Author: ritchiebl

How to Save Time Doing the Laundry

If only there were an all in one washing-drying-pressing-and-folding device that could save us all from the time-consuming task of doing the laundry! Until such a genius invention becomes available, the best we can do is to try and make laundry day as quick and easy as possible. Here are a few clever ideas you can implement in your home.

Establish House Rules

Shed minutes off your laundry time each week by having a set of simple rules to govern your household’s washing, including getting everyone to: • Check their own pockets before placing their items in the washing hamper • Make sure their clothes aren’t inside out • Ensure that both socks in the pair go into the same load

Sort Your Washing

Pre-sorting your dirty items will save you time from sorting through a big pile of soiled laundry yourself. Come up with a system that will best suit your household’s needs and get each member to sort their soiled items into the appropriate hampers. You can buy two or three separate baskets or one large one with dividers. Label each hamper accordingly with “Whites and Lights”, “Dark Colours” and “Towels and Linen” or whatever categories you have decided upon.

Shop Smart

Hand-washing and drip-drying is even more time consuming than doing regular washing so why not save yourself the hassle? Instead of cashmere and silk, invest your fashion budget on wrinkle-free fabrics and wash-and-wear items, saving you time on ironing and money on dry cleaning bills.

To avoid wasting time on trying finding matching pairs of socks, buy in bulk. Buy multiple pairs of identical sports socks and dress socks, and replace them all at once every 6 to 12 months.

Have a Laundry Day

Economise your time as well as your power and water bills by doing all of your laundry in one go. Designate a weekly laundry day and do all of your washing, drying, folding and ironing on that day. Not only will this strategy free up your time for the rest of the week, it is also more cost-effective in terms of water and power consumption to wash and dry full loads.

Get Help

Make laundry day a family affair and lighten the workload for yourself in the process. Give each family member a task to complete and make the job fun by making a game out of getting the job done. Doing the laundry is a great way to get children involved in contributing to the essential duties around the home and teaches them important skills which will help them to independent in the future.

If all else fails and you still find yourself swamped by laundry, you can always look into outsourcing all or part of the task to a laundry or ironing service!

How Miele Became “Forever Better”

On July 1, 1889, Carl Miele and Reinhard Zinkann founded a workshop in Herzebrock, Germany, to produce housewares that Miele had invented. These included a cream separator, a churn for making butter and one of the earliest tub washing machines ever made. Initially, the team sold their wares under the name “Meteor,” but soon after chose to adopt Carl’s name for that of the company.

By the 1920s, the name ‘Miele’ was widely known throughout Germany because of the innovative, fine quality products that the brand produced. In Germany, Miele continues to dominate as a top manufacturer of housewares products and has been named the nation’s Manufacturer of the Year in the past. Miele products are now sold worldwide, and the company has a base of operations in 37 countries.

Despite the fact that Miele now employs more than 16,000 people around the globe, the corporation remains privately owned by the heirs of the original owners. Miele products first became available in Australia more than 30 years ago. Headquartered in Knoxfield, Victoria, Miele Australia handles the licensing for sale of its products to fine quality retailers throughout Australia, including Bing Lee.

The worldwide slogan for Miele is “Forever better”, a reflection of the durability and longevity of the brand’s products, as all of Miele’s housewares are constructed to last for decades. The motto is also incorporated into the brand’s customer service policies to make everyone who purchases a Miele product a “forever customer.”

The company also emphasises the importance of keeping our planet beautiful forever by adopting environmentally friendly manufacturing policies. Miele produces many models of appliances that use less water and electricity than those produced by other companies. An example is the Miele W 5000 WPS Supertronic Washing Machine, which has a 4.5 star WELS water conservation rating and 4.5 star energy efficiency rating.

The washer includes Miele’s signature honeycomb drum, the surface of which is made up of hexagonal metal pieces that are perforated at their corners. As the drum turns, a thin layer of water becomes captured along its sides, allowing the washing to move easily back and forth over the metal surface. This creates less wear and tear on clothing, even though the power of the Miele W 5000 WPS is greater than that of many other washing machines to allow for a more thorough wash.

