Now that the dust has almost settled at your new home, it’s time to equip your home. Getting the right appliances can make a huge impact on the next few years of your life. The difference between appliances that can improve your life and appliances that can add stress lies in a few factors.
Though it’s easy to get lost in the sales pitch and the various discounts bombarded at you when you step into an electronics shop, it pays to keep a clear mind to find the right appliances that can serve you well for the long-term.
Before you splash out hundreds of ringgit on new household appliances, here are some tips on how to choose the best appliance:
1. How to choose the best air conditioner
Malaysia is known for its unbearable heat which has prompted many households to install air conditioning at home. However, getting a cheap one to just cool down could lead to health problems for you down the road.
According to Dr. Mark Mendell, an epidemiologist from the California Department of Public Health, a badly maintained air conditioning system can cause asthma, allergies, and sick building syndrome (such as nasal congestion, breathing problems, headaches, fatigue and irritated skin).
Sounds familiar? Here are some important air conditioner features that doesn’t just keep your house cool and comfortable, but also keep you healthy!
Nanoe-G with dust sensor is perfect for when the haze season hits the country as it can detect harmful airborne particles present in haze such as PM2.5.
However, constant exposure to air conditioning can lead to dry skin, and no amount of moisturiser will be able to reverse the effect. To minimise that, avoid direct airflow from the air conditioner. The Sky Series boasts the Radiant Cooling technology which ensures evenly distributed cool air in a room, as the air is directed at the ceiling. This cools down the room evenly and naturally.
2. How to choose the best television
Today, 4K TV is all the hype, which simply means four times the resolution of a full HD. When choosing a good 4K TV, there are some important factors to consider to get the best picture quality.
The Viera 4K Pro Ultra HD Televisions by Panasonic has been packed with state of the art technology to make it the best centrepiece for your living/entertainment area. Here are some of the flagship features you can find in a Viera 4K Pro Ultra HD televisions:
3. How to choose the best robotic vacuum cleaner
“I love to spend my weekends sweeping and vacuuming my home!” said no one ever!
In today’s fast-paced world, time equals money. Household chores? We simply don’t have the time for them, which is why robotic vacuum cleaners are becoming more and more popular especially among urban dwellers. However, a common complaint is that these vacuum cleaners are unable to reach tricky corners and clean the edges thoroughly.
The RULO Panasonic robotic vacuum cleaner, is not your usual automatic robot-cleaner. Its triangular shape makes corners easily accessible, and the 92mm short-height shape allows it to get under couches or bed. With ‘Area memory’ function, the RULO can even register areas of your choice and identify spots that require extra cleaning effort.
4. How to choose the best washing machine
It is a well-known fact that a front-loading washing machine uses less energy and water. According to Consumer Reports, front-loaders typically clean better than high-efficiency top-loaders and they use less water and energy because their high spin speed extracts more water so dryer time is cut.
Remember what we said about not having time for household chores? Well you probably don’t have time to swap the laundry between the washer and the dryer either. So, why not get something that’ll do both at once reliably?
The Cuble by Panasonic uses three different sensors to track the weight of your load, the water temperature and even your laundry material. All you need to do is put in your dirty laundry, and the washer dryer will do the rest of the heavy lifting, ensuring a quicker, cleaner and delicate wash for your precious clothes. A 10kg load* only takes 34 minutes to wash, finishing off the whole process with the eco drying system, gently drying your clothes.
* With a 10kg load, Cold Cotton Course.
5. How to choose the best refrigerator
The most important aspect of a refrigerator is its ability to keep food fresh, longer lasting and retain its nutrients. Panasonic has included a Prime Fresh compartment in their fridges that keeps your ingredients as fresh as the day you bought it for up to seven days.
The second most important factor to consider is your electricity consumption. There’s really no reason to have a state-of-the-art fridge when you spend all your money paying your electricity bill. According to Tenaga Nasional Berhad, a typical 1,200-watt fridge, it costs RM2.05 per day in electricity, that’s about RM61.50 a month.
With the ECONAVI and inverter technology, the Panasonic ECONAVI Inverter 6-door fridge reduces energy usage by 14% while still running at optimum power 24/7 to keep your fruits, vegetables and meat fresh.
Panasonic has included a Prime Fresh compartment in their fridges that keeps your ingredients as fresh as the day you brought it for up to seven days*.
* Freshness period differs depending on the degree of freshness before storage and method of freezing, and conditions of use of the refrigerator.
6. How to choose the best rice cooker
Rice is a staple for nearly half of the world’s seven billion people, and 90% of the consumption takes place in Asia. The average Malaysian citizen consumes 82.3kg of rice per year.
It is obvious that Malaysians love their rice, and as such the rice cooker is a must-have for every household. The trick to cooking fragrant and fluffy rice is in the cooker.
As the first maker of Induction Heater (IH) rice cooker, Panasonic has perfected the art in the 27 years of making IH cooker. The IH technology allows the rice to cook under uniform heat and it also traps secondary heat. As a result, each grain of rice is cooked to a fluffy perfection.
7. How to choose the best microwave oven
Microwaves are an important part of anyone’s kitchen. It’s a life saver when it comes to reheating food but let’s admit it, it’s really not the most useful when it comes to meal preparation! What if there’s a microwave oven that does more than reheating, and can actually makes your meal preparation easier and healthier?
Steaming is one of the best cooking methods for maximising taste and colour, while retaining the most nutrients in food especially vegetables and fish. Steaming your food can really add a whole new dimension to your menu. This is exactly what Panasonic’s ECONAVI steam microwave oven brings to your kitchen so you’ll have a tool that works well in meal preparation as well as for reheating.
It comes with 100% turbo steam that cooks with high-density steam. This also eliminates excessive oil in food, making it a healthier option for you and your family. The healthy mode reduces oil in teriyaki chicken by 5.3%, and fried chicken by 1.2%.
Furnishing your home with the right electronic appliances should not be taken lightly. Saving a few hundred ringgit now could mean spending a few thousand ringgit more in the next one or two years. Investing in quality appliances for your home makes one of the greatest impacts to your life as these are also some of the longest lasting devices in your home that you engage very frequently with.
It also makes sense to invest into quality appliances that look just as great as your home. Nothing negates your interior design expenditure worse than an ugly appliance. Always shop on quality but it’s just as important to your home investment to make sure your appliances look fantastic.
