There’s a new energy label in town and this one is much better! Appliances have come on leaps and bounds, and now the Energy Label’s up to scratch too. Here’s my guide to what the new features mean on the new label, so you’ll know what to look out for...

You can see in the top section of the page the colour coded arrows now go from A+++ to D, rather than A to G. This is because appliances have become extremely efficient, giving you a more accurate rating.

The lower section of the label is where the biggest shake up has happened; it changes depending on what type of appliance you’re interested in. We’re looking at washing machines.

This shows you the annual energy consumption –  the old label only showed the energy consumption per cycle. This way you get a much better estimation of how much energy it uses and how much that will cost you annually.

1.This is the annual water consumption, which is another big factor when choosing a washing machine. Remember to take the size of the machine into account. If you’re getting a spacious 12 kg drum size this will obviously use more water than a 5 kg model. So compare it against other 12kg models to see how efficient the water usage is.

   2. This is the Rated Capacity which tells you how many clothes you can fit into the machine on a full load run on a 60°C or 40°C wash. 8kg is a good size drum for a family of 4 and can fit in a Queen Size duvet.

   3. This measures how efficient the Spin Drying is. When the cycle is nearly over the machine spins faster to get excess moisture out of your clothes, and is usually the least efficient part of the wash. With this figure you’re able to see exactly how efficient it is.

   4. The figure tells you how much noise is made during the washing phase. To give you an idea of averages, 60 dB is similar to the amount of noise made by an ordinary conversation, which shouldn’t disturb you while it’s running.

   5. The last box is the amount of noise made while the washing machine is spinning which is the loudest part of the cycle. It’s the time when you have to turn the TV up to hear over its grumbling. If you like to watch your programmes in peace, look out for dB rating lower than 70.

Long ago in an era gone by, there was a small movement called feminism...I don’t know if you missed it but the makers of these trousers clearly did. Yes this label really was sewn into a pair of trousers sold in a well known high street store.

Should we women make a bra with a 10 point instruction manual on how to remove it sewn into the seam? How about a nightie with ‘I’m not in the mood tonight dear,’ emblazed on the front? How well do you think it would go down? 

When it comes to his turn to do the dishes, bubbles go flying, a plate or two is broken, too much washing up liquid is used, and the kitchen ends up looking like a Magaluf foam party! It all goes so wrong they never have to do it again...do they think we were born yesterday?!?!?! Well, no more ladies...

In the spirit of Mother’s Day and the revival of feminism, I declare this weekend a laundry free zone! Put your feet up, direct your other half to the washing machine – draw him a map if he needs one – and let him do it for a change.

There’s no doubt having energy efficient appliances in your home can save you loads on your energy bills. Almost half of the electricity consumed in your home comes from your kitchen appliances, so it’s really important to choose the most efficient ones around. And how exactly do you do that? Have a read and find out...

The most obvious solution is to choose a model with an A rating, no matter what the appliance, but there are other features and functions to look out for.

Dream Steam
One feature I really want on my washing machine is a steam function. It’s perfect if you just want to freshen up a top or dress before a night on the town. Steam particles are smaller than water droplets, so they can penetrate your clothes quicker and more effectively. Steam cycles also use a lot less water than standard washes. The LG 6 Motion F1443KDS , which has an 11kg capacity, uses 29% less water than a standard 8kg washing machine. If that isn’t enough, steam reaches higher temperatures than water, giving your clothes a much more hygienic wash.

Auto Off
Turning your appliances off – it’s easy enough to say, but who really does it every time the laundry’s done? With the Auto Off feature the machine switches itself off, so no standby electricity is used. Although standby electricity usage has decreased a lot over the past few years, it still costs you around £80 PER APPLIANCE. So having one that turns itself off saves you some serious cash.

Fuzzy Logic
This isn’t like trying to understand Einstein’s Theory of Relativity after having a few, but a very clever way of saving you electricity and water. You’ll find it on most appliances, however on dishwashers it’s called ‘automated half load’, and on tumble dryers it’s called ‘sensor drying’. The machine uses sensors to decide what’s needed to get the job done. The more advanced washing machines, for example, sense how heavy your load is, the type of material and how dirty it is. The washer then works out the length, spin speed, temperature, and amount of water and energy needed for that specific load. Pretty clever.