In addition to washing machines and dryers, Miele produces other large appliances, including refrigerators, dishwashers and steam cookers. Miele is also known for producing small kitchen and tabletop appliances, such as coffee machines. The brand is a leading manufacturer of vacuum cleaners as well, offering products like the Miele S 5261 Cat & Dog Turbo Vacuum. The model features the revolutionary Miele Hyclean dustbags, which distribute fine particulates throughout the bag. This unique design allows the bags to last for 25 percent longer than standard sweeper bags, cutting down on the expense of purchasing replacements and keeping waste out of landfills to care for the environment.

How to Clean Your Oven Quickly and Safely

Built-up grease and baked-on on gunk can not only reduce the life of your oven, it poses a fire risk. The longer your oven is left without a thorough clean, the more difficult it will be to remove the unhygienic mess inside. Here are a few tips on how to make the laborious task of cleaning your oven a lot quicker and safer.

Get a self-cleaning oven

Having a self-cleaning oven does not mean you avoid the task of cleaning altogether. Rather, the self-cleaning feature makes the job easier for you by reducing spills to a powdery ash that can be easily wiped away with a damp, soapy cloth upon completion of the cleaning cycle. • Before commencing the self-clean cycle, open your kitchen window to prevent the smoke emitted by the oven during the process from sticking to your ceiling and walls. • Remove residue from the oven door and frame by gently washing it with a gentle cleaner, but avoid scrubbing the door seal as this may damage it. • Never use commercial oven cleaners or abrasives like steel wool on the interior or your self-cleaning oven.

Using commercial oven-cleaner

Using a commercial spray-on cleaner is the quickest way to clean a conventional oven. Begin by reading the manufacturer’s instructions and ensuring that the area is well-ventilated. Since most commercial sprays are caustic, it is vital that you always wear gloves when using these types of cleaning products.

Spray the cleaner so that it covers the interior surfaces of your oven, being careful to avoid directly spraying the light and heating element. Leave the cleaner on for as long as possible (overnight is ideal) before wiping all surfaces with a damp cloth or sponge. You may find it necessary to use a scourer to scrub areas with stubborn build-up. If you are still unable to remove any areas of baked-on carbon, repeat the spray-and-wait process before attempting to scrub again.

Homemade oven cleaning solutions

There are several ways that you can keep your oven spotless without using harsh chemical cleaners. • Wipe up spills with a hot, soapy cloth after each use, waiting until the oven cools. By doing so, you will avoid any build-up on your interior surfaces. • Protect against spillage by covering the bottom of your oven cavity with aluminum foil, ensuring that you don’t cover any vents or elements. • Alternatively, safely make your oven shine with one of these homemade cleaners:

o Combine even quantities of salt, baking soda and water until they form a paste and apply to the oven interior. Heat the appliance to 260?C for an hour before switching off. Once the unit is cool, wipe with a damp cloth, ensuring to rinse thoroughly. o Mix equal parts of lemon juice and salt. Apply to unit and leave for 15 minutes before scrubbing with a scourer to remove grease. o Form a paste made from 5 tablespoons baking soda, 4 tablespoons white vinegar and 3 drops of liquid detergent. Use to scrub the oven interior and rinse with a wet sponge or cloth.

House of Marley: Headphones with Soul

In 1945, Robert Nesta Marley was born in Nine Mile, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica. Taking the name Bob Marley, he formed a band with brother Bunny Wailer and four other musicians in 1963. Their ska music quickly became popular, and the band went on to record 13 of the most well-known and beloved ska and reggae albums ever made.

