Are you looking to buy a robot vacuum to help you keep your house clean? Check out our guide for what to look for!

Times are changing and smart technology is revolutionising the way we do things in the home. Whilst robot vacuum cleaners have been present in the market for some time, we’re now seeing widespread adoption as these devices are becoming more affordable and more effective at cleaning the home.

The short answer to this is ‘it depends’. Most robot vacuum cleaners will do a good job on short pile carpets and hard floors and will have no issue navigating their way around your furniture and rooms in the house. It’s important to note that, even though technology has progressed a long way, they’re still not able to climb stairs so you’ll either need to purchase two units or get into the habit of bringing the robot vacuum upstairs every now and again if you have a multi-floored home.

If you have a thick pile carpet in your bedrooms then you’ll want to make sure to pick one with a higher powered suction. You’ll often also find that edges of carpets can’t be tackled well by robot vacuums and you may need to keep hold of your main vacuum or handheld to clean the edges every now and again. Essentially they’re not a replacement for conventional vacuum cleaners but will assist you in doing the vacuuming much less frequently than you normally would.

On the more affordable end of the spectrum, robot vacuums make use of infra-red sensors to navigate their way around your home. They’ll set off and change direction every time they come across an obstacle rather than sticking to a set route. The more expensive robot vacuum cleaners have smart sensors, laser scanners and cameras. These extra features can allow them to map your home, ensuring that all floors are protected and it follows a set route each time you switch it on. Most robot vacuum cleaners, regardless of cost, will have a self-docking functionality, allowing them to return back to their charging dock automatically at the end of a cleaning cycle. Some will also have a ‘manual mode’ in which you can control the device with a handheld remote. This is especially useful if you have a mess to clean up in one specific area.

Self-docking: Almost all robot vacuums will have a self docking function. This will allow the vacuum to automatically return to the charging/docking port on its own and is a really useful feature for keeping the batteries charged.

Self-emptying: Some of the higher end models of robot vacuum will not only go back to their dock automatically but will also empty their dust containers automatically into a larger compartment on the dock itself. Whilst this isn’t a strictly essentially feature of a robot vacuum, if you’re using it daily then it can be a time saver.

Mopping: Some robot vacuums will also have a mopping function with a cleaning fluid reservoir in the appliance itself. Be careful when considering these as most that have been tested don’t do a very good job with floors.

Infra-red vs. Smart: If you want each cleaning cycle to protect every part of the floor in your home without fail, then definitely look for a robot vacuum with a smart laser than can map your home. If you’re looking for a budget conscious option and you don’t mind the appliance missing bits of the carpet here and there, opt for an infra-red option.

Suction strength and smart-suction: If you’re looking at robot vacuums, the majority will measure the strength of the suction in ‘Pa’ units. These are ‘Pascals’, a measurement of atmospheric pressure and in this example, the higher the ‘Pa’, the stronger the suction. Robot vacuum cleaners will start at around 600 Pa, strong enough for hard wood floors all the way up to around 4000 Pa for really thick carpets. Some models will also offer ‘smart’ features in which the appliance will identify harder areas to clean and ‘boost’ the suction accordingly. This balanced approach maximises the run time of the appliance before it needs recharging.

Smart apps: Smart apps will often be used alongside some of the robot vacuums. The main benefit of these apps is that you can not only remotely control the appliance itself but you can set custom cleaning schedules, change cleaning modes and in some cases help it to map the boundaries of your home. We would definitely recommend picking a smart vacuum that comes paired with a smart app for your mobile device.

Brush types: Having a spinning brush helps to agitate carpets and make vacuums operate more effectively to suck up dust and debris. On the cheaper end of robot vacuums, some do not have a brush and you may experience lower quality cleaning. We would recommend opting for a robot vacuum cleaner with a spinning brush for optimum cleaning.

Battery life: The average battery life for a smart vacuum, dependent on settings and suction power, is around 40 minutes or so which is ample for getting around the house on a daily basis. If you have a small to medium sized home, this should be ample but consider buying an appliance with a larger battery if you have a large home.

Eufy RoboVac 30C

Price: £219.99

This option has powerful suction, a smart app you can schedule you cleans on, and a good quality vacuum brush. However its navigation is rather basic, and it can get stuck easily. 

