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.