Buying Advice
Advice on choosing household appliances: what to look for, the features worth paying for, running costs, what to avoid and which brands last the longest.
Showing 21 to 30 of 107 guides
American-style fridge freezers delivery warnings
American-style fridge freezers are popular for their storage capacity, but they are among the most challenging white goods to have delivered. Before ordering one online, it is worth understanding the delivery small print -…
5 min read
430 views 4 comments Read guide
What’s the difference between drum sizes in washing machines?
Not all washing machine drum capacities are equal - and this is an important point that is easy to miss when comparing specifications. A 7kg drum from one manufacturer may hold noticeably more or…
5 min read
1,854 views 6 comments Read guide
Washing machine drum sizes
Washing machine drum sizes have grown considerably over the decades, and the range of capacities now available can make choosing the right size confusing. Bigger is not automatically better - and for many households,…
6 min read
1,219 views 4 comments Read guide
Condenser dryer or vented dryer which is best?
There are now three types of tumble dryer to choose from: vented, condenser, and heat pump. Each has genuine advantages and disadvantages. This guide explains the differences - including reliability and repair implications -…
6 min read
1,203 views 14 comments Read guide
Cold fill verses Hot fill washing machines
This page summarises the key points of the debate around cold fill versus hot and cold fill washing machines. For many decades, all washing machines used both a hot and a cold water supply.…
5 min read
959 views Read guide
Pros & Cons of washer dryer v separate
This is a summary guide to the pros and cons of a combined washer dryer versus separate washing machine and tumble dryer. For a more detailed look at the topic, including reliability comparisons, see…
4 min read
3,131 views 6 comments Read guide
Distance selling regulations - returning appliances
When buying appliances online in the UK, consumers have the right to cancel and return goods under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013. This article focuses on the right to…
7 min read
746 views 14 comments Read guide
Leaving a fridge or freezer to stand after being transported
Yes - a fridge or freezer should be left to stand before being plugged in after delivery or moving. Failing to do so can damage the appliance. However, how long it needs to stand…
3 min read
3,654 views Read guide
Which washing machines to avoid
Buying a washing machine that turns out to be unreliable, poorly built, or - surprisingly - incapable of washing clothes properly is a costly mistake. Here is what independent testing and decades of industry…
10 min read
1,155 views 4 comments Read guide
Choosing lowest energy consumption washing machine
With energy costs high, buying the most efficient washing machine seems like an obvious priority. But efficiency ratings tell only part of the story. This guide gives a more complete picture of what actually…
9 min read
286 views Read guide