?
0:12:48 > 0:12:50Quite simply because there is none.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54If you look at injury surveillance studies,
0:12:54 > 0:12:56where they follow up people over a long time to see
0:12:56 > 0:12:57if they get injured or not,
0:12:57 > 0:13:00and then work out what it is about them that made them injured,
0:13:00 > 0:13:02there is good evidence to suggest
0:13:02 > 0:13:05that those technological innovations
0:13:05 > 0:13:08don't make any difference to prevent injury.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11So it turns out,
0:13:11 > 0:13:13in the four decades of technological development
0:13:13 > 0:13:15since the modern trainer was invented,
0:13:15 > 0:13:17that the number of running-related injuries has...
0:13:17 > 0:13:19stayed the same.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21I'm actually really annoyed by this.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24Why are we spending so much money on advanced trainers
0:13:24 > 0:13:26when there is actually no evidence
0:13:26 > 0:13:28that they are preventing us from getting injured?
0:13:28 > 0:13:30So are runners being misled?
0:13:30 > 0:13:32Surely the sports manufacturers themselves
0:13:32 > 0:13:36have evidence of the good their trainers do.
0:13:36 > 0:13:40We contacted Nike, Adidas, Puma, Reebok, Asics and Mizuno.
0:13:40 > 0:13:41We asked them to provide us
0:13:41 > 0:13:45with evidence that their shoe technology helps to reduce injuries.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47Not one of them would.
0:13:47 > 0:13:48Some assured us it does exist,
0:13:48 > 0:13:51but no-one was willing to share it with us.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54So now that we know there is nothing out there
0:13:54 > 0:13:57to prove expensive trainers offer more protection,
0:13:57 > 0:14:01is there any reason not to just buy the cheapest pair you can find?
0:14:01 > 0:14:03There are things about the shoe, a running shoe,
0:14:03 > 0:14:08that does improve your performance and reduce the rate of injury.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11They are the really simply obvious things, like is it comfortable?
0:14:11 > 0:14:12Does it rub on the heel?
0:14:12 > 0:14:15Does it leave enough room in the front of the shoe
0:14:15 > 0:14:16for your foot to expand?
0:14:16 > 0:14:19So the comfort of the shoe is what is really important.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21So, tell me, Roger, what shoes do you run with?
0:14:21 > 0:14:23I've got some really comfortable shoes that
0:14:23 > 0:14:25I found on the high street.
0:14:25 > 0:14:29They cost 19.99. They are perfectly adequate for me.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33Of course, if you want to spend a lot of money on trainers
0:14:33 > 0:14:36because you like the brand for the way they look, fine.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39Just don't expect them to stop you getting injured.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44Since we made that report, Nike have told us that their products
0:14:44 > 0:14:49are designed using industry-leading research, materials and processes.
0:14:49 > 0:14:53Asics told us that footwear is just one factor in preventing injury.
0:14:53 > 0:14:54Comfort and fit are key,
0:14:54 > 0:14:58and your shoe should be matched to your individual running profile.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01Adidas says that while safety is vitally important,
0:15:01 > 0:15:04its main focus is on improving performance.
0:15:04 > 0:15:08It says it has products to benefit runners of all budgets and levels.
0:15:21 > 0:15:25Here in London's West End, we are backstage at the London Coliseum
0:15:25 > 0:15:29visiting departments to get more money-saving advice.
0:15:34 > 0:15:38And I have got an appointment with one of the very busiest -
0:15:38 > 0:15:39a place where, ironically,
0:15:39 > 0:15:43there is absolutely no time to let their hair down.
0:15:46 > 0:15:50In the UK, we spent more than £1.7 billion a year
0:15:50 > 0:15:52on hair products.
0:15:53 > 0:15:55And, shockingly, the average British women
0:15:55 > 0:16:00will spend £40,000 on hair care in her lifetime.
0:16:00 > 0:16:01Wow!
0:16:03 > 0:16:05But are we wasting our money?
0:16:05 > 0:16:09- Vanessa?- Hi.- I'm Cherry, nice to meet you.- Hi, nice to meet you.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12Vanessa Davis is the opera's wig and make-up manager.
0:16:12 > 0:16:14The beauty about our department
0:16:14 > 0:16:16is that we make all of our wigs in-house,
0:16:16 > 0:16:18so that is why it is such a special place.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22Each year, her team makes around 550 wigs for the performers,
0:16:22 > 0:16:24all by hand.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26What do you make the wigs out of?
0:16:26 > 0:16:29- It looks real.- This is human hair.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33We buy our hair from a hair merchant.
0:16:33 > 0:16:34So if you're using real hair,
0:16:34 > 0:16:38are you using the same kind of products that I would on mine?
