Buying guides

The honest guide to buying appliances

Plain English advice from people who've decoded the spec sheets so you don't have to.

Freestanding, built-in or drawers: which dishwasher your kitchen can take

The showroom offers freestanding, integrated, slimline and drawers as four things to choose between. Two of those words are about size and two are about cabinetry, and the order you settle them in decides the shortlist.

10 min read·Updated Aug 2026

Freezers

Chest or upright: which freezer your house can actually take

One of these buys litres with floor space, the other with wall height. That single difference decides the price, the retrieval, and whether it can live in the garage - and the garage is the question most people get wrong.

10 min read·Updated Aug 2026

Rangehoods

Ducted or recirculating: where your rangehood's air actually goes

One of these takes the steam out of your house. The other filters the grease and hands the air back. Everything else about a rangehood - width, airflow, noise - follows from which one your kitchen can take.

10 min read·Updated Aug 2026

Ovens

Pyrolytic, catalytic, or neither: choosing an oven by how it cleans

Twelve black glass doors look identical in a showroom. How the oven cleans itself is the one spec that changes its construction, its cavity, and how you'll spend a Sunday - so start the decision there.

10 min read·Updated Aug 2026

Cooktops

Induction, gas or ceramic: which cooktop your kitchen can take

The cooktop decision gets framed as a cooking-style question. It's mostly a supply question - what your kitchen can already give the appliance. Here's how to settle it before you shortlist.

9 min read·Updated Aug 2026

Energy

Energy costs by state: how much appliances really cost to run across Australia

Electricity tariffs vary by state, so the same fridge costs noticeably more to run in SA than in TAS. Here's what common appliances cost per year, and how the maths changes where you live.

6 min read·Updated Apr 2026

Dryers

Heat pump vs condenser vs vented dryer: how each actually works

Three very different technologies hiding behind the word 'dryer.' Here's what distinguishes them in real use, and which one makes sense for your household.

6 min read·Updated Apr 2026

Fridges & Freezers

How to measure your kitchen for a new fridge

Getting the measurements right before you buy saves you an expensive return trip. Here's what to measure, in which order, and where people consistently go wrong.

6 min read·Updated Apr 2026

Dishwashers

What to look for in a dishwasher: 7 specs that actually matter

Most dishwasher specs are noise. Here are the seven that actually affect how clean your dishes get, how much water you use, and what you pay to run it.

6 min read·Updated Apr 2026

Fridges & Freezers

French door vs bottom mount fridge: which suits your household?

The price gap has narrowed, so the decision is now a real one. Here's the honest breakdown of which fridge style actually suits most Australian households.

9 min read·Updated Apr 2026

Washing Machines

Front loader vs top loader: which is right for you?

The honest answer depends on your laundry setup, household size, and how you do your washing. We break down the real differences.

7 min read·Updated Mar 2026

Energy

How to actually read Australian energy star ratings

The star rating on the label isn't the whole story. Here's what the numbers really mean, how to compare across models, and what to actually look at.

6 min read·Updated Mar 2026