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The washing machine is an ideal way to wash your dirty laundry, and it’s a great time saver. But, a washer is capable of washing much more than clothes, and you may be surprised at some of the items that can be cleaned. Here are a few things that you need to bear in mind if you want to get the most out of your washer. Shoes Check the directions on your shoes before attempting to wash them in your washer. Many canvas shoes and even some leather shoes can be washed in this way, and it’s a great way to get them fresh. Make sure to remove the insoles and laces first and then place the shoes inside a mesh laundry bag. Wash your shoes with a mild detergent and warm water for the best results. If you cannot find out if your shoes can be washed in this way err on the side of caution and don’t put them in the washer. Kids Toys Many stuffed toys and certain plastic toys can be safely washed in your washer. Stuffed toys that contain electronic or mechanical components cannot be washed in this way. If the stuffed toy is old and worn, it may come apart during rigorous washing, so wash it by hand instead. If your child is sick, you can disinfect their stuffed or plastic toys by adding a little disinfectant to the washer. If the plastic toys can be washed this way, place them in a mesh

It’s estimated that almost 80% of us have a dryer to dry our clothes indoors. A dryer is a modern convenience that most of us rely on, but a traditional dryer may not be suitable for every type of home. A typical vented dryer needs a vent, and installing a vent in many homes is simply impossible without incurring a significant cost or altering a historic building. There is an alternative; a ventless dryer is a compact option that can dry effectively without the need for a vent. In this article we will take a closer look at ventless dryers, are they safe to use? Are they energy efficient? How well will they wash your clothes? Let’s find out. Are Ventless Dryers Safe to Use? Many people are concerned that a lack of venting will lead to a buildup of heat that could pose a risk of fire. This is unfounded; a ventless dryer is perfectly safe to use; they are designed to operate safely for years. When you use a ventless dryer, there is no need to remove collected lint from the trap or a vent. This effectively reduces the risk of a fire rather than increasing them, and this makes a ventless dryer safer to use. If you need to dry your laundry indoors and you don’t have an option to install a vent, a ventless dryer is a safe alternative. Is a Ventless Dryer Energy Efficient? The short answer is yes, a ventless dryer actually uses less

A kitchen with no major appliances is basically a blank canvas. When you plan a new kitchen, choosing the right appliance finish is crucial to tying together the overall design. Unlike days gone by, when you were limited to white appliances, now there are a number of different options to choose from. So, here we’ll explore how to choose the right appliance finish for your new kitchen. Contemporary Stainless Steel Stainless steel is an appliance finish that appeals to everyone. This finish does well with every type of kitchen style and design, making kitchens feel modern and new. Most modern stainless steel appliances are fingerprint resistant, so even if you have curious kids who put their fingers everywhere, your appliances can retain their immaculate appearance. If you want to play it safe, a stainless steel finish for your major appliances is a sensible choice. Bold Black If you enjoy creating a dramatic aesthetic for your home decor, black or black stainless steel is a great option. This creates an intense hue when paired with other colors, particularly white, to make a vivid contrast. If you want to make a statement, black can be a bold choice. Unfortunately, black doesn’t work well in all kitchens. If you have a smaller space, you may want to avoid black. Having black throughout your small kitchen can make the area look crowded and even smaller. So, if you want to create an open, bright aesthetic, you should avoid this finish. The Warmth of Slate

Appliance technology seems to evolve continually. Smart devices provide convenience and can change the way you prepare your food and eat. So, here, we’ll explore how appliance technology can help you to become a better cook and change the way you enjoy family dinners. Improve Your Culinary Skills Cooking takes time to develop as a skill; you don’t just find yourself able to make a perfect beef wellington when you wake up one morning. To become a master chef, you need to learn new skills and acquire competence. Fortunately, even if you haven’t attended culinary school, you can make your life easier in the kitchen with the right technology. With the right refrigerator, you don’t need fancy schools to learn the skills to make the perfect Hollandaise sauce; you’ll be able to learn in your own kitchen. Appliance technology has now taken us to where we can listen to music, watch television, and share notes on the device that previously just kept our food cool. Because of this technology, we can now have access to information to make cooking and eating better. You can pull up recipes, watch tutorials, or just enjoy your favorite tunes while you make your latest culinary masterpiece. Use Your Phone to Get in Control Smartphones have been a revolution, and you can basically do anything with them today. This includes helping improve your cooking. Now, you don’t have to wait until you finish at the grocery store and get home to preheat your oven to

One of the best things about a sunny spell is being outdoors and grilling with family and friends. Of course, there are responsibilities to safe grilling, so we have compiled some top tips for grilling to ensure that everyone has a safe, great time. Set Up Away From Structures The location of your grilling spot is crucial. Being too close to structures could be tempting fate and leaving you vulnerable to starting a fire. Obviously, a grill is made for outdoor use, but being outdoors doesn’t mean that it is safer than cooking in your home. Covered decks, overhanging branches, or anything potentially flammable such as dry plants or lattices should be kept as far away from your grilling station as possible. Every backyard is different, so you need to look carefully at your yard to ensure that you set up your grilling station in a safe spot. Keep Your Grill Clean One of the most basic things to do for excellent grilling is cleaning. When fat and buildup accumulates on the grill plates, it increases your risk of a grease fire, so cleaning is crucial. Use a wire brush to scrub your grill grates before you use your grill. Most of this debris will fall into the tray below the grill grates, so you need to remove this accumulation while the grill is completely cool. Consider Your Clothing While you may want to look your best when your outdoor entertaining, but your clothing should always be “safety first.” From