Marley died in 1981 from advanced skin cancer, leaving behind an incredible musical legacy. During his life, Marley received numerous awards, not only for his music, but also for his efforts to improve the lives of Africans living in Jamaica and other third world nations. Among his many honours were acceptance into the Jamaican Order of Merit and receipt of a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

His song “One Love” was even named the song of the millennium by the BBC in 2001. Bob Marley’s life and music have inspired countless artists, organisations and even corporations. An example of the latter is The House of Marley, one of the top-selling manufacturers of headphones and earphones in Australia and the rest of the world.

From the start, the House of Marley began giving back to communities around the world by donating a portion of the proceeds from all of their sales to 1Love.org, an organisation founded by Bob Marley’s children, which funds projects to protect the environment and provide opportunities for impoverished youth around the globe. T

he headphones and earphones produced by The House of Marley are all engineered to be environmentally friendly, in keeping with Bob Marley’s philosophies on taking care of the planet and those who inhabit it. All of the materials used in the fabrication of the brand’s products are renewable and eco-friendly, such as recycled aluminium, organic cotton and wood sourced from Forest Stewardship Council-certified forests. Even the packaging of The House of Marley products is free of toxins and made from recycled materials.

Making incredible music was another of Bob Marley’s passions, and The House of Marley strives to emulate the musician’s aims by creating products that enhance the quality of digital music. The earphones and headphones made by the brand feature incredible, driving bass with no distortion, so that reggae, hip hop and many other genres of music sound just the way they were intended to. Custom-made, high-definition coil drivers that are placed into the earbuds and earphones make this distinct bass sound possible.

The brand’s products are also designed to be durable and to have appearances that reflect Bob Marley’s personal style. Each one is named after one of Marley’s most popular songs as a tribute to the musician. One of the most popular of The House of Marley’s earphone models that we sell at Bing Lee are the Marley EM-FE023-MI Zion In-Ear Headphones. Black in color with just a splash of brown wood for an eye-catching accent, the earphones feature a 52-inch fabric covered cord that is emblazoned with traditional Rastafarian colors (red, yellow and green). The fabric that covers the cables prevents them from becoming tangled and kinked. The earphones include five different tips to offer various sizes for maximum comfort.

Quick Tips to Save Time in the Kitchen

After a long day, coming home to cook a tasty, nutritious meal can be difficult even at the best of times. But there are a few simple things you can do to make it go faster and easier.

Get Organised

Do you get frustrated scouring your kitchen cupboards and drawers for items like the peeler, grater or colander? One of the easiest things that you can do to save time in the kitchen is to ensure that everything has its place and is easily accessible when you need it. Organise your kitchen storage space so that your most frequently used tools are in a section close to your stove or preparation bench. You can make room for these items by moving items you use less often – like baking items – to your peripheral storage areas.

Buy Packaged Items

Packaged and frozen items have come a long way since the TV dinners of the 20th century. Frozen vegetables save you preparation time and are often as high in nutrients as fresh produce. Just add water to rice and pasta pre-mixed packets for a quick and easy side dish. Or try adding your own fresh ingredients to one of the many to the sauce and soup bases available for a tasty meal in a fraction of the time.

Try Slow Cooking

Crock-pots or slow-cookers are an excellent investment. Just place your ingredients in the cooker before you leave home in the morning and turn the unit on. Over the course of the day, the appliance will slowly cook your meal to tender, juicy perfection. For less than ten minutes effort, you can return home at the end of the day to a beautiful dinner.

Cook Bulk Meals

Save money and time by cooking large batches of your favourite meals and freezing them for later use. Stews and casseroles are among the many meals that are great to cook in bulk. Not only does this idea eliminate wastage, it also means that after a hard day’s work, you can enjoy a delicious homemade meal buy simply taking it out of the freezer and popping it in the microwave.

Menu Planning

Before you do your weekly shop, plan what you will cook for dinner each night and ensure you stock up on the necessary ingredients. By planning your weekly menu, you won’t need to muster what little imagination and creativity you have left in the tank at the end of the day. Just go into the kitchen and put your meal together, knowing you’ll have everything you need ready to go.

