Kitchen Deals -> Kitchen furnishing

We recommend 2 strainers for every kitchen. The first is a solid stainless steel colander (one big enough to wash a lot of lettuce at once). The second strainer is a fine mesh conical strainer (called a chinois) which is a must for any serious sauce or stock making. A chinois is an expensive purchase, but with care it will last many years.

When shopping for a new washer, look for a front loading (horizontal-axis) machine. This machine may cost more to buy but uses about a third of the energy and less water than a top-loading machine. With a front loader, you'll also save more on clothes drying, because they remove more water from your clothes during the spin cycle. Look for the Energy Star label.

Wipe away any acid spills such as from vinegar or grapefruit straight away. Never clean the bowl or draining board with an abrasive cleaner. Instead use liquid detergent in warm water and wipe with a soft cloth to remove water drop marks. Care for stainless steel appliance fascias and cabinet fronts in the same way. If choosing stainless steel cabinets, a 'brushed' surface is less likely to show grease from finger marks.