5 appliances that actually reclaim hours lost to tedious chores

Imagine trying to keep your home clean without a vacuum cleaner. What a brilliant invention that was. The only shortcoming really is that you still have to push them around. Now picture yourself edging one step closer to a Jetsons-style home of the future where a robot takes care of business.

With built-in sensors and navigation systems, robot vacuums, like those from Eufy and Roomba, can map the area, plot their cleaning path and return themselves to their dock to recharge. Some have apps (Apple and Android), as well as WiFi and bluetooth connectivity to integrate with Alexa, Google Assistant and other smart home speakers.

While a robo vac probably won’t eliminate the need to give your home an occasional clean with a manual barrel, upright or stick cordless vacuum, it can definitely lighten the load for you, especially if you have a lot of hard floors and endless pet hair to contend with. Several models now also have a longer battery life and incorporate mops, so they have the grunt and the gear to clean up spills and stubborn dirt.

Combining the functions of several kitchen appliances, such as a pressure cooker, slow cooker and rice cooker into one unit, it’s easy to see how it can save you space in the kitchen, but how can an all-in-one multi cooker save you time?

For starters, you can cook some meals faster. Ragu or lamb shanks, for example, that might take a few hours in a slow cooker, can be cooked in under an hour using the multi cooker’s pressure cooking setting. Some models also have pre-programmed recipe settings that save you time, effort and guesswork - so you can just set and forget until it’s time to eat.

The multi cooker’s ability to sear, sauté and brown off meat in the same appliance before pressure or slow cooking it, means that you’ll also spend less time washing up multiple pans.

Love cafe quality coffee at home, but don’t have the time to make it? By outsourcing the job to a fully automatic coffee machine, you can make your espresso, cappuccino or latte quickly and easily, without needing to grind beans, measure coffee or even froth the milk.

Removing any risk of human error also means there’s no chance of making a bad coffee and then having to waste time remaking it.

Some automatic coffee machines have self-cleaning functions or automatic cleaning cycles, which can also make them quicker and easier to maintain than manual models.

If you have the time to hang clothes up to dry, good on you, it’s a green and free option. In a hectic household, though, manually hanging up wet clothes to dry and then taking them down again can take up hours in your week. Plus, of course, there are times when the rain, cold or humidity can put the dampeners on such plans.

A clothes dryer could be your key to reclaiming that time, and these days modern heat pump dryers use a lot less energy and cost a lot less money to run. Plus, when the sweaty sports kit you’ve just found in a puddle on the bathroom floor is needed again tomorrow, no dramas.

If feeding your four-legged friend is a special bonding ritual for you both, that’s lovely. If the smell of cat food first thing in the morning turns your stomach, however, a smart pet feeder can save you the time and trouble.

This gadget can do more than just save time, though, it can also save your sleep. If your perpetually hungry puppy or grumpy cat wakes you at 5am, begging for breakfast, training them to self-serve with the assistance of the pet feeder’s scheduled feeding times can protect those sweet zzz’s.

With Wi-Fi connectivity, camera monitors and smartphone apps, you can also select on-demand feeding or remote control the feeder when you’re unexpectedly out and about, instructing it to dish up extra portions.

We deliver these time-saving appliances, and the rest of our products, to 95% of Australia’s population for free with Appliances Online's legendary FREE delivery - and we can usually get it to you by the next day (Mon-Fri). Most Australian retailers don’t offer this, so if you’re doing price comparisons, always factor in delivery costs and how long your purchases will take to get to you. PLUS, if you’re disposing of an old home appliance, our industry-leading team can take it away for recycling when they deliver your new one.

For more labour-saving appliance inspiration, check out our Appliances Buying Guides, and if you have any questions, you can always call our friendly team, 24/7, on 1300 004 500.