Category: Appliances

When many of us think of slow cookers, we tend to think of winter stews, casseroles and hotpots, none of which are typical summer day meals but does this mean that your slow cooker has to be locked away until winter? The answer is no, as there are plenty of dishes that you can do in your slow cooker even on a hot day which will taste amazing.

Pulled pork is very easy to do in a slow cooker. Simply and a joint of pork and pour over some BBQ sauce or even coke (which makes a sweet sauce). Leave to cook for a good 4-5 hours at least and then once ready put into brioche baps for the ultimate summer cuisine.

Another great meal to make in the slow cooker is chicken salad. You may not be aware but you can roast a whole chicken in the slow cooker and because it is cooked in its own juices slowly, it becomes extremely tender. Make a colourful salad and then shred or slice the chicken up to go along side it. The beauty of a slow cooker is you can prepare your meals in the morning and then carry on with your day, knowing that it will be ready for your evening meal with little work required.

If you have ever been camping you will know that room is something that many people struggle with. Many of us would like to take much more with us, but having to pack everything in to a car or trailer often restricts what we can bring.

If you are going to go camping often then it may be worth investing is some proper camping equipment. This not only makes it easier when you come to pack but also camping equipment is designed to be more portable and a compact.

Pots and pans are something that takes up a lot of room but are essential if you are going to be cooking some meals. You can buy pots and pans that have removable handles and that stack completely inside each other so you can transport them easier. Cooking stoves are another must have for campers. You can just buy a single gas ring stove for around £20 or you can spend a bt more and get a double ring and grill. Make sure you don’t forget to get the gas bottles that are compatible with your stove.

Air beds are perfect for camping but if you are planning on staying for a few nights or struggle with your joints at all, you should invest in a good quality one.

Although laminate and wood flooring are a popular floor covering choice in many homes, carpets are still the preferred option for many especially in bedrooms and living rooms as it is generally warmer and gives a cosier feel to your home. The downside to carpeted floors is that they can get dirty particularly if you have pets or young children. This problem necessitates the need to wash the carpets periodically, but should you purchase a carpet washer, or should you simply hire one when needed?

If you decide to buy your own carpet washer there are a few to choose from and depending on how much carpet you have will determine the size of the washer you buy. If you have a large carpeted area a more substantial machine will be a better buy as the water tanks are larger so will need less emptying however you will need to consider where you are going to store it when not in use. A smaller model is a better option if storage space is a problem or even consider a wet and dry machine that can be used as a vacuum cleaner too.

As the cost of hiring a machine is quite costly it is certainly worth thinking about buying a carpet washer to share between family households thus cutting down on the initial outlay.

When you purchase a new appliance from one of the larger electrical stores it is common for you to be offered appliance insurance to cover breakdowns and sometimes accidental damage. Customers are encouraged to take on this insurance and are usually offered credit terms so that they can pay a small amount monthly. This can give some customers peace of mind especially if the appliance is expensive and to replace it would be difficult. There are however some things to think about before you commit to taking out the insurance.

All new appliances have a twelve month guarantee from new which covers breakdowns so as long as you have been careful to only use your appliance as instructed you will be able to get a new one or a repair free of charge should anything go wrong.

It is a good idea to check whether your appliances are covered under your normal house insurance especially for accidental damage as you may be paying twice for the same cover.

If you have a local appliance repair company that offers repairs at a reasonable price it may be that the money you pay out in insurance could be saved until you need a repair doing.

As many of us know there are those kitchen appliances and gadgets that we just can’t live without and there are those that sit languishing in the back of our kitchen cupboards waiting to be used but how do we know which is which?

Before buying any appliance or kitchen gadget it is important to ask ourselves a few important questions. Firstly, do I really need a piece of additional equipment to perform the task in hand? An electronic can opener is useful if you have arthritis and find it difficult to grip and turn an ordinary opener but is a lot more expensive and may take up valuable worktop space if you have a small kitchen.

The second question to ask is how often the appliance is going to be used. If it is only once a year for example a large cake mixer to make a Christmas cake could you borrow one from a friend or relative. If, however you make several large cakes for family birthdays and anniversaries it would be a wise investment.

Many people have bought a bread making machine with the intention of making their own healthy bread only to find that it is far cheaper to buy it from a bakery so think carefully before splashing out on what could be a white elephant.