Household Electrical Appliances
Home improvement and household appliances news and updates
There is often a bit of confusion when it comes to disposing of batteries. Some people think it is fine to chuck all batteries in the normal waste whereas other people think that they need to be disposed of as hazardous waste properly at designated places. There are different rules for different types of batteries and that is because of the material that is inside them. Most alkaline batteries do not contain mercury and are composed primarily of common metals such as steel, zinc, and manganese. This means they do not pose a health or environmental risk during normal use or disposal, so, therefore, can be chucked in with your normal household waste.
Car batteries cannot be disposed of in normal waste (this is by law) and will either need to be taken to a garage or a waste site that accepts them. If you are having a battery replaced then ask the garage if they will dispose of your old one. They may charge you a small fee to do this.
You may want to send your batteries to be recycled instead. Often your local council will collect batteries that are left out with the normal recycling collection, but always call and check first.
Feb 18
26
Air fryers for healthy eating
Air fryers are becoming increasingly popular with members of the public as they try and find ways they can enjoy fried food in a healthier way. Many of these types of fryers require very little of no oil but still allow the food to be crisp as if it had been deep fried. There are a number of manufacturers that make these types of fryers and the prices range from approximately £30 upwards of £150.
If you have a large family then you will need to check the capacity of the fryer as you do not want to be having to cook twice for every meal you use it for.
Air fryers often allow you to cook a wide range of food from chips, chicken to pizzas. Most of them come with a recipe book to allow you to get the most out of your fryer and cook healthy meals that you can enjoy.
You can buy air fryers from a huge number of retailers such as the high street giants in appliances Currys or from places like B and M or even your local supermarket. Before investing in one, be sure to read plenty of reviews to find the fryer that will best suit your cooking style and needs.
Jan 18
31
Taking care of your vacuum cleaner
Many of us rely a lot on our vacuum cleaners. You may use yours a few times a week or even daily and if you have pets then your vacuum will often be doing even more work to rid the pet hair. When a vacuum cleaner is new, it often performs very well, but quickly you may find that it starts to lose suction and is not picking up bits. This can be something simple such as a blockage in the pipe or the vacuum needs emptying but it can also be down to issues with the filter. Many vacuums now have filters that can removed and washed but it can still be hard to get all the fluff out and often it means you will need to replace them. Before purchasing your vacuum, have a look at the cost of replacing the filters and consider getting one or two spare in case you do need to try and wash them.
Although vacuums will be covered by a 12 months warranty from new, they will not cover issues with the filter so this is something to bear in mind. You may want to read reviews before buying your next vacuum as some have common issues with the filters which can end up costing you more over time.
Dec 17
21
Electrical safety at Christmas
With many of us going all out over the festive period with Christmas tree lights, lights outside the house and moving decorations, it is easy to see why more electrical faults happen during this time of year. With people buying electrical goods online or in shops, they may not always realise that not all comply with the EU standards and may not have been vigorously tested to ensure they are safe. Even the ones that have been tested can still fail so it is important that you follow your own set of rules to try and eliminate accidents happening.
Never leave Christmas lights / decorations plugged in when you leave the house. You may not like to have to turn everything off when you are out but if a fire broke out and no one was in, then it may not be noticed for quite some time and already of done a lot of damage. The same goes for when you go to bed and are less likely to see if there is a problem.
Always buy electrical goods off a reputable firm and try and check for the label which states it has been tested and is safe to use. Always read the instructions that come with the item and only use it as suggested.
With Christmas less than 4 weeks away, now is the time to stock up on batteries. There is nothing more frustrating than your child or grandkids opening their presents on Christmas day and not being able to play with it as you have not got the right batteries for it.
Before wrapping the presents, double check what batteries it takes as many toys take different sizes. If possible, it may be worth putting the batteries into the toy first, if you can get into it without damaging the packaging. This will mean you don’t have to mess around with screwdrivers and the child can play with the toy immediately.
Once you have your list of how many batteries you need, shop around to find the best price. Be very wary about buying batteries that are too cheap, especially online as there are a number of counterfeit batteries for sale that have been known to be dangerous if the toy short circuits or malfunctions. Often you will get a better deal by buying in bulk, so ask friends and family members if they want to club together with you to get a bigger discount.