It was a good year for cleaning appliances in 2011, but 2012 is set to be even bigger. With new technological advances being developed all the time, it’s hard to know which ones are going to make it big. We’ve rounded up a couple of the best to give you an idea of what’s going to be the talk of 2012.

As a brand who’re always looking to the future, Siemens know a thing or two about how to make your life much easier in the coming years. Their innovative i-Dos technology is set to make big waves this year. 

A first for the washing machine market, i-Dos is a precision dosing system which guarantees the right dose of detergent for every wash, no matter how big or small the load is. There’ll be no need to rely on guesswork – this system determines exactly how much water and detergent are needed to make up the right wash solution concentration for that specific load. By leaving all the hard work up to i-Dos, you can end up saving 7,062 litres of water a year, not to mention 11 litres of detergent and an average of 14 minutes off each cycle. Not bad at all. You can find Siemens' i-Dos technology on the 8kg, A+++ rated IQ-700 WM14S890GB washing machine.

Another trend to look out for is washing machines with steam cycles. By reaching higher temperatures, steam can penetrate deeper into fabrics, making it a much more effective way to get your stained clothes spotless. It uses less water too, which means it does its bit for Mother Nature while cutting down on your bills. Keep an eye out for LG’s TrueSteam™ technology, which you’ll find on the F1479FDS6. TrueSteam™ can reduce water consumption by 19% and energy usage by 21% compared to standard LG washing machines. Clean with steam and you won’t look back, trust me.

Ever heard of a self-cleaning condenser tumble dryer? Well, you have now. Self-cleaning condenser systems automatically flush away lint and fluff from the condenser after every cycle, leaving you with nothing to clean. By using the condensed water extracted during the drying cycle, it helps to save a little extra water too. Clever stuff. If you like the sound of that, take a peek at the Bosch Logixx WTW84360GB condenser model.

A self-dosing washing machine, a washer with steam on its side and a self-cleaning tumble dryer – what will they think of next? Keep your ear to the ground and you’ll soon find out what else will set the bar high in 2012.

From time to time we’ve all thought ‘I wonder what I would do if I won the lottery’. I bet your first thought wasn’t ‘I’d get myself a new washing machine.’ Was it?

Well Tuesday saw a young couple from Nottinghamshire take home £45 million in the latest Euromillions draw. It might be coincidence, but they just happened to be discussing the purchase of a new washing machine moments before discovering their life-changing win. £45 million will quite easily get them a brand-new home with a brand-new kitchen, let alone an upgrade on their washing machine!

It got us here in the Appliances Online office thinking about what dream appliances we’d like to get our grubby little mitts on. Personally, mine has got to be the SN26T595GB. It might not be the flashiest model we currently have, but having someone else doing the dishes for a change would be a dream come true. It’s also A+++ rated for efficiency, so you can make sure you aren’t forking out the rest of that £45 mil on electricity bills.

After breaking out the calculators we figured out that a win that big would get you the following in terms of appliances from our lovely site:

9975 x Smeg A2BL-6 Dual Fuel Range Cookers

6684 x LG GS9166AENV American Fridge Freezers

14306 x Samsung WF1124XAC 12kg ecobubble Washing Machine

And

5128 x Neff C67P70N0GB 1000W Microwaves

That’s one heck of a shopping list! What appliances would you buy if you won the next big draw? Let us know in the comments below.

If you don’t already know, the team at Appliances Online are experts in their field. Each category has a designated expert who’s on hand to answer any questions you might have. Intrigued? I know I am. 

This week we’re catching up with cleaning guru, Lucy. (Cleaning includes washing machines, washer dryers, tumble dryers and dishwashers, although you’ll soon see which Lucy’s favourite is).  She’s the product trainer at Appliances Online and what she doesn’t know about appliances isn’t worth knowing. Let’s see what she has to say about the cleaning products of 2012...

A: Hello Lucy. First things first, Appliances Online sell a lot of different types of appliances. What is it about cleaning that peaks your interest?

L: My favourite cleaning appliance is a dishwasher because it’s an appliance I truly appreciate. When you think about it, most people have never lived without a washing machine, oven or fridge freezer, but pretty much all of us have lived without a dishwasher at some point. Now I’ve got a dishwasher, I really value the benefits.

A: A lot of people think a dishwasher is expensive to run, in terms of it wasting a lot of water, but this is a common misconception. Tell us more.

