Home / Appliances

Appliances

Selection questions, measurements and ownership costs for your next purchase.

Search articles

Plates being placed in the pulled-out rack of a dishwasher.

Appliances

Choose a dishwasher capacity for a small household

Match the baskets and usable capacity to your cooking routine, then compare costs using your own washing frequency.

Appliances

Measure the space before buying a washing machine

A washing machine can appear to fit its space in a product listing and still project too far into the room after delivery.

A compact modern tumble dryer next to a folding rack with drying cotton shirts in a bright utility room.

Appliances

Compare a heat pump dryer with air drying at home

Choosing between a heat pump dryer and air drying starts with the home rather than a discount.

Open fridge with visible empty shelf space

Appliances

Choose a fridge capacity without paying for unused space

The right fridge holds your normal shopping without hiding food behind another row of containers.

A white domestic chest freezer with closed lid in a small utility room.

Appliances

Decide whether a separate freezer earns its floor space

A separate freezer creates storage but occupies floor space permanently.

A disconnected cylinder vacuum cleaner with its clean pleated replacement filter laid next to it.

Appliances

Check the filter costs before choosing a vacuum cleaner

The price of a vacuum cleaner does not end with the machine.

A cordless stick vacuum cleaner and its detached rectangular removable battery on a clean floor.

Appliances

Cordless vacuum batteries and the cost of replacement

Cordless vacuum comparisons often focus on runtime.

Compact espresso machine beside a cup of espresso and a separate small milk pitcher on kitchen counter.

Appliances

Choose a coffee machine around the drinks you make

Someone who mostly drinks a large mug of black coffee has different requirements from someone making several milk drinks daily.

Appliances

Kettle capacity and the water you actually boil

A large kettle does not need to be filled every time.

Countertop toaster oven on kitchen table

Appliances

When a toaster oven fits your cooking routine

A countertop oven can be convenient for small meals, but it requires worktop space and an appropriate position.

A single-basket air fryer and a dual-drawer air fryer side by side.

Appliances

Compare an air fryer basket with a dual drawer model

Two drawers look more versatile than a single basket.

Appliances

Buy a blender with a jug you can clean

A blender jug needs to do more than look attractive on the worktop.

Food processor with its removable slicing disc dough blade and chopping bowl neatly separated on counter.

Appliances

Food processor attachments you will actually use

A food processor with many attachments can look generously equipped in a price comparison.

Appliances

Choose a hand mixer for occasional baking

For occasional baking, a hand mixer mainly needs to feel manageable and suit the mixtures you make.

Appliances

Stand mixer bowl sizes for small batches

A large mixer bowl offers reserve capacity, but it may be the wrong priority for small batches.

Open microwave showing a ceramic dinner plate sitting flat on the glass turntable.

Appliances

Find a microwave that fits your dinner plates

A plate that passes through a microwave door can still catch inside the cavity.

Stainless steel induction frying pan centred on a visible round induction hob cooking zone.

Appliances

Buy an induction pan that fits the cooking zone

The size printed on a frying-pan package often describes its upper diameter.

Open pressure cooker with a cooked rice meal

Appliances

Compare pressure cooker sizes for batch cooking

A pressure cooker's stated volume is not the amount you may fill for pressure cooking.

Unplugged open electric contact grill with one removable ribbed cooking plate resting beside it.

Appliances

Electric grill plates and replacement availability

The plates of an electric grill are the components you handle at every use.

Small rice cooker with open lid and a modest portion of cooked white rice beside two bowls.

Appliances

Choose a rice cooker for your household portions

Rice-cooker capacity may refer to dry rice or cooked rice.

Appliances

Buy a kitchen scale with readable controls

A kitchen scale is convenient only when you can read it with the bowl you actually use.

Portable dehumidifier with its water collection tank pulled out on a living room floor.

Appliances

Check running costs before buying a dehumidifier

A dehumidifier's litre rating does not automatically describe the water it will collect each day in your home.

Pedestal fan beside a chair in a modest living room.

Appliances

Choose a fan by room layout and storage space

A fan needs to move air where you sit or work.

Appliances

Understand replacement filters in an air purifier

Buying an air purifier also commits you to its filter system.

Standing garment steamer beside clothing rack

Appliances

When a garment steamer suits your wardrobe

A garment steamer can help with certain clothing tasks, but it does not automatically replace every use of an iron.

Iron and folded clothing on ironing board

Appliances

Ironing boards and irons as a combined purchase

A new iron can remain inconvenient if the ironing board is too low, unstable or undersized.

Electric toothbrush handle with three separate replaceable round brush heads on a bathroom counter.

Appliances

Electric toothbrush replacement head costs

The handle is only part of an electric toothbrush purchase.

Unplugged hair dryer with a concentrator nozzle and large diffuser attachment separated on towel.

Appliances

Choose a hair dryer by handling and attachments

A hair dryer is used with an extended or raised arm.

Appliances

A sewing machine for simple clothing repairs

A loose hem or straightforward seam does not automatically require a machine with numerous decorative stitches.

Appliances

Robot vacuum maintenance before you commit

A robot vacuum can follow routes independently, but it does not remove every maintenance task.

An unplugged blender base beside an intact replacement glass jug and gasket.

Appliances

Check spare parts before replacing an appliance

A damaged handle or missing container does not automatically require replacing an entire appliance.

Appliances

Read an energy label without comparing unlike products

An energy label helps when the products being compared perform the same job.

Boxed washing machine on a delivery trolley aligned with an open home doorway.

Appliances

Plan delivery access for a large appliance

An appliance can fit its intended position yet still be difficult to deliver there.

Close detail of a used washing machine door open.

Appliances

Inspect a refurbished household appliance

Refurbished does not describe one uniform condition without further explanation.

Metal mesh cooker hood filter removed and resting on countertop directly below an extractor hood.

Appliances

Choose a cooker hood filter you can replace

A cooker hood's filter requirements depend on its intended operating arrangement and exact model.

Appliances

Fridge door hinges and kitchen clearances

A refrigerator's outside dimensions describe the closed appliance.

Coffee machine and toaster on kitchen counter

Appliances

Buy a countertop appliance for a shared kitchen

In a shared kitchen, people share worktop space and cleaning responsibilities as well as the appliance.

Calculator and notebook beside a small kettle and coffee maker.

Appliances

Build an appliance shortlist with total ownership costs

A price comparison becomes clearer when every appliance on it can actually perform the required job.