Irobot Roomba i7

Price: £599.99 

This option has smart home mapping and even smart speaker integration for easier use. IT is however expensive and requires disposable vacuum bags for emptying. 

Dyson 360 Heurist

Price: £799.99

Our most expensive option comes with incredibly powerful suction, fine tuneable smart home mapping, and manages to clean right to the edges of the room. On the other hand it is very expensive at £799.99 and is also reportedly quite difficult to set up.

Whether you’re looking to buy new or need help with caring for existing appliances our experts are here to answer your questions with useful guides and articles.

If you’re looking to buy a new fridge freezer, check out our article of top buying tips to make sure you get one that suits your needs!

Your fridge freezer is the cornerstone of your kitchen. You keep a lot of your food in there and meals for the days ahead, meaning you need a reliable, high-quality fridge freezer that isn’t going to break down anytime soon. There are many different types of fridge freezers so we’ve put together a buyers’ guide to help you navigate the market and find one just right for you.

The least expensive type of fridge freezer you can get is a freestanding fridge freezer. This means it stands on its own and is not built into your kitchen layout. You can put them where you like in your kitchen and also take it with you if you move house. They aren’t always the easiest appliances on the eye though, so be wary if this is something that matters to you.

These fridge freezers are built into your kitchen layout and usually blend in behind cupboards. This is great for people that don’t want their appliances to show, but it does come at an extra cost in price and slimmer model choice. They can also be a little more expensive to repair, as unlike a freestanding fridge freezer, they have to be taken out from under the counter which makes more work for the engineer. 

Very popular in kitchens today are American style fridge freezers. They tend to be larger, they have a double door, and have an integrated water dispenser and/or ice maker. Water dispensers and ice machines within fridges tend to have filters that will build up with dirt and residue after a while, and these need changing to keep them functioning properly and keep them clean. your manufacturer will have specific recommendations for how to replace your filters, so look these up and remember to change them regularly for good practice.

For a good fridge freezer, your average price is going to be around £300-£600, if you’re just looking for a freestanding model. Entry level models will start at around £200-£250. Premium, integrated or American style models will cost more, often anywhere from £700 to £4000.

Integrated models also cost more because the installation will cost a lot too, to make sure it blends in properly with your kitchen you’re going to have to spend a bit more. Models with smart home connectivity and other features will of course add to the price too, so be sure to research exactly what you need.

You must be precise when measuring the space needed for your fridge freezer as sometimes you need to leave extra space in the back for wiring and to not allow the appliance to overheat etc. so make sure to know the space you’ll need specific to your appliance before you buy and try to install.

Internal storage is usually calculated with all of the shelves and drawers taken out, so your actual storage capacity may be slightly lower than stated, an average freestanding fridge freezer tends to have a capacity of around 200-300 litres, which is more than enough for the average family, this is similar with built-in fridge freezers, but American style fridge freezers have much larger capacities coming in at between 300 and 600 litres. If you have a large family and need a whole lot of space for all your food, this is a great way to go.

Fridge freezers are constantly on to keep your food cool and fresh, so it will naturally have a high energy consumption, but what about when you need to buy a new one? Is it worth looking for a more sustainable model? 

Yes, it is worth it, you can definitely find one that is more efficient on energy. You can do this by looking at the energy ratings for fridge freezers which go from A (best) down to G (worst). An A-rated fridge freezer may cost you around £50-£70 to run per year using 408 kWh per year.

It’s worth finding a fridge freezer that is a good balance between good performance, reliability, and efficiency though, as many of the most efficient models aren’t as good at consistently chilling your food and may be less reliable appliances.

Water and ice dispensers are a great feature to have, allowing you access to fresh, cold water 24/7, and as this feature has been around for a long while now, they are becoming a lot more common and accessible.

Alarms for the door are also very handy as leaving your fridge door open is one way to hurt the performance of your fridge freezer. These alarms will notify you if the doors are left open so you can keep it closed as much as possible. For more info on this read our article on how to maintain your fridge freezer. 

Another annoying chore when it comes to your fridge freezer is having to defrost it when it gets all iced over. This can take a long time and can be a big hassle, so it’s worth looking out for a model with an auto defrost function, or anti frost technology.

Digital thermostat and temperature display is also a very handy feature to watch out for as it is imperative you keep your fridge freezer at optimum temperatures for peak performance. Also, it helps with energy efficiency to keep it at the right consistent temperature. 

