July 20th, 2012
In a bid to cut household costs, a New Zealand columnist has recently made the switch from cups at the coffee-shop to brewing at home. Charged by caffeine, he had an epiphany: coffee at home can solve his nation's welfare problem. In the hilariously satirical column Bill Ralston describes how and why his wife decided their very frequent trips to the coffee shop down the road must come ... Read more
June 20th, 2012
The best thing about getting kids to help out around the house - especially young ones - is that they don't really know the difference between a chore and a super fun activity like dusting. Seriously, it's crazy. It's a matter of perception, and if you make it look like an easy and fun activity that they would be fools to miss out on, there's a good ... Read more
June 20th, 2012
Most of us are aware that fresh juice is better than store-bought juice. But why is that? A bit of research reveals that it's a lot more complicated than it would first seem. There has been a lot of attention in the press recently of people who have overcome serious health problems by incorporating fresh juice into their diet. The main arguments for fresh juice are: • It ... Read more
June 19th, 2012
Spanish tapas are small appetizers (read: morsels of divine savoury treats) served with a drink in bars across Spain. Derived from the Spanish verb tapar (to cover), it is believed that the tapa was originally a slice of salty meat (chorizo or jamon serrano (cured ham)) or bread that would cover a small glass of sherry, typical in the southern region, to keep fruit flies from the ... Read more
June 19th, 2012
"We bought a Whirlpool Duet Sport washer & dryer. And we found the stack kit to be pretty expensive for all that it is... And I'm wondering if we REALLY NEED this kit? My boyfriend said he was going to just use heavy duty industrial strength velcro?" asks Sadie's Mummy on Yahoo Answers. Best answer? "Get the kit and prevent a BIG safety issue and the possibility of ... Read more
June 13th, 2012
All around Australia, cooks and chefs have been getting steamy in the kitchen with the latest appliance trend to hit our shores: the steam oven. Already popular in Europe, steam ovens make it possible to cook delicious food that's much healthier because it doesn't need to be drenched in oil. Additionally, steam cooking is proven to retain more vital nutrients and minerals than boiling or microwaving. Steam ... Read more
June 12th, 2012
Three natural and affordable ingredients will keep the house sparkling clean. Before the days of heavy duty vacuum cleaners and turbo charged chemical cleaners the house was just as spick and span as it is today, says my 93 year old Nana. She would know too, having pretty much witnessed the birth of every modern day appliance and cleaner. Without vacuums a bit of extra elbow grease with ... Read more
June 5th, 2012
Anna's daughter Mackenzie already has her talk on - she's babbling away as I chat to her mother on the phone. This means that Mackenzie definitely has her walk on and at least three times during the conversation I'm told to "hang on" as Anna looks to see where her daughter has got to. Speaking on an old land line with a cord Anna and I also get ... Read more
June 5th, 2012
It can be a tricky decision, to repair or to replace an appliance? New appliances may be more affordable to run, be better for the environment and have time saving features convenient for modern living. On the other hand, repairing an appliance may pinch the wallet less painfully. Now, an appliance parts company in the US has revealed its ideas on when it's best to chuck an ... Read more
May 21st, 2012
Making an impression in a small kitchen space requires big design and appliance ideas. The best thing about a small kitchen is that all your favourite appliances can be within arm's reach! But first, how is the decor? Even small spaces can feel roomy when they are planned properly, and it's often the little things that make a difference. In a kitchen for example, making sure that well ... Read more
May 16th, 2012
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 16th, 2012
Hard, shiny floors that make kitchen messes a breeze to wipe up are also devastatingly easy to damage when moving heavy appliances. Vinyl and wood are susceptible to scratches and scuffing, and depending on how deep the marks are, they can be tricky to repair. Small repairs to vinyl floors are relatively simple with fix it kits from hardware stores, but scratches on wooden floorboards may require sanding and ... Read more
May 8th, 2012
A recent study has found that stainless steel sinks trump ceramic sinks for their durability and modern look. Kitchen sinks are the most hardworking and often underrated element in a kitchen. Sometimes they're piled sky high with dirty dishes, or they're used to wash and peel the spuds, scrub grubby hands... And it's true that stainless steel is a virtually indestructible surface, unlikely to stain or scratch badly, which is what ... Read more
April 30th, 2012
When selecting the right appliances for our kitchen we often look to the experts for guidance. What appliances do chefs find practical, easy to use, and efficient? A recent dinnertime debate between gas cooktops (the mother) and induction cooktops (the daughter) became muted when the daughter asked the table which famous chefs used induction. No one came to mind quickly enough, her point proven. (What is induction?) However, of course ... Read more
April 12th, 2012
To fix it or nix it? That is the question. Whether 'tis nobler to repair or wiser to replace...Yes, it's the appliance industry's existential question of all time. We must consider the age of the appliance, the cost of repairing versus the cost of replacement, the urgency of the situation and the environment. Of course a lot of it boils down to money; both are going to cost a ... Read more