The Aldi middle aisle is a thing of legend - where else can you buy a cement mixer and a ukulele as you pick up some frozen peas and a bottle of wine?
So, as someone who is 11 years into restoring an old house (on a five-year plan which has gone somewhat over its expected schedule) , when I spotted an orbital sander in the aisle of joy, I was tempted.
In fairness, I do already have a long-suffering hand sander, bought from Amazon many years ago to finish the edges after we hired a big floorboard sander.
A second sander meant my equally long-suffering husband and I could sand simultaneously - this is what passes for quality time together when you're living the restoration dream.
Plus, it was only £24.99, half the price of my old Teetok one. So, showing my characteristic lack of restraint in the middle aisle, into my basket it went.
So, what's the verdict on the Aldi Ferrex Orbital sander?
It's good - impressively good. Better, in fact, than the one I bought for twice the price. Prepping surfaces is a breeze, and it came with a range of sanding pads for a smooth, professional results with pretty minimal effort on my part.
It also fits generic sanding pads I already had, so I could stick my 40 grade on and really get to grips with some tough abrasion. I did have one slightly hairy moment where a pad pinged off and spun away down the hallway, but that was likely my user error in not sticking it down hard enough on the Velcro housing.
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Would you buy DIY products from the middle aisle again?
Definitely. I've already picked up an Electric Paint Sprayer (£24.99), which I'm hoping will give my walls a flawless finish, and the Renovation Set (£5.99) a set of paint trays and rollers, wiper grids and stirring rods.
There's something I love about being able to grab this stuff alongside my regular shopping.
Admittedly, my husband is less keen, as every item I come home with carries with it a job to do, so the time I save is spent doing DIY, and not with our feet up.
On the upside, he's volunteered to do the shopping for a few weeks, to avoid the surprise of me coming home with another tool for another job.
Hands up. I can't be trusted, because while I might pass on the ukulele, if I spot a cement mixer it's going in my trolley.
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