0:16:38 > 0:16:39Essentially it is the same thing.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41I notice you haven't got a lot of products,
0:16:41 > 0:16:45- unlike me, who has a huge range. - That's right.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48Once we know what works, we just use it again and again.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54I have brought all of my products along so that Vanessa can
0:16:54 > 0:16:58tell me if there is anything I am wasting my money on.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00My favourite two-in-one shampoo and conditioner.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03'Because when it comes to my hair...'
0:17:03 > 0:17:04Texture spray.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07'..I'm a sucker for products.'
0:17:07 > 0:17:08The list goes on.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10Do I have too many hair products?
0:17:10 > 0:17:13That is probably more than we have in the whole department.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16Can you show me how to save money?
0:17:16 > 0:17:20Absolutely. I think we are being bamboozled by the beauty industry.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22There is a lot of false promises.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27The biggest-selling hair product of them all is shampoo.
0:17:27 > 0:17:33In fact, we Brits spend £395 million a year on it.
0:17:33 > 0:17:37Is there a difference between the cheapest supermarket brand
0:17:37 > 0:17:38and a named brand?
0:17:38 > 0:17:42There is a huge range - from £1.50 to £50.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44Once you get to the really, really high-end,
0:17:44 > 0:17:46you are just paying for the name and the label
0:17:46 > 0:17:48and the advertising that goes with it,
0:17:48 > 0:17:50but also the perfumes.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52I would say a middle of the range is probably best.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54There's plenty of really great high-street shampoos
0:17:54 > 0:17:56that we use here as well.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59So, buy a good, basic shampoo
0:17:59 > 0:18:02rather than something with bells, whistles and additional costs.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04You generally get deals in supermarkets
0:18:04 > 0:18:07and high-street shops, but also the Afro-Caribbean hair shops
0:18:07 > 0:18:09tend to sell them in the litre bottles.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12- So buying in bulk and buying mid-range.- Mid-range, yes.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18Hair washed, time to get it dry.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22Now, I have always presumed heat-protecting spray
0:18:22 > 0:18:24would minimise the damage to my hair
0:18:24 > 0:18:27when I am drying and straightening it.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29Well, see, there we have a myth.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32There is nothing really that can protect your hair from heat.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35What has become really popular is hair straighteners and tongs.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37So that is one of the biggest mistakes people make -
0:18:37 > 0:18:40using heat-protector spray for tongs, cos, essentially,
0:18:40 > 0:18:42you are just frying your hair.
0:18:42 > 0:18:45It, in fact, does the opposite of the job it says it does.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47A definite no-no.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52So, not using heat protection will save me
0:18:52 > 0:18:53a decent amount of money,
0:18:53 > 0:18:57but do I need to spend big on hairspray?
0:18:57 > 0:19:00So I am using a high-street classic hairspray.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02Just a high-street brand is fine?
0:19:02 > 0:19:03Yet, absolutely.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05You need to look out for products that overpromise,
0:19:05 > 0:19:08celebrity endorsements, anything that is really fancy,
0:19:08 > 0:19:11because if your hair is not in good condition,
0:19:11 > 0:19:13there is nothing that you can really put on it
0:19:13 > 0:19:15that is going to solve that.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18So what is your top tip for not wasting money on styling products?
0:19:18 > 0:19:20I suggest just keep it simple.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23- So be really careful, watch out for the hype.- Exactly.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26- Don't break the bank. - Exactly.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43Here's some tips from our team of specialists
0:19:43 > 0:19:46to make your shoes last longer.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51I am Tim. I am a fourth-generation shoemaker
0:19:51 > 0:19:54and I have been making shoes for the last 30 years.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56When you first buy leather-soled shoes,
0:19:56 > 0:19:58they are often quite slippery, even dangerous,
0:19:58 > 0:20:01particularly when they are high-heeled ladies' shoes
0:20:01 > 0:20:03and you are already a little less stable
0:20:03 > 0:20:04than you would be on a flat shoe.
0:20:04 > 0:20:05I tend to use a Stanley knife
0:20:05 > 0:20:07and just score the leather crossways,
0:20:07 > 0:20:09just to give it a bit more grip.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13I'm Martin. I've been repairing shoes since I was 17.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16An effective way to restore old and tired suede
0:20:16 > 0:20:19would be to use a hairdryer on a really hot setting,
0:20:19 > 0:20:21two or three minutes, which can soften the fibres
0:20:21 > 0:20:22and make it look fresh and new.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25HE SWITCHES HAIRDRYER ON
0:20:25 > 0:20:27Another use for a hairdryer - if you've got a pair of shoes
0:20:27 > 0:20:29at home that are too stiff and pinch,
0:20:29 > 0:20:32a few seconds with a warm hairdryer will soften the leather,
0:20:32 > 0:20:33making it much more comfortable to wear.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35HE SWITCHES HAIRDRYER ON
0:20:37 > 0:20:40In the winter months, when it's cold and wet outside,
0:20:40 > 0:20:42you often get salt stains on your shoes.