Some newer fridge freezers have smart home connectivity too meaning you can link in your home assistants and use your fridge as almost a technological hub of your home. This is a new feature for fridges and will cost a pretty penny but many are willing to pay for such a cool feature. You can plan meals, regulate your food orders and shopping lists, display pictures, and even display what’s in your fridge on the screen on the front using an internal camera.

Whether you’re looking to buy new or need help with caring for existing appliances our experts are here to answer your questions with useful guides and articles.

Need to buy a new tumble dryer? Check out our article covering all the things to look out for while searching for your replacement!

Tumble dryers are key appliances that help you dry your clothes so much quicker than leaving them out. They speed up the washing process a lot and allow us to get a whole lot more done each day. But there comes a time when these machines get old and break down, and eventually, they die. 

That’s where this article comes in. We’re sure it’s been an age since you last bought a tumble dryer as they last so long. So, if yours is broken beyond repair, or you just fancy an upgrade, here’s all you need to know to navigate the market of tumble dryers in the 2020s.

Vented tumble dryers are almost always the least expensive to buy, so if you’re looking for a cheap one, this is the type for you. On the other hand, they tend to cost a lot to run, as well as having the added hassle of having to feed the hose through a window or vent in the wall. 

Condenser tumble dryers don’t need a hose as there is a water collection container. This means you can install it pretty much where you want. You will however need to remember to pour the water out of the filled-up container. They’re also expensive to run, and bad-quality condensers can risk leaking damp air into your home. 

Heat pump tumble dryers don’t need a vent or hose either. They have heat pump technology which makes them both more efficient on costs and energy. You will also need to empty the water tank with heat pump dryers. These do tend to be on the more expensive side, though they are getting cheaper slowly. 

There are also gas tumble dryers which are very cheap to run as they use gas rather than electricity. They do need to be installed by a Gas Safe registered engineer though which could become more costly. Gas dryers are slowly becoming obsolete in the UK.

If you are looking for something cheaper or have a smaller budget, you’re best looking at the vented tumble dryers. There are some great vented tumble dryers out there for just over £150. 

The cheaper condenser dryers can be found for prices of around £250 but they may lack functionality like different modes and cycles that you’d find in more expensive models. 

If you look to spend a bit more, you’ll encounter models with drum sensors that automatically detect the size and dampness of the load and adjust the cycle accordingly. Some may even have a display to tell you how long it has left to run. 

For around £500 you’ll get a great machine. One that is reliable, you’ll have a choice of features and benefits like program modes and different cycle lengths, along with flashy displays. You’ll get more efficient and economical machines for this price range too. 

The most expensive of all the dryers use heat pumps which means they are more efficient. According to some tests they should generally save you around £40-£50 per year on energy costs. You’ll get all the same features and benefits you would for a different type of expensive dryer, but with the energy-saving heat pump technology too.

Manual tumble dryers mean you must set the time by yourself for how long the machine will run. This is a little extra hassle while doing your washing and can mean you leave it running for too long at times. Some people like to pay the extra money for sensors in their drum which allow you to just pop in your clothes and let the machine stop when it senses your clothes are dry. 

One problem with sensor dryers is that they can often stop the cycle too early, meaning you must put it on a fresh cycle to fully dry it. This means you may use more energy, so it’s worth looking for a sensor dryer that is accurate. They are also more expensive. 

Overall, it’s probably best to get a sensor dryer, as most of these dryers are newer, have better features, and they are looking like the main type of dryer going into the future of tumble dryer technology.

Like washing machines, tumble dryers also come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. More to the point there are lots of options for drum capacity. They range from 4KG of capacity to 11KG Most fall within the 4KG-9KG range though. The sizes are as follows: 

4KG = 10 shirts 

5KG = 14 shirts 

6KG = 17 shirts 

7KG = 21 shirts 

8KG = 23 shirts 

9KG = 26 shirts 

These examples are based on the use of the cotton’s mode, as well as only filling up 70% of the drum to allow for air circulation to help with the drying of the clothes.

Larger dryers are good because they can be more efficient if you’re always filling the drum and using it regularly. Great for someone with lots of washing to do. They will also be quick-drying clothes than smaller machines per kilo of washing. If you would struggle to fill the machine, don’t buy a large tumble dryer. This could mean you use too much energy when washing your clothes. They are also more expensive, so it’s always worth evaluating how much you need one of that size. 

