What are the key considerations when choosing new laundry or kitchen appliances?

By Hannah Forbes | First published: 12th September 2022

Are you upgrading your kitchen? When planning the new kitchen design and thinking about appliances you need to think beyond the aesthetics. The measurements and colour of the home appliance are important but don't forget that the technology you choose is what will truly define your experience of that space.

You need to ask ‘what can the best kitchen appliances offer?’, ‘what are the most efficient appliances on the market?’, ‘how can Smart appliances make my life easier?’ or ‘how can I find affordable kitchen and laundry appliances?’.

Technology rapidly evolves and the latest kitchen and laundry appliances are designed to be increasingly more user and energy efficient. Upgrading your home appliances can actually enable you to make significant savings in your utility bills. Choosing to rent an appliance over purchasing is a sustainable lifestyle choice that will give you access to leading appliance brands without costly upfront payments. It also enables you to upgrade your products regularly to make the most of the new technology. However, there are so many products on the market and it is important to understand the range of options available.

Here is our guide of some key considerations that could save you time, effort and money.

• Dishwashers

  Sparing you just 30 extra minutes of laboriously scrubbing your crockery, cutlery, pots and pans at the kitchen sink equates to 182.5 hours each year. That is over seven and a half days of your year that could be better spent!

  However, don’t choose a dishwashing machine that doesn’t finish its job- you don’t want to reach for the tea towel as you empty the dishwasher. Some Bosch dishwashers use natural Zeolith technology to dry everything to perfection, even plastic items. Ask our advisors about which of our dishwasher enable Bosch’s PerfectDry function.

  Forbes Rentals would advise that another key consideration when choosing to rent a dishwasher is the noise level of the various dishwashers available to rent. If you have an open plan kitchen, live in an apartment or tend to linger in the kitchen after your dinner parties, choosing a dishwasher with acoustic isolation would be a worthwhile investment. Some of the dishwashers available now hardly emit any sound at all whilst in operation.

  You also need to consider not only the space available but the amount of people in the house. If it is a small household opt for a smaller dishwasher and reduce both your water and energy consumption.

  Dishwashing machines can save you considerable amount of water when compared to handwashing but it is important to choose the right dishwasher for your home and your specific requirements.

• Refrigeration

  Whether you are catering to the dietary requirements of a large family or a smaller household, it is important that you maximise the space in your fridge and freezer. Forbes Rentals’ partnership with Bosch with enables us to offer XXL Bosch fridge freezers for maximum space and storage capacity. Flexible storage configuration will make a huge difference as you can adjust shelves and drawers within the fridge to optimise on the space available.

  When choosing to rent a refrigeration appliance, you also need to make sure you look into the most energy efficient fridges and freezers. As energy prices are soaring, big savings can be made by upgrading your refrigeration appliances. Whilst other home appliances can be switched off, the fridge and freezer are kept running all day so be mindful that newer appliances are considerably more efficient. Bosch’s VitaFresh technology is also a great option for any home as it can help you to keep your produce fresh for longer; saving you money and minimising food waste in these testing times.

• Tumble Dryers

  Tumble dryers are an invaluable addition to any busy household but, especially with the unprecedented rises in living costs, there are some key considerations to bear in mind when it comes to energy efficiency. Forbes offers high performance Bosch tumble dryers that use intelligent technology to sense when the load is perfectly dry, ensuring that you don’t waste energy in over drying. We have Bosch heat pump dryers available for rental. These appliances are the most energy efficient tumble dryers in the range. These machines conserve and re-use heat making them a great energy-saving tumble dryer. Ask our team of experts what would be the most economical, user-friendly and energy efficient tumble dryer for your specific household. They are trained to help you make the right decision.

• Washing Machines

  Washing machines are designed to make your life a little easier, with technology and energy efficiency improving every year. There are now Smart washing machines that you can control remotely from your phone or tablet via the Home Connect App to ensure that you come home to fresh washing. Bosch’s i-Dos auto-dosing machines take intelligent technology to another level. These amazing washing machines can automatically dispense the correct amount of detergent and water and adjust the settings to suit the load’s requirements. By using an I-Dos washing machine you can save up to 7062 litres of water each year and use up to 30 percent less liquid detergent. Don’t waste detergent or money and ensure that your washing is perfectly clean each time.

  Other handy features of Bosch washing machines include an Unlock and Reload function which enables you to add any dropped or forgotten items after you have started the cycle. We have all been there, and now there is a solution.

  With so many washing machines on the market it can feel a little confusing. Forbes’ sales advisors can help talk you through all of the new features available on our rental washing machines and help you choose the right size and model of washing machine for your home.

• Ovens and Hobs

  Whether free-standing or integrated, the oven is the heart of the home Not only do you want to ensure that it can cater for your daily meals, but you also want to choose one that will blend into your kitchen design. Do you want a block oven? A white oven? A ceramic hob? An induction hob? Whatever you opt for, hobs need to be easy to clean and quick to heat and ovens need to have sufficient space to allow for your catering requirements.

  Forbes Rentals can now offer Bosch ovens that will save you from the dreaded oven cleaning! With amazing self-cleaning Pyrolytic cleaning technology the ovens will be heated up to an incredible 480°C, reducing any residue to a fine dust for you to gentle wipe away. A game changer.

  Forbes also has microwave ovens available for rental that you can increase your cooking options. Use a microwave for a quicker and more energy efficient means of whipping up a quick weekday meal. You can also use a microwave with a built-in grill option to free up more space in your oven, or to crisp up your jacket potatoes.

  Don’t forget that Forbes offers free installation of all free-standing and integrated rented kitchen appliances which can help you save a considerable amount of money.

Forbes Rentals advisors can talk you through our kitchen and laundry appliances to help ensure that you make an informed product choice. We offer free delivery, installation and user demonstrations as well as providing a multi-award winning service support. You also benefit from a 10 day cool-off period to ensure that you are entirely happy with your appliance choice.