0:20:42 > 0:20:43It's not the salt from the street,
0:20:43 > 0:20:46it's actually the salts in the letter
0:20:46 > 0:20:49used in the tanning process migrating to the surface.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51The best way to deal with this is to use a dilute solution
0:20:51 > 0:20:57of white vinegar and water and to rub that on the salt mark.
0:20:57 > 0:20:58The acid in the white vinegar
0:20:58 > 0:21:02combats the alkaline in the tanning salts and will take it off.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08I'm Glyn, kit manager for Leeds Rhinos.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11One of the hazards of the job, obviously, smelly boots.
0:21:11 > 0:21:16One cheap, effective way to get rid of these odours is old, dry teabags.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19Simply place them in the boots, leave them overnight,
0:21:19 > 0:21:22it'll get rid of all the moisture and all the bad odours
0:21:22 > 0:21:24so they'll smell fresh as a daisy in the morning.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33Here at the English National Opera,
0:21:33 > 0:21:37we're turning to the expert props department, who bring these
0:21:37 > 0:21:41magnificent productions to life, to help with our final product test.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44BOTH: Here's a pretty howdy dooooo!
0:21:46 > 0:21:48FAST STRING SECTION
0:21:54 > 0:21:57Every year, at their workshop in east London,
0:21:57 > 0:21:59the team make more than 400 props...
0:22:00 > 0:22:05..using 320 litres of paint, half a kilometre of fibreglass
0:22:05 > 0:22:08and 20,000 wood screws.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11ELECTRIC DRILL
0:22:12 > 0:22:15And with all this construction experience,
0:22:15 > 0:22:18who better to put these things to the test?
0:22:20 > 0:22:22SWITCHES DRILL ON
0:22:23 > 0:22:27We're talking cordless drill drivers that can screw,
0:22:27 > 0:22:30drill and bore holes.
0:22:32 > 0:22:37For manager Paul Jones, they're an indispensable DIY tool.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41Hi, Paul. And what are you making? It looks like a giant hamster wheel.
0:22:42 > 0:22:44- It is a giant hamster wheel.- It is?
0:22:44 > 0:22:48- But for a normal person, not a giant hamster.- OK.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51How important is a drill in what you do?
0:22:51 > 0:22:53Drills are essential.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55It's probably the tool that we use the most day in, day out.
0:22:55 > 0:22:59So, as the expert, will you help me test out three drills?
0:22:59 > 0:23:00Yeah, let's go and build something.
0:23:02 > 0:23:06It's not unusual for a drill driver to set you back more than £150.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10But I want to test whether you can get away
0:23:10 > 0:23:12with spending half that amount.
0:23:13 > 0:23:17So Paul and fellow props makers Will and Philippa
0:23:17 > 0:23:20have knocked up a little garden scene.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23But it's missing some picnic tables.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25You all have a drill. ALL START THEIR DRILLS
0:23:25 > 0:23:27You've all got a bench to build.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29You may begin.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34Building the bench will be a solid 30-minute job for our experts.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37Enough to see how well the batteries cope.
0:23:38 > 0:23:42- So, what are you looking for in a drill?- Reliability, really.
0:23:42 > 0:23:47Some power, something that's not going to go flat after five minutes.
0:23:49 > 0:23:54Paul's testing our most expensive drill, the £75 JCB.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00So, Paul, you've done a few areas of the bench.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02How does the drill feel so far?
0:24:02 > 0:24:05It's managing to do everything it needs to do at this stage.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10So, how has it done on the drilling so far?
0:24:10 > 0:24:13It's been really good so far. I'm quite happy with it.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16It still feels like it's got loads of oomph still left in it, so...
0:24:19 > 0:24:24Philippa is testing the slightly cheaper Bosch. It costs just £64
0:24:24 > 0:24:27and has one slightly unusual characteristic.
0:24:27 > 0:24:29The one thing I noticed was that the light
0:24:29 > 0:24:32is on the bottom of the pack here, which I've never seen before.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34Usually on a drill, the light's here,
0:24:34 > 0:24:37so if you're going round a corner, you won't necessarily get
0:24:37 > 0:24:41- the light, which for our industry on stage...- Is vital.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44..if you're working in pitch-black, can be tricky.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49You know, it looks nice, it feels nice, it's a good weight.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54Will is putting our cheapest drill through its paces.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57It's from Worx and costs £50.
