July 26th, 2012
This is a blog for idiots. You know who you are. Let me explain, I know. Because I’m one of you! You may be particularly brilliant at a particular area of your life (ours is constructing forts from empty cereal packets), but in terms of general household maintenance ... completely hopeless. Don't worry. I get you. We’re the people who forget to turn off appliances. Barely ... Read more
July 11th, 2012
We've covered ants and cockroaches, now here's your one-stop, everything-you-need-to-know, flat-out awesome how-to guide for getting rid of rats. Ahhh, rats. Sneaky, cunning and the ultimate survivors. Slimy, stinky and disease-ridden. Sort of the lawyers of the animal kingdom. And, of course, particularly drawn to places like kitchens and laundries. Not only do they offer warmth and food - but potential sources of shelter ... including that offered ... Read more
July 10th, 2012
Fisher & Paykel have voluntarily recalled two DishDrawer models after it was revealed there is a small chance of mild electric shock received through contacting the water remaining in the machine after a cycle. The hazard may be created by a small piece of hardware that is not part of the machine, such as a piece of glass, which gets lodged in the pump rotor causing a ... Read more
June 4th, 2012
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 29th, 2012
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 25th, 2012
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
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
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 9th, 2012
A more precise time management display system has been launched by Bosch in its fully integrated dishwasher range. The TimeLight function, unveiled at Milan's EuroCucina, shows the exact remaining time when loading and unloading, without the need for a visible control panel on the front of the appliance. Details about the remaining time, which programme has been selected, and what phase the cycle is on, are projected onto ... Read more
May 7th, 2012
A dishwasher that only uses six litres of water has been hailed as a "main innovation" from German manufacturer Bosch. The ActiveWater Eco can clean up to 13 place settings in one cycle, and features the lowest water consumption figures on the market. Showcased at Milan's EuroCucina last month, the latest design uses intelligent technology to save up to 20,700 litres of water annually compared to hand-washing. Bosch engineers ... Read more
May 1st, 2012
We're probably going to sound a little prejudice here, but we don't like cockroaches in our appliances. Okay, cockroaches are a fact of life - hey, in Sydney's Inner West some of our best friends are cockroaches - but if you see one walking out of your microwave it's enough to put you off your reheated left-overs. Cockroaches dig warm, moist hiding spaces - hence, they ... Read more
April 16th, 2012
Last week The Oatmeal (a popular internet comic) shared advice on how to get more people to click 'like' for your product/service/etc on Facebook. Mr Oats had plenty of useful tips, but our favourite of course was this one: Being in the appliance trade, this is a topic close to our hearts. So imagine our delight when internet entertainer Hank Green rose to the challenge by penning the ... Read more
April 16th, 2012
Let the dishwasher do its job! Pre-rinsing is a waste of time, money, and water, Consumer Reports has said. Dishwashers are designed to do the dirty work yet some households are wasting well over 22,000 litres of water a year through unnecessary rinsing, according to the US consumer watchdog. When testing dishwashers, Consumer Reports used dishes "caked with foods such as peanut butter, tomato sauce, oatmeal and egg ... Read more
March 20th, 2012
One in three Australians prefer to spend over $1,000 on their dishwasher, a survey has found. The independent survey by Canstar Blue has concluded that Australians would rather use a high end dishwasher to cut down on domestic chores. "Our research has shown of the one in two Australians who have dishwashers, a sizeable group place a great deal of importance on this popular kitchen appliance and will ... Read more
March 8th, 2012
Picture this: it's a warm summer night, and your family and friends are all gathered at your home for a barbeque dinner. The food is delicious, the wine is delightful, and now everyone is talking and laughing, enjoying the ambience of a relaxed night under the stars. What could possibly ruin such a perfect evening? A pile of dirty plates and platters at the end of the night can ... Read more