June 4th, 2012 by Keri Algar

Whenever Canstar Blue conducts a consumer research survey it manages to come up with some odd facts, some generational others between the sexes. But when recently it measured dishwashers it uncovered some unusual ways in which people use the kitchen cleaners. This blog has already looked at weird and wonderful ways to use our appliances including steaming fish in the dishwasher. But what about shoes? "Our latest survey ... Read more

May 31st, 2012 by Mark Bristow

We can now confidently say that ILVE’s range of prestige appliances are great for entertaining, having sampled their delicious results firsthand and learned all about their innovative special features, such as induction teppanyaki and 2-minute pizza. To celebrate ILVE’s appliances becoming available on Appliances Online for the first time, a group of Appliances Online staff were fortunate enough to visit the ILVE showroom and head office in ... Read more

May 31st, 2012 by Richie Black

This blog is written from a dark place. There's a lot of rage in it. A lot of pain. Call it a primal scream ... from the kitchen. It's the hub of the home so naturally the kitchen is a place where First World Problems arise ... (oh, for the uninitiated "First World Problems" are apparently petty but actually deeply traumatic things suffered in the developed world ... Read more

May 30th, 2012 by Keri Algar

Freida Cocks is 93 years old today. Born in Kurow in the desolate deep south of New Zealand's South Island, Freida has witnessed the invention of every modern home appliance since her birth in 1919. As a child nothing in her house was electric, let alone automatic. In the 1920s in remote NZ  her principal home-keeping chore was gathering firewood, an essential energy source for cooking and ... Read more

May 29th, 2012 by Keri Algar

Maggie Beer, John Torode, Rick Stein, George Calombaris, and Manu Feildel...the menu is set. What about the chance to win dinner and paired wines for four on the Thursday prior to the Good Food & Wine Show...is the apetite whet? The Fisher & Paykel ‘Dine with a Chef’ competition will offer the winner and their three friends a meeting with a celeb chef plus a night’s accommodation at a city hotel, VIP ... Read more

May 29th, 2012 by Sofia Fernandez

Miele has managed the most satisfied consumer award ahead of seven other dishwasher brands with almost a clean sweep across every category in the latest Canstar Blue dishwasher survey. The survey pitched top brands Miele, Bosch, LG, Fisher & Paykel, Westinghouse, Electrolux, Dishlex and Whirlpool against each other for performance, value for money, reliability, noise while operating, internal layout of drawers, warranty and service, and overall satisfaction. Miele scored five ... Read more

May 28th, 2012 by Keri Algar

As the Laura Star disappears, awake she sheds a silent tear A blood red dawn begins to rise, and reflects the fear in Rinnai's eyes, For through old promises to Omega She has sealed her Bromic's demise. (Have you read part one?)   The brave little kettle shouts out his warning As Bromic dives for his Sharp sword, The piercing whistle Brevilles out through the morning 'Til St George slays Morphy and the blood starts to pour.   Rinnai looks Delonghingly as ... Read more

May 28th, 2012 by Keri Algar

We were going to suggest sticking an iPad to the fridge...but then we discovered a gourmet version of what we had in mind, Qooq. It sounds like Australian for kook, but foolishness is far from this tablet's menu. Qooq is a robust 10-inch tablet specifically designed to handle the heat and spills of kitchens. Made in France however, where there is no such thing as function over fashion, ... Read more

May 25th, 2012 by Sofia Fernandez

The US equivalent of Australia's Choice has rated Bosch, GE and Whirlpool as some of the most reliable appliances on the market today. While consumers swoon over smart appliances with all the bells and whistles, and others look for style, sophistication and perfect integration in the home, consumer watchdogs Choice and its US equal, Consumer Reports search out and test the most reliable and trustworthy appliances. Based on ... Read more

May 25th, 2012 by Keri Algar

When the dishwasher went unexpectedly on the blink there was no time to wait for a sale to pick up a bargain. Wash the dishes by hand? No way! But despite the rushed purchase, there were three essential things that Lois Cocks would not compromise on. How to buy a dishwasher based on efficiency: For Lois, eco modes and fast washes are important, but not essential. "Yes, this new dishwasher has got ... Read more

May 22nd, 2012 by Sofia Fernandez

A little water goes a long way in a steam dishwasher and appliance makers such as LG and V-Zug are eager to spruik the technology. Steam dishwashers use jets of high-pressure, high-temperature steam at different stages of the cleaning cycle. At the start, steam may be used to soften stubborn stuck-on food and at the end of the cycle steam may be used to give a hygienic clean without ... Read more

May 16th, 2012 by Keri Algar

You'd be forgiven for assuming that a disgruntled housewife must have invented the dishwasher in the 1950's. And you'd be partly correct. It was in fact a man who patented the idea even a hundred years earlier but yes, it was because of a woman that the dishwasher as we know it came to fruition. Not because she was tired of doing the dirty dishes, Josephine Cochran was ... Read more

May 10th, 2012 by Sofia Fernandez

Following up on last week's post about a stay at home Dad's arsenal of appliances, this week we turn to the The Manly Housekeeper to see how he deals with tricky domestic duties. The Manly Housekeeper is a blog by Mark Evitt. As he puts it, "Man. Evolved." While his wife is at work as a lawyer, Evitt documents his escapades cooking, cleaning, gardening, and housekeeping. Not only is Evitt ... Read more

May 10th, 2012 by Kevin Bradford

Everybody loves a BBQ, right? Whether it's a quintessentially Australian experience on a roasting hot summer's day, or, as I am more familiar with, a battle under grey skies and umbrellas in the UK, there's a Neanderthal excitement associated with cooking outdoors. The varieties of food, the combination of smells and the sense of healthy eating is enjoyed in gardens and beaches the world over. But when winter ... Read more

May 10th, 2012 by Keri Algar

I wonder if some Mum's would prefer it if someone actually did the vacuuming, rather than buy her a vacuum cleaner for Mother's Day? Doing the chores for Mum this Sunday is one way to sweeten her up. But the weekly jobs are a short lived respite for Mum. So here are a few other house hold duties with more long term benefits: Give the refrigerator-coils a quick ... Read more