Home Appliances

Incorporating a hodgepodge of appliances into your kitchen and bathroom can be a decorating nightmare. Hiding your kitchen and bath appliances gives your home a less-cluttered, more natural look and frees up valuable counter space for food prep in the kitchen and washing in the bathroom. Whatever your budget, it's possible to hide your appliances to create the decorative look and uncluttered space you crave.

Instructions

1 Disguise large kitchen appliances behind closed doors. Attaching cabinetry panels to your appliances can help them disappear into your decorating scheme.
2 Hide countertop microwaves, mixers, toasters and other small kitchen appliances inside kitchen cabinets. Make sure the microwave can be pulled onto the counter before using, to provide adequate ventilation.
3 When cabinet space is unavailable, hide small kitchen appliances in a rolling kitchen island. Lock the wheels for an island in the center of your kitchen. Roll the island to a counter near outlets when you are ready to use the appliances.
4 Use a microwave cabinet or cart where space is available and use the storage space for small kitchen appliances. If the microwave area is an open space and you'd like to disguise it, throw a pretty cloth over it when it's not in use, or prop a picture or a sign in front that can easily be removed when you use the microwave.
5 Hide large bathroom appliances, such as water heaters or washer-dryer units, behind a folding screen that is easily removed for access.
6 Disguise smaller bathroom appliances like blow-dryers, curling irons, and electric razors in a cabinet. Place the cabinet as close to an outlet as possible for ease of appliance use.
7 Use creative appliance storage in larger bathrooms. Add a dresser or chest just for blow-dryers, curling irons and other items. Use an armoire for even more storage.

When an appliance breaks down beyond repair, you may not simply throw the item in the trash can or set it on the curb and wait for garbage pickup. Because household appliances often carry toxic waste, such as Freon and mercury, they pose a danger to the environment if placed in a landfill. Recycle your broken appliances. By recycling you will cut down on landfill use, reduce pollution and lower energy consumption.

Instructions

1 Contact your utility company to determine if they have a rebate program for recycling household appliances. Some utility companies offer a rebate for large appliances.
2 Contact your local waste removal municipality to see if they offer curbside appliance recycling. Some local municipalities offer a day of the week for large recycling pick up.
3 Locate a local appliance recycling facility if your area does not offer curbside pick up. Use the directory on Earth911.com to find a center in your area.
4 Prep the appliance for recycling. Clean the appliance. Remove any food items, lint or other disposables.
5 Remove the doors. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the screws holding the door in place on large appliances like refrigerators, washing machines and dryers. Removing the door will prevent small children or animals from trapping themselves inside of the appliance.
6 Ensure all of the parts are included. Check to make sure the drawers, shelves, lint traps or any other removable part is inside of the appliance.
7 Place the appliance on the curb outside of your home on the designated day if you are using curbside recycling removal.
8 Take the appliance to a recycling center. Use a truck or small trailer to transport the appliance. Get assistance from another person to lift the appliance onto the truck or trailer. Ensure the appliance is secure and no fluids are leaking before transporting it to the center.

Electrical appliances are not just bulky additions to a landfill. These items are hazardous to the environment when disposed of incorrectly. Taking the time to recycle appliances that no longer work properly will prevent refrigerants and mercury from leaking into the atmosphere and keep your appliance from becoming a cumbersome addition to already overcrowded dumps.

Instructions

1 Determine whether the appliance is in good working condition or needs only minor repairs. If this is the case, list the item on websites such as Craigslist or Freecycle where others in your community may look for just such an appliance. You may also donate working appliances to Goodwill or the Salvation Army.
2 Contact the dealer of the appliance. Whether the appliance is still working or not, the original dealer may have detailed information on how to recycle the appliance properly. In some cases, they may pick up the item for you. The retailer that you purchased the appliance from may be able to offer this service as well.
3 Contact your electric utility and inquire about bounty programs for electrical appliances. Most programs have restrictions on the size and type of appliances that can be accepted if this type of program exists.
4 Locate a recycling center in your area that accepts electrical appliances. Information provided by the Steel Recycling Institute or United States Environmental Protection Agency may be able to help you find a nearby site that can accept your appliance.

Purchasing new appliances can be exciting and frustrating. Focus attention on your top picks by using a rating system that will identify your needs, the necessary features of various models, the appliance efficiency and reliability, and, of course, the price range. Use online searches, consumer reports and blog sites; customer comments; and even the help line of the various manufacturers before making your final decision. Appliances are long-term investments, and a little homework in advance can save huge headaches later.

Instructions

1 Over-sized appliances waste energy and money. The appliance you buy should suit your needs.
Size should be the first factor when considering purchasing new appliances. Determine the space available for the new equipment before making a selection.
Measure the height and width of the space with a metal tape measure. Draw a sketch of the area, and write all of the measurements on the sketch.
2 Features and use will be the next step in eliminating some models.
Refrigerators with ice/water dispensers, side-by-side doors, freezer drawers or trim kits for a built-in look are features to consider.
Electric or gas ranges and cook tops should be purchased depending on the amount of use the appliance will have. Added features include spill-proof tops, warming drawers, and thermal or convection ovens.
Microwaves can be built-in or countertop models and may combine convection oven cooking and built-in exhaust fans.
Dishwashers and laundry appliances should be purchased to meet the needs of the household. Added features can include sound insulation, digital delay starters, timers and light load capabilities.
3 Energy efficiency can be determined with most new electric appliances by checking for the Energy Star label and reviewing the Energy Guide Rating Sheet attached to the appliance. The rating is an estimate of the cost to operate that particular appliance. Ratings are based on the average use of an electric appliance.
Gas appliances are generally more efficient and cost less to run than comparably sized electric appliances. The most efficient dishwashers and clothes washers use less water and will have an energy-saving setting.
4 Price seems to be the easiest method to rate appliances until you realize that this is a long-term investment and all of the associated costs need to be considered. With an estimated life expectancy of 10 to 15 years, the least expensive appliance may cost more to run and to maintain.
The most expensive appliances may not be the most efficient or the most practical. Commercial ovens look great and cook well but are seldom well insulated and can have very expensive repair costs. Side-by-side refrigerators are efficient and easy to use but consume 10 to 15 percent more energy than a freezer on top model.
Check the Energy Star Rebate Locater online to see if your new appliance will qualify for a rebate or tax credit.
5 Make your top three selections for each appliance and visit their websites. Websites list estimated prices, and many have charts for additional features available with each model. Brand name appliances have consumer comments and will list repair concerns for most of the products.
Check independent consumer reports on each of the appliances to determine what to expect from customer service calls.