Stock Up on Basics

If you aren’t one to plan out your meals for the entire week, ensure you’re your fridge and pantry always contain the essential items that can provide the basis for a great meal, such as:

• Non-perishable items: flour, sugar, oil, rice, pasta, herbs and spices

• Perishable ingredients: milk, butter, potatoes, onion, garlic, carrots, seasonal green.

DeLonghi Delivers Both Looks and Smarts

In 1902, a family in Italy began a small business manufacturing industrial parts. While they were successful enough to support themselves, their endeavour did not reap the profits they had hoped, and gradually, the DeLonghi family started producing other products, moving outside the realm of heavy industry and eventually into producing portable furnaces and air conditioners for homes. By 1950, DeLonghi had grown large enough to incorporate.

Today, DeLonghi remains a leader in portable heating and cooling solutions, now selling their products in more than 50 countries nationwide. The company employs 7,000 people around the world. Most of the design and engineering for DeLonghi still takes place in Italy, and the manufacturing is mainly performed in plants in China that the company received upon buying out Kenwood Limited in 2001.

In Australia, Bing Lee is proud to make DeLonghi’s excellent products available to Australian households. One of our most popular DeLonghi models in the heating and cooling range is the DeLonghi PACW160B Pinguino Portable Air Conditioner. The model features one of DeLonghi’s signature innovations – water to air technology.

This unique system cools the air in any space using a powerful pump that pulls water from its built-in tank to a collection tray before transferring it to the condenser, making the model more efficient. The unit is also outfitted with DeLonghi’s Biosilver Tech System, which uses both an electrostatic and a silver ion filter to eliminate impurities from the air.

Although portable heating and cooling products remain an important line of business for DeLonghi, many people around the globe recognise the brand name for the hig- quality, stylish housewares that it produces. DeLonghi has long held that products used in kitchens should not only be functional, but also attractive enough to contribute to the overall décor. As a result, its small kitchen appliances come in a wide variety of colours and are appealing to look at.

Because of his sophisticated designs, the company’s Design Director Giocomo Borin received special recognition by being named one of the 50 most influential housewares designers in the world by “Home Furnishing News.” In the DeLonghi housewares collection, the coffee maker range is especially well known.

Due to its origins in the nation that gave birth to espresso, DeLonghi has long been a top manufacturer of fine quality coffee makers designed to rival those used in the best coffee houses. DeLonghi coffee makers have won many awards over the years, including Red Dot awards, one of the most prestigious design awards in the world. In addition to its traditional coffee makers and espresso machines, DeLonghi also produces a Nespresso machine, the DeLonghi EN90GYPLUS, which works with Nestle’s delicious flavored creamer line.

To round out its offerings that make kitchens more practical and beautiful, DeLonghi produces large-scale appliances. The brand manufactures freestanding and installed dishwashers, electric upright and installed ovens, range hoods, multifunction ovens and ceramic, gas, electric and induction cooktops. The small appliances range includes deep fryers, toasters, microwave ovens, juicers and electric kettles.

At Bing Lee you can browse the stylish appliance collections that are meant to coordinate with one another, like the Icona Breakfast Collection, which features a fun, retro look and comes in four attractive colours.

Student’s Guide to Living Large in a Small Apartment

Thanks to reality television shows like MTV Cribs, we’ve all been given a glimpse into the opulent lifestyles of Hollywood’s A-listers. Clearly this level of extravagance is well beyond the means of most of us and particularly if you are a student. Let’s face it, making the commitment to study goes hand in hand with living in a tiny apartment or dorm room and skimping on many luxuries. With so little cash to splash you have to be selective with how you treat yourself. Here are a few high-tech solutions that allow you to live large in a small apartment, on a student’s limited budget.

Home Computing

 

Having a laptop is great when you’re on campus, but when you are at home working off a wide-screen makes life so much easier. But don’t just spend your money on getting a computer monitor. You need to get a wide-screen that will serve as your television as well. Small LCD TVs are available from around $250 from quality brands such as Samsung and Palsonic. Pair the monitor with your laptop or hook it up to a separate PC, which can also provide extra storage space to ensure you always have a back-up for your work. Use a wireless keyboard and mouse combo with your widescreen to make those hours slaving away on assignments even easier.

