I tried kitchen appliances that are as quiet as possible - difference in sound is striking

Noise is everywhere, and it's something we cannot avoid. Whether it's traffic on the street, construction work, public transport, lively pubs and restaurants, modern life is rarely silent.

But what about the noise coming from inside our homes? Washing machines, tumble dryers, vacuum cleaners, hair dryers, coffee machines, TVs and blenders are among the loudest appliances - and most of us use them every day. We may not realise it, but both noise and light pollution can negatively impact human health by disrupting sleep and circadian rhythms.

Research from the UK Health Security Agency estimates that the equivalent of 130,000 healthy life years are lost due to noise pollution. Evidence also suggests noise pollution increases annoyance and raises the risk of serious health conditions, including stroke and heart disease.

Despite its impact, it is often described as a "neglected pollutant", with relatively few regulations in place to reduce the burden, according to the UK Government's Science and Technology Committee.

It's exactly why environmental consultancy Quiet Mark has spent the past 15 years identifying some of the quietest appliances on the market.

Founded by Poppy Szkiler - whose grandfather John Connell established the Noise Abatement Society in 1959 - the organisation was created to help shoppers choose products designed to reduce noise in everyday life, with hundreds of certified products from household names such as John Lewis, Philips, LG, Samsung, Dyson and Russell Hobbs.

Products are tested in specialist acoustic laboratories, where factors such as pitch, tone and frequency are analysed alongside overall loudness.

"Sound affects our brain waves, heart rate and emotional balance. Our minds and bodies are constantly dealing with layers of noise in our homes and workplaces, which can become exhausting over time," said Poppy.

She explained that "the human brain can only cope with one and a half conversations at a time, so it can become exhausting, irritating, and a build-up of loud appliance noise can cause noise rage, as our bodies were not designed to cope with an overload of sound continually in safe places. Our fight-or-flight mechanisms can kick in, causing cortisol levels to rise - and irritability is a sign of that taking hold."

But it's not just about how loud something is. Quiet Mark assesses both the volume and the quality of sound, as appliances with the same decibel level can be perceived very differently.

She added: "Two products with the same decibel levels can have polarising effects. One may have harsh, intrusive tonal peaks, while another has smoother, more even and calming tones."

I wanted to find out whether a Quiet Mark-certified appliance could genuinely make a noticeable difference in everyday life.

With my mornings often punctuated by the grinding roar of a coffee machine and the rumble of a kettle, I wondered whether switching to quieter appliances would actually change how my home - and mind - felt.

One coffee machine with Quiet Mark certification is made by Swiss brand Jura. Its bean-to-cup machines are engineered to minimise noise, identifying them as some of the quietest in their category.

The JURA Z10 coffee machine (£2,500) features an advanced Product Recognising Grinder (PRG), which is designed to be quieter than traditional grinders. Sounds fancy - but would it actually make a difference?

Luckily, when I first switched it on, the difference was immediately noticeable. Instead of the harsh, mechanical roar I was used to, the sound was softer and less intrusive - more of a low hum than an aggressive grind. And far less annoying.

The biggest difference came when making coffee early in the morning. Normally, I'd hesitate to use my machine if others were asleep, but this time it didn't feel disruptive. The loudest part was the steaming of the milk, but compared to my previous De'Longhi machine, the piercing screech had softened into a gentler, less jarring steam.

It's a change that feels particularly relevant in my household. With a husband who gets up later than I do, and a baby on the way, the ability to make coffee without disturbing anyone else suddenly feels much more important.

In terms of performance, there was no compromise. The coffee was just as hot, rich and flavourful as before. Of course, it wasn't completely silent - no coffee machine is. But compared to standard models I've used, it was noticeably quieter.

The only real drawback is the price, which is higher than many standard coffee machines - although it does feel built to last.

Kettles are another everyday essential - and often one of the noisiest. The roaring, rumbling boil is hard to ignore pre-7am.

I tested the Quiet Mark-certified Classic Kettle from Dualit (£159.99), which has a retro design. It boasts a "whisper boil function" which promises to "drastically reduce unwanted boiling noise." On the box, you can find the iconic purple Quiet Mark certification sticker.

When it came to noise, it was noticeably gentler than conventional kettles I've used before. Instead of the aggressive, rattling boil I'm used to, the sound was softer and more controlled - more of a steady build-up than a sudden roar and with minimum steam.

I also tried the Edge Low Steam Kettle from Breville (£74.99), which claims to have "steam surge control" with 75% steam reduction, producing "less condensation."

As soon as it started up, I noticed the difference immediately. There was no harsh rumbling, no steam when it had finished boiling and a quiet "click" was the only indicator it was done - I was seriously impressed.

After a few weeks of using Quiet Mark-certified appliances, my morning routine of making tea and coffee has felt noticeably more pleasant. I've realised it's not just about the volume of noise - the quality of the sound can often make the biggest difference. While it's not completely silent - kitchens rarely are - the jarring, harsh edge of noisy appliances has gone, leaving me feeling less stressed overall.

As Poppy puts it: "The product's sound quality is very often much more relevant to how we experience sound."

She added that "there's a very big job to do, and if we all buy quiet, design quiet and specify quiet together, we could powerfully reduce unwanted noise over the next decade or more."

In 2026, Quiet Mark has certified over 1,000 products from over 90 brands across over 60 product categories, with its logo is a purple Q-shape.