Mini tumble dryers are usually cheaper, you can find them for around £140, and because they’re so much smaller they are easier to hide away, meaning the look of your kitchen isn’t compromised. On the other hand, though, they are a lot less efficient than big tumble dryers. Also, almost all the models available are vented, which adds another hassle to installation. The choice is quite limited and within that choice, the features and benefits you get are also limited. Drying can also be uneven or inconsistent from cycle to cycle. If you’re short on space and don’t have much washing, these are a good option. If not go for a normal or larger dryer.

Your tumble dryer could cost you around £23 per year if you choose an efficient model, but other types of machines at different efficiency levels will cost you up to £140 per year to run. Expensive! It’s certainly worth looking at the energy ratings of your dryer. 

So, this is our guide to tumble dryers. This should contain all you need to know to find out what tumble dryer is best for you and how to find the most suitable machine. If you need anything else like repair or appliance protect for your tumble dryer, check out our website at the links below. Until next time. Happy shopping!

Whether you’re looking to buy new or need help with caring for existing appliances our experts are here to answer your questions with useful guides and articles.

If you’re looking to buy a new rice cooker, then read our article on all the features to look out for! 

If you normally cook rice in a pan, you could be missing a trick! Rice cookers make the whole job a lot easier. They have timers so you don’t have to watch the rice the whole time, they cook perfectly each time and generally destress the whole process. Here’s our guide to buying a rice cooker. 

Rice cookers are available in distinct sizes and capacities. Unlike many kitchen appliances, those cookers don’t take greater area than a big vessel. The potential of a rice cooker is measured via way of means of the overall quantity of rice cups it is able to prepare dinner. Electric rice cookers can be bought with capacities starting from 1 to six litres, and a few even greater. While shopping for an electric-powered cooker, the primary aspect to remember is the scale of your own circle of relatives. If you have a small circle of relatives of five to six people, remember shopping for a cooker of three to five litres of potential. Also, remember what number of cups of rice you normally wan

Most electric-powered cookers include a one-contact operation. In this approach, you best must upload rice, enough quantity of water and allow the cooker to do the relaxation. There are greater superior electric powered cookers with virtual controls and capabilities. There are capabilities along with self-timer/postpone begin, automated maintain warm, sluggish cooking, steaming and greater. It’s right to have a self-timer or postpone begin characteristic in an electric-powered rice cooker. It sets the cooker to begin performing at a precise time or even tells you the time left till the rice is prepared to serve. These functions will let you automate matters and you can relax with the confidence that your rice was perfectly made.

Some rice cookers include a see-via lid, at the same time as others have a near match chrome steel lid. A see-via lid is fantastic to have on the grounds that you could test at the rice whilst it’s far cooking.

For cleaning, ensure the cooking bowl and lid are dishwasher safe. You can effortlessly cast off and smooth the cooking bowl and a lid with a sponge scrub and water. Selecting a cooker with chrome steel, aluminium or a non-stick protected cooking bowl is useful in the long run.

This function is located in nearly all rice cookers. The use of the “Automatic Shut-Off” characteristic is that the cooker mechanically toggles the transfer to the “Keep Warm” characteristic as soon as the rice is prepared. In this approach, you mustn’t always maintain tracking the rice at the same time as it’s far cooking.

It’s additionally really well worth thinking about a multi-reason rice cooker in case you are a big own circle of relatives. It is available whilst there’s one piece of equipment that may do more than one task. There are rice cookers that may steam vegetables, meat and fish in conjunction with the rice. Some different cooker fashions additionally will let you warm or simmer soups and prepare dinner pulses.

Most superior electric powered rice cookers include a hard and fast of accessories. Depending on the cooker version you select, you can disprotect a steaming insert tray, measuring cups, steam tray, serving spatula and spoons, all out of the box.

When shopping for a rice cooker, test the assurance provided via way of means of the brand. Most manufacturers provide 2 years of warranty. For distinctive information, talk to the shop companion or discuss with the brand’s respectable website. Like some other tool at home, the rice cooker is crucial kitchen equipment, something that you’ll use for a long time.

Whether you’re looking to buy new or need help with caring for existing appliances our experts are here to answer your questions with useful guides and articles.