Posts Tagged ‘Food And Drink’

How To Choose Your Whirlpool USA Style Fridge Freezer

April 30th, 2010

This article is for someone who is considering purchasing a Whirlpool American fridge freezer. This could be because they already trust this brand name from former purchases or from advice given by a friend. Now is the time to narrow down your choice amongst the 13 distinct Whirlpool side by side models. Draw on the following 7 points as your guide.

1. Budget

They range in price from around 725GBP for the Whirlpool 20RI-D1L model to 1700GBP for top of the range Whirlpool 20RI D4 ESPRESSO. With around a 1000GBP difference, this is clearly an important first consideration. Keep in mind that even the cheapest model has significant benefits over a conventional fridge/freezer, such as size and special features.

2. Size

Here we are talking with reference to the exterior dimensions of the fridge-freezer. Since side by side fridge freezers are a great deal larger than regular types, it is crucial to take note of the width, height and depth. Firstly, due to its magnitude the producer recommends a house door opening of no less than 62 cm. (the appliance will then fit through with its doors removed). Secondly, not only does it have to fit in your kitchen, but it has to look right, integrating with the general design and layout of the kitchen.

Models such as the Whirlpool WSC5555 AN and the Whirlpool 25RID 4 are 177 cm. high, 91.1 cm. wide and 74.3 cm. deep. If you require one with the least depth, choose the Whirlpool 20 TBL 4 or Whirlpool 20 TML 4, which both have a depth of just 67.4 cm.

As with all American style fridge freezers it is advised to leave an air space of a couple of cms. all around the appliance, for it run optimally.

3. Storage Capacity

All the Whirlpools have a minimum total net capacity of 500 litres. The models with second largest storage capacity are in fact the lowest priced ones, the Whirlpool 20 RID 1l and the Whirlpool 20 RBD 1l, with capacities of 521 litres (325 litres for the fridge and 196 litres for the freezer). The reason for this is that they do not have a water and ice dispenser, freeing more room for food. Only the most highest priced models, the Whirlpool 20RI D4 ESPRESSO has a capacity that surpasses them – 522 litres and it does have a water and ice dispenser.

4. Colour

There are plenty of models that are either black or stainless steel. In addition the Whirlpool 20RI D4 ESPRESSO is in satina mist, the Whirlpool 20TM L4 comes with a mirror finish and the Whirlpool 20SI L4 is with a brushed stainless steel look.

5. Energy Ratings

Energy savings are a key consideration today. Not just for the sake of saving money, but in addition, for the protection of the environment. All the Whirlpool range have a rating of either A+ or A. It turns out that with an A+ ranking, your American style combined fridge freezer may possibly save you money, as you will not have to operate two units to get the same storage capacity.

6. Water and Ice Dispenser

Apart from the Whirlpool 20 RID 1L and the 20RBD 1l, all come with a water and ice dispenser. With the exception of the Whirlpool 20RI D3L and the 20RB D3L all the dispensers are in-door which allows for greater storage within the freezer.

7. Special Features

Here is where the Whirlpool American style fridge freezers come into their own. I will list a few for you but there are many more.

* 6th Sense Technology: allows the fridge to be able to adapt speedily to alterations in temperatures (all models).

* Anti bacterial filter with Microban: maintains the unit free of bacteria and mildew (all models).

* Blackout Alert Alarm: the appliance will detect if the freezer has dropped below freezing after a blackout. If it has, it will sound an alarm so you can check the food to see if has spoiled(all models)

* Makes Espresso Coffee: I am not joking, the Whirlpool 20RI D4 ESPRESSO, as its name implies, will even make you a cup of coffee.

So that concludes my 7 point guide for buying a Whirlpool side by side fridge freezer. By now you should have a good idea what to look for to find the ideal unit for you and your family.

Happy Shopping!

For more detailed information on the Whirlpool American Fridge Freezer range visit my web site which specializes in US Style Fridge Freezers

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The Impact Of Hard Water From Your Domestic Supply

March 15th, 2010

Water which contains a high level of dissolved minerals is generally referred to as “hard water”. The two most important minerals are calciun and magnesium. Hard water has no health implications – but it can lead to the build up of mineral deposits in plumbing, heating systems, kettles, dishwashers and various other domestic appliances. It has a poorer performance than soft water when using soap and general detergent products – you get less lather.

