Which household appliances could you not do without? Different people would produce different lists, of course, but some of the items which might appear on most lists could include the fridge, washing machine, vacuum cleaner, television, and microwave.

Fridge
Keeping food usable for any length of time before the advent of the refrigerator usually meant having to preserve the food in salt or by pickling it, work which took time, effort, and a certain amount of skill. Today the fridge allows busy people to keep food fresh for prolonged periods of time. With a fridge there is no need to shop every day or buy foods such as dairy products in small amounts, as food can now be bought and stored in the fridge for several days at time. Without refrigeration many of the items we commonly see in the supermarket could not be sold at all.

Washing machine
Washing clothes before the advent of washing machines was also labour intensive. Laundry day could be just that – a whole day spent doing just the washing. With today’s machines clothes can be washed and even dried quickly and easily. The agitating action of the washing machine helps to release dirt and get clothes much cleaner than was possible before. Washing was once a back-breaking task, but today you simply switch on the washing machine and let it do all the hard work.

Vacuum cleaner
Years ago carpets were cleaned by hanging them on a line and beating them, but with the modern vacuum cleaner carpets can not only be cleaned deep down, but also washed and dried. Vacuum cleaners can even clear dust and debris from wood or tile floors rapidly. For people who have allergies, choosing a vacuum cleaner that is specifically designed to pick up pet hairs and other allergens can make life much more pleasant. Many modern cylinder vacuum cleaners have special filters that will retain allergens and pick up extra dirt. By using the variety of attachments that most vacuum cleaners come with, you can do a lot more than clean floors; you can also clean blinds, furnishings, stairs, and even the car.

Television
Television has provided people with a world of entertainment. Whether you prefer watching sporting events, travel series, news and educational shows, comedies or dramas, television has enriched all our lives. Before television was introduced people had to huddle around the radio or read the newspaper to get the latest news. Today, with hundreds of channels to choose, from individuals can easily keep up to date with the latest news, and enjoy a world of entertainment. The number of televisions in the world is growing, and broadcast television companies are competing more vigorously for viewers, which is resulting in higher quality programming. Associated technologies such as DVD recorders allow the viewer to schedule, record, and play programmes back at their leisure, giving them greater control over their viewing experience.

Microwave
The microwave oven was introduced in 1967 and for busy people they are the perfect cooking tool. A microwave can cook a meal six times faster than a conventional oven, which means that less time is spent preparing meals. Whilst some may prefer slow-cooked meals, the microwave is nevertheless very useful for cooking, re-heating, and even sterilising. Depending on the size of the meal being cooked, a microwave oven can also be more environmentally friendly as they may use less energy.