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Your choice of kitchen appliances can make or break your kitchen design. These items are home staples that will be used on a regular basis. Fortunately, there are lots of shapes, sizes, and designs of appliances to suit any household requirements. So, even if you’re on a restricted budget, there are lots of options to choose from. Here we’ll explore this in more detail to help you to make your final purchase decision. Upgrade or Repair? If you’re on a limited budget, the first thing you need to consider is whether you upgrade or repair your existing appliances. If you’re remodeling your kitchen, there is a temptation to buy all new appliances, but this can significantly increase the costs. In many cases, an appliance upgrade may not be necessary. Even if your appliances are looking a little tired, it is possible to hide them behind cabinet fronts if they are still working well. On the other hand, if your appliances are subject to break down issues or are costing you increasing amounts on your energy bills, an upgrade is likely to be the best choice. Fortunately, there are some great ideas to save money when you upgrade your appliances. Bundle Deals If you need more than one appliance, you can save money by bundling your appliances into a deal. Consider what appliances you need and what you may need to replace in the near future, so you can maximize your savings. Many retailers will offer significant discounts when you buy

Buying new appliances is always an exciting time, and it’s easy to get carried away. But, before you commit to purchasing a new laundry set, it’s a great idea to plan where you will place your washer and dryer first. After all, these two appliances have certain needs, and placing them in the wrong spot could make them less efficient and have a detrimental effect on the smooth running of your home. In this article, we will look at four key considerations to make before you place your laundry set. The Floor The laundry set location needs to have a level floor to protect your new appliances against vibrations, shaking, and lateral movement. When appliances are moving in these ways, they can be easily damaged, leading to a hefty repair bill. Modern appliances usually have leveling feet to correct any imperfections on the floor. But, if your floor is really uneven, you may struggle to get the appliances level enough to meet your needs. If you want to sort your laundry on the floor and your garage only has a dirt floor, you cannot use that location. 2. Noise Levels Even if you purchase a high quality washer and dryer set and you site it correctly on an even floor, they will still make some noise. So, it’s a good idea to place your laundry set in a location with a door that you can close when the appliances are operating. If you don’t have much space for a full

Many people have heard the term “induction cooktop,” but they are not really sure what that means. This is unfortunate because an induction cooktop is a great way to cook food to perfection, and yet it’s safer to use than other methods. This type of cooking uses electromagnetic energy instead of a heated coil or an open flame. An induction cooktop uses this electromagnetic field to heat the cookware, and it’s a very efficient way to cook. Let’s take a closer look at induction cooktops, examine the pros and cons, and help you to make an informed purchasing decision. Searching for a New Stove? If you are in the market for a new stove, you may be tempted to go with a tried and tested gas burner or heated electric coil system. Let’s face it, we are always tempted to go with what we know, but there are some significant advantages to induction cooktops. As an example: water can be brought to boil in minutes, and this can save a great deal of food prep time for an average family. Let’s take a look at some other key advantages of using an induction cooktop. 4 Induction Cooktop Pros Faster Heating Times: The aforementioned faster heating times reduce the overall cooking times significantly. Although you may not notice this right away, this improved energy efficiency will translate into lower energy bills for your home.Precise Heat Control: An induction cooktop has extremely precise controls that allow you to set the ideal temperature

A front load washer has a number of advantages compared to a top loading unit. These types of washers typically have very fine controls over the temperature settings, they can handle large washing loads, and they can have smart functionality allowing control via an app on your phone. But, like any complex appliance, a front loader does require a certain amount of maintenance to ensure performance, efficiency, and a long operating life. In this article, we will look at four front load washer tips to get the most out of your machine. Detergent Choices Most modern front load washers need a high efficiency detergent to work as intended by the manufacturer. If you use a standard detergent, you may notice more soap suds, and this will leave a thin film on the surfaces of your drum and hoses. This may seem like a minor problem, but it actually promotes the growth of mold in your washer. This residue can also damage the mechanical or electronic components in your machine. If you have not been using a detergent specifically designed for your high efficiency front load washer, you may find that your warranty is void. Remember that a front load washer is designed to use less water and less detergent. If you add too much detergent, there isn’t any excess water to dissolve the soap, and this creates the residue. Look for a detergent marked as “High Efficiency” or “HE” and stick to the recommended amounts. Adding more detergent will not

Let’s face it, eating outdoors certainly sharpens the appetite, and most people enjoy socializing at a cookout. Entertaining at home is becoming increasingly popular thanks to the current global situation, and many people are discovering that their grill isn’t up to the task. For this reason, it’s a great idea to upgrade your backyard and turn it into an outdoor entertainment area. The BBQ will be the central focal point for cooking, mingling, and eating for any party or social gathering in your new backyard. In this article, we will examine the five key benefits of installing a new backyard grill at your home. Expanding Your Living Area If you enjoy entertaining at your home all year round, a backyard BBQ grill makes perfect sense. If your gatherings are restricted to indoor spaces, you may soon run out of room for your guests. This is especially true if you have a smaller home that can seriously limit the size of your parties. But, if you renovate your backyard and install a grill, you can open up your home to the outdoors and create far more entertaining space. This doesn’t need to be restricted to the summer, and you can extend the entertaining season by adding a few patio heaters and a fire pit to complement your new grill. 2. Increasing Your Home’s Value Everyone loves the idea of entertaining outdoors, it’s a lot of fun, and it can add a great deal of value to your home. In 2016 statistics