Fuzzy Logic on all machines basically means that the optimum amount of water and electricity is used, and not a drop or...erm... spark is wasted.

So, when you’re next searching for a new appliance, look out for these features. I promise you, the amount of money you’ll save on bills will be well worth it!

Look out for our first ever blog competition for Mother's Day, coming Wednesday 7th March. You'll be be in with a chance of winning some lovely prizes courtesy of dotcomgiftshop.

I am quite new to laundry products but have been pretty excited to write about the LG 6 Motion TM washing machine, mainly because it’s at the top of what washing machines have to offer.

The dream steam function, well Steam Direct Drive TM to be exact, washes your clothes in a whole new way. Steam particles, I’ve recently found out, are smaller than water droplets and penetrate your clothing better. They also reach higher temperatures so the wash is more hygienic. And it saves you money on your energy bills as it uses 29% less water than a standard 8kg washing machine, which smoothly brings me onto its other huge benefit....

The F1443KDS has a huge belly! 11kg is enough room for 55 t shirts which saves time as you’ll get all your washing done in one go. So if you have a big family or just like spending the least amount of time on your laundry as possible, this is the model for you.

But the best thing about the LG 6 Motion washing machine is that it’s designed to wash all types of materials and clothing, without damaging them. Have your clothes ever stretch or become misshapen? Or bobbles have crept all over your tops and dresses? That’s probably because you were either using too higher temperature or that the spin speed is too fast. But don’t worry this washing machine has loads of features and programmes which take the confusion out of washing.

The Swing wash is ideal for your delicates as it uses a heart shaped motion to keep your laundry blow the water line and uses a more gentle spin speed. Your delicates are soaked clean rather than spun into a misshapen, untimely death.

LG have come up with a genius way of making sure your clothes aren’t creased when you take them out of the washing machine. It’s called Stepping and works by rotating the drum and stopping repeatedly so that your clothes don’t get pasted to the inside of the drum.

Overall it’s a top notch washing machine which cleans your clothes quickly, efficiently and quietly. If you want to have a closer look at this brill washing machine then click here. P.S it has a 10 year guarantee so you know it’s built to last.

If you’re someone who loves nothing more than a cosy night in, and earning brownie points by preparing the perfect Valentine’s day dinner then it’s best to do it right. Have a read to see which treats tickle your fancy and the best way to cook them.

Melted chocolate...

A Valentine’s classic, whether it’s the heavenly chocolate-dipped strawberries or your own more creative way of using melted chocolate, it’s the perfect treat to have on your romantic evening. The most traditional, (yet crafty!) way of melting chocolate, is putting it in a dish over boiling water, but we’ve got a hob so gentle, that you can melt chocolate straight onto the pan- the induction hob. If you want the full effect go for a model which has a lot of power levels, like the Neff T43T20N0. You’ll have batch of melted chocolate goodness in no time.

Pie Perfection

You’ll impress your other half trillions by slaving away and cooking the perfect heart shaped pie on Valentines; but with the new cooking functions available, it’s actually a lot easier than you think. You could cook a hearty steak and ale pie, or a sweet cherry one.

Just make sure you cook it in an oven which has top, bottom and a fan element. This is because the fan cooks the pie through evenly while the top element browns the top of the pie and the bottom one crisps the base. Or you could have a look at an oven which has a pizza function which uses the fan and bottom element in a similar way. The Smeg SCP112PZ8 has all these fun features.

Slow cooked

If you’re cooking for someone who loves a more traditional dish, you absolutely have to use the slow cook function. You’ll cook the most delicious slowed cooked beef in red wine stew.  It’s also one of the easiest ways of cooking; all you do is pop all the ingredients in a dish and put it in the oven. All the flavours and juices mix together to create beautifully flavoursome and succulent food. And because it’s slow cooked there’s hardly any chance of you overcooking the stew. Take a look at the E0C68000X to get your perfectly cooked stew today.

If you want some more tips on the best oven functions for different types of cooking, have a read of my Buying Guide.