0:24:57 > 0:24:58It's cheap, but there is
0:24:58 > 0:24:59an obvious downside.
0:25:01 > 0:25:02How long does it take to charge up?
0:25:02 > 0:25:04Three and a half hours to recharge.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07- That's a really long time, that. - It is, especially because you only
0:25:07 > 0:25:09have one battery with this one, there isn't a spare.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14All three drills make light work of the bench build,
0:25:14 > 0:25:18so time to raise the stakes with a tougher test.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22We're going to drill a hole through the umbrella,
0:25:22 > 0:25:24so we swap this over to a larger bit.
0:25:24 > 0:25:25Oh.
0:25:27 > 0:25:28HE STARTS DRILL
0:25:33 > 0:25:35Ah...
0:25:35 > 0:25:36Has it died? Has it...?
0:25:36 > 0:25:37Carry on? Yeah?
0:25:37 > 0:25:40Come on, come on!
0:25:40 > 0:25:42Just hanging in there!
0:25:42 > 0:25:44Wahey!
0:25:44 > 0:25:47Just! Oh, my goodness.
0:25:47 > 0:25:52Close but the battery just managed to bore the difficult umbrella hole.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55And the JCB has a Plan B.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58It comes with two batteries, so that's pretty good as well.
0:25:58 > 0:26:00So, you can be using one, charging one,
0:26:00 > 0:26:03- so you can never be out of juice? - Absolutely.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07There's something like a 30-minute charge time, so that's quite good.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09How will the Bosch cope with the tricky hole?
0:26:12 > 0:26:13- Done!- Yep.
0:26:13 > 0:26:14So, that's the Bosch.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16Some good work.
0:26:16 > 0:26:20Finally, has the Worx got enough juice to finish the job?
0:26:24 > 0:26:25SHE BLOWS
0:26:25 > 0:26:26- Done.- Only just.
0:26:27 > 0:26:31So, they all finish the benches without recharging,
0:26:31 > 0:26:33proving for this size of DIY job,
0:26:33 > 0:26:37you can get away with buying a drill for less than £75.
0:26:39 > 0:26:44But which drills stood out to our experts as the best one to buy?
0:26:44 > 0:26:47What would you spend your cash on?
0:26:47 > 0:26:48Paul...
0:26:48 > 0:26:50I'd probably go with the Bosch.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52- Bosch?- Definitely the Bosch.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55Yes, I'd go with the Bosch.
0:26:55 > 0:26:56Why did you pick the Bosch?
0:26:56 > 0:26:58I think it's a good all-rounder.
0:26:58 > 0:26:59It's not too heavy.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02It's got good power, it lasted the way through and by the end of it,
0:27:02 > 0:27:05it still had its three bars of power, which was really good.
0:27:05 > 0:27:10It's a close run thing, but it was the only one that could have
0:27:10 > 0:27:14carried on working without recharging or swapping batteries.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16It's our experts' choice.
0:27:16 > 0:27:20We do have a majority winner - the Bosch.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24In response, JCB reiterate the ability to switch between
0:27:24 > 0:27:27its two batteries, which it says charge faster
0:27:27 > 0:27:29than the other drills.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32Bosch says their light is at the bottom of the drill
0:27:32 > 0:27:36so that a larger area is illuminated and less shadows are created.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40Well, I think we've done a great day's work.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42I think we should celebrate with a sandwich.
0:27:43 > 0:27:44It's not real, is it?
0:27:48 > 0:27:50That's it from the Coliseum.
0:27:50 > 0:27:54Next week, we're in Edinburgh to visit the city's grandest hotel,
0:27:54 > 0:27:56where their Michelin-starred chef will tell us
0:27:56 > 0:28:00how much he thinks we should be spending on a food processor.
0:28:00 > 0:28:01It's chopped a few, hasn't it?
0:28:01 > 0:28:03There is some...quite a lot of bits.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06I work up a sweat in the name of consumer journalism,
0:28:06 > 0:28:09testing out the latest e-readers.
0:28:09 > 0:28:14And we'll have more money-saving short cuts from our specialists.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16A cheap and cheerful way of cleaning your tile grouting
0:28:16 > 0:28:18is with some cola.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21It works so well because it's acidic and it cuts through the grime.
0:28:21 > 0:28:23And scrub at the grouting...
0:28:24 > 0:28:26..and it should come up like new.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29MUSIC: I Ran (So Far Away) by A Flock Of Seagulls
0:28:29 > 0:28:34# I just ran, I ran all night and day
0:28:35 > 0:28:41# And I ran, I ran so far away
0:28:42 > 0:28:47# I just ran, I couldn't get away. #