Three-phase appliances can be difficult or impossible to integrate into a home-electrical system. Energy providers do not typically hook up three-phase power for normal residential customers. Nevertheless, you may purchase a three-phase power converter to run a three phase appliance off of your single phase electrical service. These converters are expensive and the expense may not be justified. These considerations should be made before purchasing any three-phase appliance for use in a single-phase electrical system.

Instructions

1 Determine the exact power requirements of your three-phase grill. Based on these requirements, you will have to choose a three-phase converter that will allow your grill to start safely and operate smoothly and at full power. Consult a service technician familiar with your appliance for advice.
2 Install or isolate a dedicated circuit for the appliance and inverter. All large home appliances with large power requirements should have a separate protected circuit, and this type is no exception. If you are unfamiliar with your home-electrical system, consult an electrician to help you determine whether you need to install an additional dedicated circuit for your three phase grill. Do not attempt to run a three-phase appliance on a branch circuit shared with other appliances, receptacles or devices.
3 Once you have a circuit available that will meet the power needs of your converter and grill, the converter must be installed. Hooking up your converter can be a complicated and difficult procedure. Depending on the type of converter you will be using, there will be different power-supply requirements, and the converter will be hard-wired, instead of simply being plugged in. Hiring a qualified electrician or service technician may be your best option to ensure that your installation is done safely and correctly.

Home appliances saw exciting changes during the 1950s. Manufacturers turned their attention to the home after the war and offered technological improvements and innovations in appliances to encourage new purchases for the home. But arguably, the biggest change and buying stimulus in 1950s home appliances involved the introduction of color.

Colors

In 1954, General Electric introduced colored home appliances, in addition to the standard white and chrome. The colors ranged from vibrant red, blue, yellow, turquoise and flamingo pink, to their lighter or pastel counterparts, such as pink and light blue. Colors could be matched or intermixed, and were available for both small and large appliances. Advertising of the time followed suit, selling these new colored appliances through vibrant full-color ads, in contrast to earlier black and white ads.

Small Appliances

The kitchen was the center of domestic activity in the 1950s, and small appliances of the time made preparation for family meals and general entertaining easier. Hand and stand mixers were essential to the 1950s kitchen, as was the blender. In fact, blenders were so necessary due to the popularity of the 1950s cocktail party that some were built into counters in newer kitchens. Toasters, kettles and coffee percolators were also staples in most 1950s kitchens.

Large Appliances

Stoves of the 1950s often featured a double oven and broiler; some were side-by-side with a range on top, while others were built-in with a separate counter range. Refrigerators of the time often featured the freezer on the bottom, but a top freezer was also popular. Still, many 1950s kitchens had smaller refrigerators and a separate "ice box," or freezer. Washers and dryers were increasingly available in the 1950s, but they were not staples of the time due to their high price tags.

Modern Retro Application

"Retro" style is growing in popularity, and 1950s home appliances are in high demand. Vintage 1950s appliances can be found at estate and garage sales, as well as through online auction websites. Modern appliances with the "retro" look, however, are widely available from major appliance manufacturers.

Appliances aid in daily tasks and help you complete home chores more efficiently and with better quality. All homes do not have the same types of appliances because there are so many, but across the board most homes do have appliances that are found in every residence for convenience.

Large Kitchen Appliances

The kitchen is a primary location for appliances both large and small. Larger kitchen appliances include refrigerators and freezers to store food for days or weeks at a time. Kitchens also include cooking appliances such as ovens and stoves to heat and prepare food, from simple dishes to exquisite dinners. Appliances such as dishwashers and garbage disposals aid in cleanup and make life easier.

Small Kitchen Appliances

Small kitchen appliances are mainly luxuries and vary greatly from one home to another. They are portable and can be transported easily and stored away when not in use. These include hand mixers, coffee pots, toasters, crock pots, food processors and blenders. They are lower cost and are frequently offered in colors that suit any kitchen decor and style.

Living Room

The living room is primarily a location for electronics and furniture as opposed to appliances but the primary appliance you will generally find in a living room is a vacuum cleaner. These come in both bagged and bagless varieties and the price spectrum ranges from less than $100 up to $1,000 for higher-end models. Individuals with carpet, instead of hardwood, might also get use out of a steam cleaner to lift dirt and grime, especially in the event of spills.

Other

Some homes have washers and dryers for clothes, which can range in size from portable apartment size to full-sized units built for large families. Dryers are available in both gas and electric varieties, depending on the home's structure. Some homes also employ the use of humidifiers or dehumidifiers to increase the quality of the air. Homes with wood stoves, for example, benefit from humidifiers, and homes near bodies of water may need to remove some of the humidity in the air with a dehumidifier.