February 23rd, 2012
It might be time to loosen the purse strings and purchase that spanking new appliance you've been wishing for, according to a new report which has found that Australians are the most confident consumers in all developed nations. Half of the Australians surveyed said that the coming year was a good time to start buying discretionary items, such as household appliances. The willingness to spend could be due ... Read more
February 22nd, 2012
It is the second most despised household chore after dusting and 14 per cent of Australian women would "do anything" to avoid it, reveals a report commissioned by a robotic vacuum company. In fact, some women would rather skip a meal, clean up dog poo or run 10 kilometers than vacuum, says the report. Over two thirds of women admitted they were responsible for the apparently odious ... Read more
February 21st, 2012
Freestyle sensation and Olympic hopeful James 'The Missile' Magnussen is Samsung Electronics Australia's latest (hot) brand ambassador. The sponsorship comes in the lead up to the London Games later this year and Samsung says the partnership is "perfect". Magnussen will appear in a series of Olympic-related ads for Samsung across TV, print and online. He will also make a number of appearances for Samsung, starting with last ... Read more
February 16th, 2012
Between the drone of the fridge, the rangehood's roar and a gurgling dishwasher it can take a maverick effort to find a bit of peace and quiet at home. "I once inherited an old fridge with a very dodgy compressor," says Mark Bristow. "Every time it started up, it sounded like a combination of a truck driving past, an aeroplane flying low overhead, and a rocket blasting off." Sound ... Read more
February 15th, 2012
I remember it perfectly. Crouching down in the shady hallway, sholders hunched, my 10-year-old heart racing as I reached for the receiver and dialled a number at random. "Is your fridge running?" I asked the unsuspecting victim on the other end of the line. "Because I think I just saw it running down the street." It was at once mortifying and exhilirating. And it's terribe short joke #1 in our list. #2: Q: What did the first sock ... Read more
February 14th, 2012
A spate of appliance thefts from high-end homes in Toronto (Canada) have prompted a real estate board to issue a warning to home owners. Three large-scale thefts in six months have robbed homes of their premium household appliances. The most recent, in the affluent suburb of Bayview, had $50,000 in appliances stolen including a refrigerator, a stove and a washing machine. The high-end heists have been targeting vacant houses, usually for sale. This has also been the case south ... Read more
February 13th, 2012
A Smeg oven and Caessarstone kitchen benches have been highlighted as key selling points for Rob Jahrling's (Sydney Olympics 2000 Men's eights rowing Silver medalist) $1.3 million property at Balgowlah, Sydney. A kitchen and it's appliances may not make or break a sale, but they are definitely a "tick in the right box", according to Sue O'Brien from Raine and Horne Manly. O'Brien, who is managing the the Balgowlah sale, told Appliances Online that the latest ... Read more
February 10th, 2012
Almost half of all household fires start in the kitchen and people need to be more vigilant when cooking, Fire and Rescue NSW has warned. The caveat comes after an elderly woman was taken to hospital suffering the effects of smoke inhilation following a kitchen fire. Safety in the kitchen Fire Commissioner Greg Mullims said kitchen fires make up 49 per cent of all household fires attended by Fire ... Read more
February 8th, 2012
For the fashion conscious, decorative rangehoods can be the focal point of a kitchen. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials and can make or break a kitchen's aesthetics. For the practically minded, kitchen rangehoods are fundamental, and "the quiet achievers" in a kitchen. "If you have a stove it's automatic to have a rangehood," says Appliances Online's whitegood expert, Colin Jones. With forty years ... Read more
February 8th, 2012
If you didn't already know your rights as a consumer, you will soon. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is launching a media campaign to help people be aware of their rights in relation to faulty products and poor service. “From Dandenong to Darwin the ACCC is letting people know when it’s not right, use your rights. If it’s not right, consumers are entitled to a repair, replacement ... Read more
February 7th, 2012
Albert Einstein once said: “A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it.” Obviously, the genius German physicist wasn't trying to farm in the Australian outback (he was wise enough not to try), where devastating droughts inspired one Aussie to invent an irrigation device that takes water from air and channels it back to plants. The Airdrop system by Edward Linacre was last year's Dyson Design Award winner. “Winning the James Dyson Award ... Read more
February 6th, 2012
The Sunbeam FoodSaver FreshSaver was last week announced the 2012 Product of the Year in the Small Appliances category. The product is a hand-held, vacuum sealing system. Sunbeam received the award in Sydney last Thursday, after being announced as a finalist in September 2011. Nicole Cowley, marketing manager Sunbeam, received the award. “Sunbeam’s handheld FoodSaver FreshSaver is a truly convenient and innovative product made for consumers who are conscious about saving money and reducing ... Read more
February 3rd, 2012
Feng shui is all about the flow of energy, or qi (chee) as the Chinese refer to it. Traditionally the Chinese used feng shui to orient buildings with spiritual significance but today it's part of an international popular culture making the environment in one's home more balanced and conducive to positive energy flow. Feng shui tips abound for bedrooms, living rooms, and offices. But what about the hearth of the home, the ... Read more
February 2nd, 2012
If you’ve paid $50 for 1,000 TV channels, beware. Yesterday, New South Wales police busted a pay TV piracy ring in Ashfield and have today advised anyone accessing illegal pay TV subscriptions to stop, or “risk legal consequences”. The large scale and sophisticated operation has been supplying illicit access to copyrighted materials including movies from multiple companies and subscription TV channels, according to a NSW Police statement. Unlicensed ... Read more
February 1st, 2012
Induction cooktops surpass their electric and gas counterparts in speed, efficiency and precision. They produce intense heat three times faster than other cooktops and it's this snappy heat which lends itself so well to stir fry and wok cooking. Think sizzling steak, seared tuna, sauteed shrimp, wok fried rice, stirred noodles or spicy prawns...the mouth waters. But first, why use induction cooking? [caption id="attachment_5440" align="alignright" width="300" caption="The Smeg Induction Cooktop includes a wok"][/caption] Last year, Appliances Online investigated what all the fuss over ... Read more