July 6th, 2012
If you don't fancy a flood or a fire in the laundry room then we suggest you take a look over our essential tips for washing machine and dryer maintenance! Laundry maintenance doesn't take long, nor does it require loads of effort. In fact most of these tips just ask that you cast a glance and look out for certain things. Tips for both the washing machine and ... Read more
July 6th, 2012
For the second time this winter the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) has recalled a hot water bottle for fear of it bursting and burning people. It is a timely reminder to never fill a hot water with boiling water. In both cases there have been no reported incidents of burst bottles and the issue lies in a lack of safety warnings. The bottles offer this warning: "Warning: Hot ... Read more
July 5th, 2012
Perhaps there's been a power cut, a spill that never got wiped up, or you've been away for the weekend while a science project has been growing in the fridge. Either way, opening up the door to be greeted with a wave of stinky air is enough to put you off your food! The only way to get rid of bad odours in the fridge is to ... Read more
July 5th, 2012
The scientists who press the Large Hadron Colliders's (LHC) buttons have yesterday announced the (potential) discovery of the Higgs boson - the most wanted particle in physics. Named after Professor Peter Higgs, the Higgs boson is thought to give all other particles mass, be everywhere at once and frustratingly difficult to pin down, thus its nickname, the God particle. The LHC is a large machine designed to accomplish a specific task; broadly speaking, the LHC ... Read more
July 4th, 2012
A team of UK scientists have discovered that diamonds are a washing machine's best friend. The researches found that tiny diamonds are super effective at loosening oil and dirt from surfaces in cold water washes. The discovery was made as part of a project called the 'Cold Water Cleaning Initiative'. It is funded by scientists looking at how carbon (a form of diamond) can be used as a household ... Read more
July 4th, 2012
Justin Haver says that he's not a smart man. But during the middle of one random night, while using the bathroom no less, the vice president of GoVacuum.com had an idea that 'struck him like a freight train'....a golden vacuum. "Eureka! I'm a genius," writes Haver in his blog. Six months later Haver's inspired idea has come to fruition in the form of a 24K gold plated vacuum ... Read more
June 27th, 2012
Perusing the internet for peculiar appliance related affairs can turn up some unusual things. Previously we've reported the kitchen timer in the shape of a combination-style safe lock, a device that will help your appliances tweet you, pizza and beer vending machines and a bacon alarm clock. So today it is with great pleasure that we bring you the The Faux Shrub Air Conditioner Concealer (pictured right). In summer, many an Australian ... Read more
June 27th, 2012
In one of its latest consumer research surveys the fellas at Canstar Blue have pitched some of Australia's most used laundry detergents against each other to discover which is the most popular with us consumers, and why. So, which scrubs up best? Separating the detergents into liquids and dry powders the survey reveals ALDI as a top choice for liquid detergents and Biozet Attack for dry powders. [caption ... Read more
June 27th, 2012
Samsung have filed a patent for a human-like walking robot that looks a bit like a basic version of Rosie from The Jetsons, the 1962 animated sitcom set in a futuristic utopia with spaceships and robot maids. Min Hyung Lee, Kyung Shik Roh and Woong Kwon have invented the walking robot for Samsung, who have filed an application at The United States Patent and Trade Marks Office. Unlike ... Read more
June 26th, 2012
With a few fridges and some baby cream, leading German installation artist Thomas Rentmeister brings his exhibition Objects.Food.Rooms to Australia. Dozens of fridges smeared with baby cream piled in a corner of the room - what, you don't get it?! Apparently some people, namely art buffs, do. Rentmeister has been impressing the European art scene for a quarter of a century with his installations, using materials and objects that are most ... Read more
June 26th, 2012
A caffeine boost at the touch of a button? Hit me! Produced by Scanomat in Europe, the Top Brewer may be one of the classiest coffee machines you've ever seen, or more to the point, that you don't see: all the grinding and brewing machinery is kept under the counter and out of sight. Only a stainless steel tap protrudes from the bench. Top Brewer has good looks and ... 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
The myriad of features on modern appliances can make the mind boggle and one ask, which do I really need? Too much choice can cause agonisingly long decision making, something many of us would rather avoid. Occasionally we even ditch making a purchase altogether for fear of making a bad choice. Especially today with a host of smart appliances making their way into the home. There are some ... Read more
June 20th, 2012
Buying a new fridge is a big purchase, a big consideration. That's why we've come up with six excellent reasons to invest in the Samsung biggie sized fridge, the side by side 684-litre. It's big on the inside and classy on the outside: Reducing the thickness of the walls means there is more space on the inside without blowing out on the outside. The 684-litre Samsung side by side ... 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