During the course of the natural filtration through soil and rock, water dissolves small quantities of minerals which are then held in suspension in the water. As the amount of magnesium and calcium in the solution increases, the level of hardness of the water rises.

To complicate matters further, there are two different types of water hardness – temporary hardness and permanent hardness. Both types are caused by minerals in the water.

It is not possible to remove permanent hardness by boiling the water. This is caused by calcium and magnesium sulfates and chlorides which are contained in the water. However, despite its name, permanent water hardness can be removed – usually by the use of an ion exchange column – sometimes referred to as a “water softener”. Basically this removes calcium and magnesium ions from the water and replaces them with sodium.

Temporary hardness can be removed by boiling the water – or by adding lime. The cause of this is the presence of calcium and bicarbonate ions in the water. When the water is boiled the bicarbonates form carbonates and calcium carbonates are removed from the solution. After this, the water will be softer when it cools.

Scaling, often referred to as limescale, is the result of residual mineral deposits which are left after the hard water has evaporated. This can fur up pipe, leave chalky deposits in kettles and considerably reduce both the effectiveness and life span of appliances like dishwashers and washing machines.

However, there are some relatively simple and easy steps which you can take in order to combat the effect of hard water in your home.

First of all, pick the right soaps and detergents. There are plenty of washing powders and liquid cleaners specifically designed for use in hard water areas. Selecting the correct one will not only get your dishes and clothes cleaner more easily, but will increase the working life of your domestic appliances by lowering the build up of limescale.

Secondly, use a lower temperature setting for your boiler. The greater the water temperature the more mineral deposits will be liberated from the water. These will be deposited in your pipes, water tank and any domestic appliances being fed from the hot water supply. Using lower temperature settings for your dishwasher and washing machine will also improve matters somewhat.

Finally, if your main problem is that you are not satisfied with the taste of your tea or coffee then filtering the water will usually remove enough of the minerals to make quite a difference. You can fit a relatively inexpensive under sink filter (these are simple to install) or use a handy jug type filter – the Brita filter jug is a popular choice which comes in a variety of sizes and colours.

If you are experiencing problems with hard water think about using a Brita water filter – there is a wide range of different types available. You can even get a Brita kettle if all you want is better tasting hot drinks.

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Top Crystal Wine Glasses Tips!

March 13th, 2010

Crystal wine glasses are created from glass that holds lead oxide. Lead oxide is added to the glass to increase the density and when the density is increased, the glass becomes more reflective and shinier. Crystal wine glasses often reflect a brilliant array of color.

The number of colors that are reflected from the glass depends on the amount of lead that is added to it. Crystal wine glasses are heavier than glass wine glasses because of the lead content. The amount of lead added to the piece determines the weight of the crystal.

Many people wonder why they find imperfections in their crystal pieces. This is due to the process of making the glass. Hand crafted crystal wine glasses often have seed bubbles that are visible in the glass. These bubbles are created when small pockets of air get trapped inside the glass.

The imperfections are often only seen by holding the glass up to a light. They are not a sign that the glass is faulty, but they are more likely a sign that the glass was made by hand. Imperfections are found on even the finest hand crated crystal wine glasses, and other imperfections include chill marks and slightly cloudy places.

Since crystal is a soft glass, it is easily scratched. So proper care of your crystal wine glasses is very important if you want them to last for a long time. Crystal glass can be scratched by small particles of dust, sand and dirt.

Here are some tips for your crystal wine glasses:

* To prevent the crystal glasses from being scratched, try to not carry a handful of crystal glasses at one time. It is better that the pieces do not touch each other or other items as well.

* If you need to soak your crystal it is important that you do not use harsh cleaners such as ammonia. Instead, stick with a solution of warm water and mild dish soap.

* Most experts will tell you never to put your crystal stemware in the dishwasher. If you do decide to put it in the dishwasher, it is best that you use the gentlest cycle.

