First home

Our fridge freezer buying guide says to measure the height, width and depth of the space, plus room for the doors to open fully. Heights differ: the Powerpoint P74250MLBL-E is 128 cm tall, the Bosch KGV33VLEAG 176 cm and the Hisense RB435N4WCE 200.4 cm. The Powerpoint, both Bosch models and the Hisense have reversible doors, so they can open to the left or right. A freestanding cooker fills the gap between two units, so measure that width as well.

Freestanding fridge freezers · Cookers

The drum size is the weight of dry laundry a machine washes in one go. Our washing machine capacity guide puts 8 kg at a small family of three to four, and 9 to 10 kg at larger families or anyone who often washes bulky bedding. The makers say much the same: Electrolux sizes its 8 kg EFI61841B for small to medium households and its 10 kg EFI62142B for families and large loads, and Haier aims its 9 kg HW90-BP14357TUUK at couples, small families or busy households.

Washing machines

Total No Frost, on the Hisense RB435N4WCE and the Samsung RB34C600EBN/EU, prevents ice build-up in the freezer, so there is no manual defrosting. LowFrost, on the Bosch KGV33VLEAG and KGE49AICAG, reduces ice build-up, so you defrost far less often. The Powerpoint P74250MLBL-E is manual defrost. Check how long the freezer keeps food frozen in a power cut too: up to 17 hours on the Bosch KGV33VLEAG and 10 hours on the Hisense.

Fridge freezer buying guide

Our microwave buying guide suggests about 20 litres for one or two people, and 23 to 25 litres or more for families and big plates. A solo microwave reheats, defrosts and cooks; a grill model adds browning and crisping. The Russell Hobbs RHMM701C is a 17 L solo, the Powerpoint, Dimplex and Morphy Richards models hold 20 L, the Sage Compact Wave holds 25 L and the Toshiba MW3-AC26SFMB 26 L, with air fry.

Microwaves