L: Well Amy, that’s what so interesting about dishwashers. Dishwashers on average save between 30 and 40 litres per wash load compared to washing up by hand! 

A: Not to mention, the lack of washing up by hand must keep your hands nice and soft?

L: Absolutely!Dishwashers are much more hygienic because they wash your dishes at around 70°C, killing bacteria – a much higher temperature than your hands could stand. Just think how much bacteria builds up on your sponge if you wash up by hand.

A: So, which dishwashers would you recommend for a first timer like me?

L: Well Amy, that completely depends on your budget. The best models out there have to be Siemens. They’re packed full of features and functions and they’re soo energy efficient, so cheap to run. The IQ-700 SN26T595GB is a favourite, it’s A+++ energy rated and has a HydroSensor to utilise every drop of water. If you want something a little bit more affordable, I’d go for the Hotpoint Aquarius FDL570G. It can hold 12 place settings so it’s suitable for cleaning up after a family of 4 and it even has a 25 minute quick wash for when you’re in a rush.

A: A quick wash is a feature that would definitely come in handy at my house. Thanks for your time Lucy.

Well, I’ve certainly learnt something new. I hope you have too. Keep your eyes peeled for the next expert interview. Who will it be?

If you’re into keeping up appearances, this season’s cooking appliances are not to be missed. Combining effortless beauty with up to the minute technology, these new kids on the block are so nifty they’re worthy of a place in Hyacinth's kitchen.

"The Bouquet residence, the lady of the house speaking!"

No need to shout about your new appliances, with a centrepiece as good looking as the Whirlpool AKR804/IX Island Cooker Hood, it’ll be the first thing the neighbours spot. 

Designer lighting? No. An efficient cooker hood with 3 variable venting speeds.

Candlelit suppers on the cards? Forget about a lengthy wait for dinner. With the immediate response you get from the Siemens IQ-700 EH679ME11 Induction hob, those fillet steaks will be seared in seconds. Your guests will be too busy wondering where you keep the Mercedes, sauna, and room for a pony.

Why not melt some chocolate for dessert and wow them with just how fast this bad boy is?

The periwinkle china’s laid out in the dining room; all that’s left to do is cook the soufflés. Keep your cool, because the Smeg Linea-elite SCP115 electric oven will literally do it for you. There are 10 automatic cooking programmes which know exactly how much heat to use for different dishes so you’ll never be caught short. Simply allow the smart chef function to automatically adjust the temperature and cooking time, and it’ll cook those soufflés perfectly.... do make sure you take all the credit, of course!

The glass finish on this beauty could pass for a bespoke mirror.

And when they've all left, the pyrolytic cleaning fucntion on this oven takes all the hard work away. Just switch it on, and your oven will look brand spanking new again.

They'll never know!

The other night, I had an excellent idea (even if I do say so myself). I shot up from my seat, a little bit like that man who jumped out of the bath and shouted Eureka! (I forget his name), and quickly wrote down ‘The King of Cool’ – the title for my next blog. After checking it hadn’t already been done by a fellow Appliances Online blogger (as we’re all very creative types, don’t you know), I decided to dedicate my post to the fridge freezer that I considered The One – the best on the market, the one I would choose if money were no object – The King of Cool.

Trouble is, I’m having a few issues deciding which one is worthy of the title.  I’m particular fond of the appliances with extra features, like this Whirlpool American Fridge Freezer, which has a built in coffee maker. Plus, I really like the side-by-side doors, because it reminds me of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, which makes me think that behind the doors of this appliance, there could actually be a magical land rather than fresh and frozen food.

Another side-by-side fridge freezer that could possibly have the x-factor is the Siemens KA62DS50GB American Fridge Freezer. With its glass black door design and silver side panels, it certainly looks the part.

But if looks are given precedence, what about the Smeg FAB30YP Fridge Freezer; the retro design wouldn’t look out of place in my favourite film, Grease, and so surely that makes it very cool indeed. Or the Baumatic TITAN5 American Fridge Freezer, which is not only modern and sleek, but also epic in its capacity.

And finally, you have to consider appliances with completely innovative ideas, such as the Samsung RL55VQBRS Fridge Freezer, which has a built-in digital photo frame, so your fridge freezer becomes a feature of the kitchen, rather than just a necessity.

I think there may be too many contenders for title. Help me! Who’s your King of Cool?