by LESLIE GARRATT FOR COTTAGE LIFE
If you are looking for ways to find quiet at home and at the cottage, you’ll be happy to learn that there’s a certification that takes the guesswork out of knowing which appliances and products help keep the peace.
Quiet Mark is a UK-based global certification program that awards products that achieve its standards of noise reduction. The program certifies everything from coffee makers to dishwashers to lawn mowers to drills to chainsaws.
The idea to certify products arose out of the Noise Abatement Society, created by Poppy Szkiler’s grandfather, who found the cacophony of post-World War II industrial life in the UK almost unbearable and wanted to give people a shorthand for products that were less noisy.
“The more people can choose quiet and buy quiet,” says Szkiler, “the more we all collectively bring down the noise level.”
The group tests different products across a huge array of categories to find the best performers for each. It covers products found in places such as kitchens, laundry rooms, offices, and bathrooms, as well as looking at those used in construction, cleaning, and HVAC systems.
You can look for the Quiet Mark certification on various products (note, please, that various products by the same manufacturer might not all have the certification. Products are assessed individually, so it’s not sufficient to trust a specific manufacturer) or check out Quiet Mark's website before purchasing.
Read the original article on the Cottage Life website here.