Audio

 

MP3 docking systems are compact and powerful enough to provide quality sound to a confined area like your small apartment. Docking speakers are available in a range of funky designs for less than $150. Many docking systems are wireless or portable, which is handy for when you want to party outdoors with your friends. For even better sound quality invest in a micro-system. Many of these devices can be wall-mounted and are small enough to fit on a study desk or bedside table. Not only can a micro-system be used as an iPod or MP3 player dock, they can be connected to your other media devices to enhance your viewing or gaming experience.

Gaming

 

Multifunctional capacity is the key to saving space and stretching your dollar further, and this is where gaming consoles represent another great investment of your finite funds. Enjoy the sweet escape of playing your favourite games, watch DVDs, listen to music, surf the net and record your favourite television shows right there on your gaming console.

Student Kitchen Essentials

 

Ok, so you can’t exactly afford your own chef, but there are a few luxury kitchen items to make your life easier and save you money in the long run.

 

• Pizza Maker – for less than $150 you can make your own pizza, Turkish bread, naan and pasties at home. Your homemade pizzas will taste so much better than the takeaways everyone else is getting.

 

• Sandwich maker – toasties are the staple food for students, so sink your cash into a good appliance that will last.

 

• Coffee maker – with as little as $200 you can make café style coffees at home – a godsend when pulling all-nighters to meet your assignment deadlines.

Canon Captures the Community Spirit

In 1933, a company called Kwanon became the first in Japan to create a 35-millimeter camera with a focal plane shutter. This new design placed the shutter directly in front of the film, resulting in a more compact design and a camera that was able to take pictures more quickly than earlier models. The unique design of this revolutionary camera launched Kwanon into international fame, and the company still creates some of the most acclaimed cameras and optical devices in the world. In the present day, these cameras are produced under the brand name Canon, the name that Kwanon adopted in 1947. Canon established Canon Australia in 1978, and since then, the branch has grown to include offices in all five of the mainland states. Headquartered in North Ryde, Sydney, the company employs more than 1,200 people. Throughout the world, Canon is known for its continued innovation, which is possible because of the company’s continued research and development work. Each year, Canon reinvests 10 percent of its profits into developing new products and improving former designs and has been among the top three companies receiving patents in the U.S. for more than a decade. Through all of the company’s successes, Canon has remained a firm dedicated to giving back to its customers and to the planet. The corporation describes its approach to working toward the common good as “kyosei,” and in keeping with its philosophy, launches projects in all of its markets to better the lives of the people and wildlife who live there. Each year, Canon sponsors an Environmental Grants Program, which gives funding to communities with projects that protect local flora and fauna. The company also sponsors the Canon Australian Professional Photography Awards, which recognizes and rewards top Australian photographers. Creating high quality cameras continues to be a focus of Canon, and in Australia, the brand’s point-and-shoot cameras are among the most popular styles available under the Canon name. Bing Lee carry the most popular and latest models of these cameras in our stores, intended to produce professional quality results without users having to make adjustments each time they are ready to take a picture. The Canon PowerShot line has won numerous awards in Australia and abroad since its introduction, and its latest model, the Canon G1X has been met with much acclaim. This new PowerShot camera includes the HS SYSTEM, a high sensitivity sensor that cuts down on blurriness, even when subjects are in motion. In addition to cameras, Canon is widely known for its collection of printers. Particularly its PIXMA range of inkjet models, are available at Bing Lee. One of the newest additions to this lineup is the Canon MG6250 PIXMA All-In-One printer, which creates professional quality photographic prints. The printer features Google Cloud Print and allows users to print images from the Internet directly without the need to first browse to them on a computer. The model also includes WiFi for communicating with laptops, cell phones and tablet computers. All of Canon’s printers use only the finest quality inks and are designed to be more energy efficient than other designs as a part of the company’s efforts to protect the planet.

