2012. It’s newer than 2011 so it must be better. It’s a time to start fresh and make those all important resolutions. You know. The ones you are never going to keep. That gym membership card may as well be an ice scraper for your windscreen for all the use it’s going to get.

What you can’t hear is the sound of a hundred treadmills quietly weeping.

The football transfer window started in January, so I thought I’d share the most recent transfers to team Appliances Online. These newly added players have been released within the last few months and are definitely on the ball, sure to be worth every penny. Let’s take a look at our cooling appliance starting line up....

Siemens IQ-100 KG36EAW40 Fridge Freezer
This stands out because it’s relatively affordable and has amazing stamina. It’s A+++ energy rated, which makes it the most efficient on the market. You’re making an investment which should stand to save you a few quid for the life of the appliance.

But its passing skills need developing.

Samsung RW52DASS1 Wine Cooler
With chiselled looks and a body to die for, this is the perfect appliance for keeping your wine chilled. It’s got a stainless steel finish and has 2 temperature zones, so it’s very flexible on the pitch as white and red wine can be kept at the same time. It also doesn’t make a fuss with the ref, seeing as it’s extremely quiet with a compressor that causes less noise and vibration.

You won’t be ‘whining’ about this model. See what I did there? Ok, I’ll get my coat...

Smeg Left Hand Hinge FAB28YG1 Fridge
A definite presence on the pitch, as you’ll notice the unique strip is a vibrant, bright yellow. Its retro design is very impressive and efficiency has been increased to A++ from the old model of A+. This makes is around 20% more efficient, which gives it the added boost to perform well, and give you your monies worth.

You should see it do the limbo.

Yes, there are a few players to keep your eye on in the coming months. All offer amazing value and are designed to look great and give an amazing performance. No early showers for this lot.

Note. This ‘player’ is not the kind we are talking about.

Welcome to my first ever Energy Saving Blog! It’s very exciting if I do say so myself. Having recently become the new Energy Saving Expert I’m here to tell you about all things green and what that means to you (and your bank balance).

The most important thing to know about energy saving appliances is that they save you money because they take less energy to run. With energy bills on the rise, being energy conscious is a fantastic way to save money and there are tons of energy saving appliances out there to choose from.

More importantly there are many more affordable energy saving appliances now, for example the Zanussi ZWG6161P. It has a clever JetSystem which uses sensors to weigh the load of your clothes at the start of the cycle. It then adjusts the cycle time, water and electricity consumption to suit the load. Not a drop of water or any excess electricity is wasted; saving energy and money!

Another perfect way to save energy is by getting an induction hob, which are also much more affordable than 10 years ago. Take the Indesit VIA640C for instance, it has 4 induction zones, an electronic display and a touch control system; a lovely hob that doesn’t break the bank! Induction is far safer and quicker than standard hobs and because the hob only heats when it is in direct contact with a compatible pan, you never waste any heat.

One simple way to spot energy efficient appliances is to see if they have been recommended by the Energy Saving Trust. Any cooking appliances that are recommended can save you up to £43 a year. And for dishwashers you can save as much as £48 annually and it only costs around £7 to run a cycle compared to an old inefficient dishwasher.  In all that’s £91 saved in one year on energy bills. £91 to spend on whatever you like.... a spa day, a meal out... anything you fancy!

This is only a taster into my best ways to save energy in your home. So make sure you have a read of my next blog to see how you can keep track of every penny and pound! Until next time.

We’re all feeling the January bite. The month is draaaaaaging to say the least, so I’m going to let you in on how to make the most of your money, and more specifically the energy you use.  There are lots of affordable washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers with features that cut down on the energy and water you use on washing. It’s an extremely clever way to make the pounds last longer and pennies go further.

Eco cycles lower the temperature of the water and slow down the wash action. The cycle does take longer, but it saves energy as the stains are slowly soaked out, meaning less power is used. It’s similar to driving your car at 30mph rather than 70mph; it might take you longer to get there but you’ll save tons of petrol. If your washing machine doesn’t have this function there are lots of affordable models which do, such as the Hotpoint HV6L105P which will save you 50% to 70% in energy usage.