For many of us, our oven is a familiar staple in the kitchen. Even if you’re not a keen baker, you’re likely to use your oven for family roasts, reheating leftovers, or even warming breakfast. Since the oven is such an essential part of the kitchen, it can be easy to overlook, and many of us have given very little thought to how the domestic oven evolved. So, here we’ll delve into a brief history of the domestic oven. Modest Beginnings Across different civilizations, stone was used to cook foods. In many areas of the world, including the Mediterranean and throughout the Roman Empire, stone was used to contain flame and provide heat to cook food. Typically, wood was used to feed the fire within the enclosure to roast meat and bake bread. This method of cooking differed from the open air fire, which was used to boil water and make soup. Containing the heat was the primary goal of the oven, and this allowed for different types of cooking. Despite the advancements over the years, the basic function of these ancient ovens has remained. The European Influence When the Europeans arrived in America, the traditional stone stove had an upgrade. Colonial homemakers had ventilated brick ovens to cook foods and feed their families. While these ovens lacked the control knobs that we have on modern ovens, they essentially had the same function. Oven users of this time needed to manually add and remove fuel, typically wood, to stoke the

Many fridges are supplied with a hand crisper drawer that keeps your produce fresher for longer. These are often located at the bottom of the fridge space, and some people purchase extra ones if they typically buy more fresh produce. But, some people don’t understand how a crisper drawer works, and they are often used as a storage area for things that don’t fit on a fridge shelf. In this article, we will explain how a crisper drawer works and how to get the best out of it. How Does a Crisper Drawer Work? The crisper drawer is sealed off from the rest of the fridge, and it has a lower or higher humidity compared to the rest of the appliance. There are fridges that have multiple crisper drawers with pre-set humidity settings, and others allow the user to set their own humidity levels. Adjusting the humidity is simple; if you need high humidity and small vent at the rear of the drawer closes, and this seals the compartment. If you need lower humidity, the same vent is opened, and this allows some of the moisture in the crisper drawer to leave. The tricky part is deciding what to store in the crisper drawer and the humidity that you need for different types of fresh produce. What Produce is Stored in a Crisper Drawer? You can store any kind of food in a crisper drawer if you need extra space. But, a crisper drawer will always work better if it’s

A more efficient appliance can undoubtedly make your life easier, and this is particularly true when it comes to working in the kitchen. In the last decade, we have had a number of high tech kitchen innovations that were beyond the range of an average budget. But, these technologies have matured, they are becoming more affordable, and we are starting to see them in many new appliances. In this article, we will look at five exciting new kitchen innovations to make your life better. Microwave Barcode Scanners Many people are unsure of the times required for microwave cooking or defrosting, and this can lead to less than impressive results. Some of the most up to date microwave ovens coming onto the market may have barcode scanners. The microwave barcode scanner with read the barcodes on your food packaging, and it will automatically set itself to the correct settings. This takes all the guesswork and math out of the process, and your microwaving results will improve. 2. WiFi Connectivity A casual glance around yourself in any location will reveal a large number of people checking their smartphones. Our world is now connected via WiFi, which leads to a number of interesting possibilities. A smartphone with an accompanying app is an excellent tool for remote control over smart devices in your home. We can now adjust many aspects of our home remotely, and this includes pre-heating the oven as you make your way home from work. 3. Trivection Ovens For many decades

Any fridge size places certain limits on the volume of food that you can store there safely. But, if you have a smaller fridge, it can be a real challenge to keep things organized and store the food you need for an average week. In a poorly organized fridge, it’s difficult to located food, and this can lead to a lot of waste. In this article, we will take a look at seven ways that you can make the most of your available fridge space. Get a Labeling Machine Labeling can be a tedious task for many people, while others love using labels to get organized. Getting a labeling machine can help with this task, and once you get the labeling bug, you may be hooked. Assigning a label to each item ensures that it’s stored in the correct fridge location, and your appliance will be less cluttered. When you need to make a label for a food item, it will make you more aware of where it will be stored. 2. Add an Extra Shelf If you have lots of items that are taller, they can be laid on their side to free up some valuable space. In most fridges, this will create ample space to add an extra shelf for more storage options. Having a whole new shelf to store groceries will certainly make a huge difference in a smaller fridge. 3. Use Storage Bins with Handles Many people use containers to hold multiple items on their fridge

Statistics show that households in the USA throw $2,000 of spoiled food in the garbage each year on average. In these trying financial times, there is even more pressure to avoid this waste. Fortunately, there are some practical ways to keep your food fresher for longer. Make Sure Everything is in the Right Place Many of us have a habit of simply putting items in the refrigerator wherever they will fit. Unfortunately, this can compromise your produce lifespan. There are actually zones in your refrigerator, which provide optimum conditions for particular items, so you need to become familiar with the right place for each item. The temperature in the door compartments can fluctuate, so it is important that any items are resistant to spoiling. Many people place milk and cheese in the door, but this can be a mistake, as it is also the warmest spot in your refrigerator. So, you could be reducing the lifespan of your dairy and other delicate products. The door compartments should be reserved for items such as condiments, soda, juice, bottled water, and other items that can withstand the temperature fluctuations. The top shelves provide the most consistent temperatures, so you should put items that don’t need reheating or to be cooked on these shelves. For example, olives, deli meat, hummus, and even berries should be placed here. The lower shelves are the coldest place in your refrigerator, so this is the place for more sensitive items. This is the place to put eggs,