I test gadgets for a living – for magazines, newspapers and websites – but I rarely get to test large kitchen appliances. I don’t have enough workspace to thoroughly group test what are still known as “white goods”, even though the latest ones are rarely white.
So, when picking a brand, I spoke to my peers in the industry who are appliance experts and they directed me to Whirlpool. It’s a big name but I didn’t know much about the brand. I looked into the product range and was seriously impressed.
They’re good-looking, premium appliances with hi-tech features but not too hefty a price tag. But I especially liked the specs that make them good for family life. The washing machine can handle a huge 12kg load yet has the quietest spin on the market; the fridge stores 363 litres, enough to absorb even the biggest supermarket shop; the dishwasher has an effective-but-dinner-party-friendly one-hour cycle.
Being gadget girl, I was also into the tech side of things. A nanotech coating means that the appliances’ brushed stainless steel and glass surfaces dodge greasy stains. And many of the appliances feature 6th Sense, the name Whirlpool gives to products with extra intelligence. This is often clever stuff that you barely notice. Start a laundry load and the washing machine assesses how much water and detergent it actually needs, rather than a “one size fits all” approach. The fridge and freezer measure and adjust not just the temperature but also the humidity automatically.