Many modern homes have a stove with a warming drawer, but this is often a surprise for many stove owners. In many cases, homeowners use that little drawer underneath the oven for storing cookie sheets or skillets, but there is more to this drawer than storage space. So, here we’ll explore how you can make the best use of your warming drawer. Warm Your Dishware Serving hot food on cold plates is just asking for a lukewarm meal. Using a warm plate will help you to keep your food hot, maintaining flavors and consistency. A warming drawer allows you to keep your bowls and plates nice and toasty. On chilly days, you can even keep your mugs in the warming drawer, so your morning cup of coffee or tea is even cozier. Save a Missed Meal Whether the kid’s football practice ran late or you need to drop everything to run to the store before it closes, you don’t need to allow your meal to spoil. Sometimes your family dinner plans don’t go as you hope, but this doesn’t mean you need to settle for a cold meal that has been sitting out. Just put your skillet, serving dish or crock pot in the warming drawer, and your meal will stay ready to eat and fresh for the rest of the evening. Make Your Food Prep Easier Family get together and holiday parties can mean that you spend hours in the kitchen whipping up tasty treats. Getting the timing perfect

Steam ovens have become a massive appliance trend over the last few years. These ovens are a great way to prepare tastier, fresher and healthier foods, but many people don’t understand how they work and how they can be of benefit. So, here we’ll explore all you need to know about steam ovens. The Steam Oven Basics As the name suggests, steam ovens use hot steam to cook food rather than the hot air used in conventional ovens. This introduces an entirely new level of cooking in a home kitchen and can even allow you to reheat foods more effectively than a microwave. A steam oven can be used instead of a standard convection oven or use it with your existing oven for even greater cooking power. Most steam ovens siphon water from a small tank into a built-in boiler. The water is heated to 212ºF, and the steam is released into the oven. The super heated steam is as effective to cook food as the circulated air in a convection oven, but it is often faster. Some upscale models can be connected to a water line directly, so you don’t need to refill the tank after every use, but most models require no special hook up. Why Install a Steam Oven? While this may seem like hype, you can cook almost everything better in a steam oven. Steam ovens are generally thought to be healthier than a standard oven. Steam helps to lock moisture into the food being cooked

We rely on our appliances each and every day. From the trusty dishwasher that prevents you needing to spend hours at the kitchen sink, to your fridge and freezer that allows you to visit the grocery store once a week and enjoy your favorite treats anytime, our appliances are designed to make our lives easier. Unfortunately, many people neglect their appliances with the assumption that they will simply keep running. In fact, you can extend the lifespan of your appliances and potentially save yourself some costly repair bills by following this essential appliance maintenance checklist. Check Hoses for Damage Any water using appliance including your dishwasher and washing machine will be hooked up to your plumbing system with hoses. These hoses not only supply clean water for the wash cycle, but carry away dirty water safely from your kitchen or laundry room. Unfortunately, these hoses can be vulnerable to cracking over time, particularly if your appliance moves during a wash cycle or you move it to clean around and under it. So, it is a good idea to periodically check your hoses to see if they have become brittle, look like they are about to crack or have already become damaged. If you do see any signs of damage, you’ll need to replace the hoses, but this is a simple task; you can buy replacement hoses online or from your local hardware store. Be on the lookout for musty smells under your kitchen sink or around your laundry room, as

Most households have some form of freezer. Whether you need a place to store your favorite ice cream or want to save leftovers, a drawer in your refrigerator may be sufficient. Regardless of the size of your freezer compartment, if you’ve considered a chest freezer, you’re not alone. This is a common question, so, here we’ll explore some factors to consider to help you determine whether a chest freezer could be the right option for your home. Your Family Goes Through Lots of Groceries If you have a large family, or a family with a large appetite, there is no question that you would benefit from a chest freezer. These large appliances can store all the frozen foods your family will need for the next month or two. This will help you avoid needing to go to the grocery store every other day to prevent complaints that your family is starving. The freezer in your refrigerator can only hold so much, so a chest freezer can act as a back-up. You can not only store meat products effectively, but you’ll also be able to bulk cook and freeze portions for times when you have less time for cooking. You’re the Ultimate Party Host Regardless of the occasion, if the call is to head to your house, then having a chest freezer will be an excellent feature for your party hosting. A chest freezer will allow you to prepare foods days ahead of your party and store it properly. This will

The kitchen is often considered the most important room in the home. It is where we store, prepare and create foods that our families can enjoy. So, to make this process as straightforward and easy as possible, you need to ensure that you have access to the best kitchen equipment and an induction cooktop should play a big role. Induction cooktops use magnetic induction rather than the direct thermal heat transfer used by traditional cooktops. The magnetic field heats the cooking vessel directly and can offer impressive heat capability. So, here we’ll explore everything you need to know about induction cooktops to help you make your purchase decision. The Advantages of Induction Induction offers some impressive advantages that make these types of cooktop an excellent choice for busy, family homes. This includes: Greater efficiency: Induction is one of the most efficient types of cooking equipment on the market. Little or no heat is wasted when cooking, so the units are as much as 70% more efficient compared to standard cooking methods. This adds up to some serious energy savings. Increased Safety: Every keen cook has experienced a burn or two when preparing a meal, but this risk is reduced when you have an induction cooker. Most of the cooktop remains cool, as only the cooking vessel is heated. This means that it is far safer, particularly if you have small children in your kitchen, as there is less chance of little fingers being burned. This also makes cleaning your cooktop