With a proper care, crystal wine glasses will last for many years. They make a great keepsake to hand down to future generations and make a beautiful addition to any collection. Besides that, giving a crystal wine glass as a present is a fantastic idea for wine lovers.

Anne Durrel comes from California. She began writing about Wine several years ago. You may want to check out her other guide on wall mounted wine rack tips, and haier wine cooler guide!

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Wine Glass Rack At A Glance

March 7th, 2010

Buying wine glass racks for your restaurant or for your home should not be a stressful task. As a matter of fact, if you are willing to do a little research before hand, finding the best wine glass rack for your home or restaurant should be very fast and easy.

The first thing that you will want to do is decide how large of a glass rack you will need.

It is also important that you decide what style wine rack will work best in your home or restaurant. Next, you will need to decide how much you can afford to spend on your rack.

Wine glass racks come in many different sizes. Some racks can accommodate a very large amount of wine glasses, while others do not hold as many.

If you are thinking about purchasing a rack for your home, then you will, most likely, want to purchase a smaller wine rack. Large wine racks are often used in bars and restaurants.

Wine glass racks come in many different colors and styles as well. Wooden racks look fantastic and match almost any decor.

Should you want a wine rack that is a lot more modern, then maybe you should consider getting a metal wine glass rack. Not only are metal wine glass rack stylish, but they are also lighter than the wood racks. Besides that, this can often make the metal racks a lot easier to install.

Some wine glass racks come with hardware to install them over a bar or kitchen island. Other brands are made to hang vertically on the wall. It is also important that you think about how you will hang your rack.

You may want to consider getting a cabinet with a built in wine glass rack if you do not have wall space for hanging rack. The cabinets are very nice since they are very often having a place to store a few wine bottles as well as a corkscrew, too. None of these types of racks is better than the other; it is mostly just a style preference.

There are some less expensive models on the market. Wine glass racks can vary in price. The average price on the internet for these racks is around $80.00. Therefore, when you are choosing a style, it is important that you keep your budget in mind.

You want to find a rack that is sturdy and that will hold up for many years to come. Therefore, it is important that you do not sacrifice quality for a good price.

Anne Durrel has written many articles about Wine . She comes from USA. We suggest you check out her other guide on acrylic wine glasses tips, and wine software guide!

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Choosing Wall Wine Rack

March 7th, 2010

Wall wine racks are not difficult to include in your decor. A lot of these racks can be customized to your particular tastes and look particularly nice in the kitchen, too.

There are many wall wine racks that come with a door on the front, and these racks appear to more like a cabinet than a wine rack, and you can do this using paint and decals.

Wine racks come in many different sizes, some of them can hold as many as 6 bottles, while the larger ones can hold up to 100 bottles of wine. When you mount your wine rack on the wall, you will save valuable counter space as well.

You will obviously need to have more than an ample amount of wall space if you want to mount a rack that will hold quite a few bottles of wine.

To create an Italian look in your own dining room, start out by painting the walls with a rich color. Wall wine racks look really good in an Italian themed dining room. A deep rustic orange or yellow paint will work very good in an Italian themed room.

You can carry the color in the grape in any draperies that you have in the dining room. A bowl in the center of the tables filled with artificial grapes and leaves will add a very good touch.

Do not forget to add your wall wine rack to a wall that seems a bit empty to fill in the space. Add a few wine bottles so that your Italian theme room will be perfect.

Wall wine racks can also look fantastic in a living room. They are fantastic way to display your wine bottles for all of your friends and family to see. Place your rack on a wall that has a lot of open space.

The wall wine rack will make a good focal point for your living room, so you may want to consider staining your wall wine rack to match the existing furniture in your living room as well.

Besides a living room, a home bar is also a wonderful place to display your wall wine rack. It is very important that you find a wine rack that is suites your personal style.

There are racks on the market that are made of metal, plastic and wood and they come in so many different colors and styles. They also come in many different finishes, and this should make it easier for you to find a wine rack that will match your existing decor.

Anne Durrel originally comes from USA. She has written a lot of articles on Wine . She has additional information on wine glass racks tips, and syrah wine guide you may be interested in reading!

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