Did you know that extremely high temperatures (as well as low temperatures) can ruin your cooling appliances? Fridges, freezers, combined fridge freezers, wine coolers, beer fridges, chest freezers and so on can all be at risk in the summer. The problem is quite a fundamental one in that these appliances were never designed to operate in temperatures that lie outside the ‘normal’ range. Take a…

Springtime is upon us and this can only mean one thing: it’s barbecue time, ideally in the garden with family and friends. However, with the British weather being so notoriously unpredictable, organising a BBQ garden party always is a risky undertaking. You need to have a Plan B just in case it starts tipping down just at the wrong time. Cooking indoors may not have…

 If you have a large family and plenty of laundry, a tumble dryer may sound like a great investment. Interestingly, the technology used for these kitchen appliances has come on in leaps and bounds in the last few years, meaning there is now more product choice than ever. Vented tumble dryers Traditionally, tumble dryers are vented. A flexible hose attaches to the back or…

Spring is on the doorstep and that can only mean one thing: it’s spring cleaning time. In the kitchen, there are 5 areas that you should lavish particular attention on: 1 - Freshen up your fridge Start with a stock take and throw out any old jars and packets of food lurking at the back of the fridge. Next, wipe down all the shelves using…

Did you know that the worktop is the single most used surface in your kitchen? When it comes to redesigning the area, the kitchen worktop will be a focal point of the room, providing a large and practical surface area for food preparation, cooking and storage. And, of course, it needs to look good too. While there’s a vast choice available in terms of materials…

Cleaning the oven has to be one of, if not the most unpopular kitchen chores. According to the Good Housekeeping Institute, you should clean your oven every month, and wipe down the oven door at least once a week. If you don’t fancy getting your hands dirty, there are many professional oven cleaning companies who will happily carry out this task for you, and the…

Cleaning your gas hob shouldn’t be a huge job as long as you keep on top of it on a regular basis. The important thing for all kitchen care and maintenance regimes is to use the right products and the right techniques to get the best results in the minimum of time. Hob cleaning is sure to be no one’s favourite kitchen job but it’s…

Classic country kitchens epitomise the heart of the home. If you’re thinking of redesigning your kitchen, this is the perfect opportunity to go traditional. Even if your current kitchen is perfectly OK but you wish it had more of a farmhouse feel, it’s not too late. The great thing about a farmhouse kitchen is that it’s not precious – you can combine old and new,…

Aphrodisiacs are named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. Many foods are associated with love and fertility, having been held sacred since ancient times. There’s also hard scientific evidence to suggest that some foods can actually put you in the mood for love. With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, now may be the perfect time to take a look at the top 10 libido-boosting foods…

When it comes to fitted wardrobes, there’s really no contest. On a practical, everyday level, nothing beats the benefits of having custom-built cupboard space that’s tailored to your requirements as well as the available space in the room. If you’re not sure why freestanding wardrobes are second best, read on. Here’s a reminder of the top 5 reasons why you should consider having built-in wardrobes…