Australia’s Digital TV Switchover: What it Means to You

Many Australians can receive free-to-air TV broadcasts via both analog and digital signals. Analog technology is out of date, however, so everyone around the world is converting to digital signals only. In Australia, the switch from analog to digital-only is taking place now through the end of 2012.

What Happens if I Don’t Switch to Digital?

Once the switch happens in your area, if you do not have a TV that can receive digital signals, you will not be able to watch any television programs, including free-to-air broadcasts.

Switching over to digital, however, means you’ll be able to watch your current favorite free-to-air channels plus additional free channels. You will also be able to view the TV program schedule on your television screen, and watch programs and movies in widescreen when available.

How Do I Make the Switch?

If you’re ready for an upgrade

If your current television is old and out-of-date, consider purchasing a new TV. This is the easiest way to make the switchover from analog to digital because all televisions offered by Bing Lee are digital ready – you don’t have to do anything!

If you want to keep your current TV

This isn’t the simplest option, but it is possible. Bing Lee has a wide range of affordable digital set-top boxes in stock that you can purchase to convert your old television to one that can receive digital signals.

What if I Have More Questions?

If you still have questions, feel free to call us! Our customer service representatives are digital TV experts, trained to answer all your questions and guide you to the product that is best for your individual needs. You can also chat with one of our team members online via Live Chat.

Breville: An Australian Kitchen Icon

In 1932, Sydney residents and good friends Bill O’Brien and Harry Norville decided to go into business together, naming their new company with a combination of their surnames. In its early days, Breville produced radios and machines used to detect landmines to support the military’s efforts in World War II. Once the fighting ended, Norville and O’Brien knew they needed to shift the focus of their company to a new line of business. By 1956, the company had found its niche in producing small kitchen appliances. Since then, Breville has grown to become one of the most widely recognized brand names in Australia and has enjoyed similar success around the world, following its launch in the USA and Canada in 2002. Breville products are sold in more than 30 nations around the globe. Although the company has changed ownership since, the O’Brien family led the corporation for three generations, continuing the work of Bill. One of the most well known ranges of Breville products is its juicer line. The company’s innovative research and development team created many landmark designs that are now widely imitated by other brands, including the active arm citrus press mechanism. Breville was also was the creator of the first juicer capable of juicing whole fruits rather than just fruit slices or sections. The Breville Juice Fountain is one of the best-selling juicer collections in the world and accounts for 20 percent of the sales of all juicers worldwide. One of the most popular models in the range is the Breville BJE200 Juice Fountain, proudly stocked at Bing Lee, which features a 75-millimeter tube that can accommodate whole fruits and vegetables. Ultra powerful, the model includes an Italian micromesh filter basket and is easy to clean because it is dishwasher safe. Another line of hugely popular Breville products that we carry at Bing Lee is its sandwich maker range. In 1974, the company introduced the very first sandwich toaster and has continued to be on the cutting edge of design, adding new features to make Breville sandwich makers more and more useful. The sandwich toaster collection has evolved to include many specialty products, including panini presses and handy devices like the Breville BPZ500PE Pete Evans Pizza Maker, a new take on the sandwich maker design that makes it easy to quickly create perfect pizza at home. The Breville iKon panini press is extremely well known worldwide and was even featured as one of “Oprah’s Favorite Things” on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Breville’s achievements in design aren’t just limited to juicers and sandwich makers. The brand is also responsible for creating the first food processor ever made in Australia, which it released in 1977. Breville also introduced one of the first variable speed automatic tea kettles, and its line of glass and stainless steel tea makers remains prominent today. The company is known for its electric woks and created the very first high wall heating wok style. Additional products offered by Breville include blenders, bread makers, coffee grinders and makers, standing mixers, toaster ovens, slow cookers and more. Browse the full range of Breville appliances in our online store today!