Another top class function which saves you bags of energy and money is the fuzzy logic system, which weighs your load of washing and then measures exactly how much water is needed. You’ll never waste a drop of unnecessary water using the WM14P160GB. You could go all out and look into a Siemens model which has some of the most revolutionary sensor technology, such as the WM142797GB. Their machines not only measure the amount of water needed, but the detergent too! So you never use too much detergent making it last longer and of course saving you money.

You could also take a look at washing machines, dishwasher or tumble dryers which have a delay timer, so you can run them over night. This lets you take advantage of cheaper electricity rates at off-peak times. It’s a feature that comes on a lot of models but the AWOE9140 is particularly fab, it’s affordable and has an impressive 14 wash programmes!

No doubt by now you’ve landed yourself a bargain in the January sales, whether it’s a flat screen telly, a corner sofa or a whole new wardrobe. I don’t blame you for braving the crowds either – January is typically the month for counting the copper, so it’s always good to find a solid gold deal or two. 

If you came back from shopping with bags heaving with new clothes, the last thing you want to do is let them go to pot within a few weeks of wearing them. This can happen if your washing machine or tumble dryer isn’t equipped to take extra care of those different fabrics. So, with that in mind, let’s have a gander at what to look out for when you’re washing and drying those new outfits.

First things first, check the clothes care labels. It makes sense to treat delicate items... delicately. If you keep putting your brand spanking new jumper on a red hot wash with a high spin speed, you’re going to end up ruining the poor thing. Make sure you pick a Wool/Handwash cycle for your woollens and silks. If your washing machine doesn’t have this or you’re in the market for a new model, take a look at the range of washing machines here that do. One in particular caught my eye – the Hotpoint AQ113D697I. This one’s Wool cycle is endorsed by Woolmark themselves, and it even comes with specialised programmes for coloured, white and dark clothes.

If you’ve recently invested in a load of gym or sportswear, look out for special sports cycles like the Sports Wear programme on LG’s F1281TD washing machine. These cycles are designed to take extra care of breathable fabrics, while giving a deep, efficient clean.

Last but certainly not least – tumble drying. There’s nothing worse than taking new clothes out of the dryer to find them creased and crinkled to within an inch of their lives. So, it’d be a good idea to take advantage of sensor drying. By using special sensors in the drum, models with this technology stop automatically once the right dryness level has been reached, making sure your new load of clothes are never over-dried. Don’t forget anti-crease and easy iron programmes too – these can help to prevent tangling and deep creases. You can find these lovely features on the Beko DCU8230.

These little tips may seem insignificant, but they can make a big difference when it comes to looking after your glad rags.

FAQ – No, it doesn’t stand for fantastic amazing quiches, but frequently asked questions. As I specialise in all things cool both in work and at home, I’ve taken it upon myself to answer some of the most commonly asked questions on cooling appliances.

Is it frost free?
A popular question, but one that is extremely important especially if it’s an upright freezer you’re looking at. As ice builds up over time, a non frost free appliance will consume more and more energy to overcompensate turning a high A+ rating into a low D rating, and as the king of cool this makes me very sad indeed. With frost free, you not only put an end to the days of defrosting but you can forever boast about your high energy rating among friends over dinner. I know I do. Seriously.

Are the shelves removable?
The majority of all fridges and freezers have removable shelves; pull out drawers and door shelves. Not only do these removable parts make it extremely easy to fill and clean, but you can fully clean every inch of the fridge and freezer leaving no corner unturned. It’s perfect for the ‘Monica Gellers’ like me who can’t sleep at night knowing there’s mess to be cleaned!

Is the door reversible?
The majority come with reversible doors, but unfortunately some appliances don’t. It’s more common with built in/under models and gives you the freedom to have it fit into your existing space. I’m constantly changing my mind on the layout of every room in my home, so knowing that your appliance has a reversible door means it can fit any place you want it to.

Does it have an internal light?  
You don’t notice it when it’s there, yet you will when it’s gone. The internal light will illuminate your foods making it far easier to creep downstairs for a midnight snack. The traditional halogen bulbs are slowly getting replaced by a brighter and cooler LED light, which also saves on energy consumption and pennies too. Another topic to share with friends over dinner. Lights are more common in the fridge and rare to find in the freezer.

Have a burning chilling question you need answered by someone in the cooling appliance know how? Not to worry, you can either leave me a comment and I’ll get right back to you, or visit our Q&A section.