Choosing, caring for appliances

A researcher and a housewife, is thankful for her modern electronic home appliances. "Home appliances are very helpful for me and my maid's work," said Rita Santoso, a mother of two children.

Rita's housemaid only works in mornings. In the evenings, Rita, who lives in Bogor, just heats the rice in the rice cooker for dinner for her husband and children.

Electronic home appliances make life easier. Time is saved on cooking, washing, ironing and all other household chores.

On Nov. 27, the majority of Muslims will begin their fasting month and celebrate Idul Fitri at its end. So, during the fasting month, when the schedule for daily activities is usually adjusted to a slower pace, home appliances are definitely an advantage.

In electronic and retail stores in Pamulang, home-appliance sales increase before the start of fasting month and holiday festivities, such as magic jars (rice cookers that also reheat food), rice cookers, washing machines and gas stoves. Tiram Mutiara, a staffer at one store, said this has happened for the past two years. She said quite a few of the housewives who bought the products used credit facilities provided by the store. "Possibly, they are preparing to head off problems before they start during the fasting month," Mutiara said.

Aida Fathia, a mother of five children, said that she had already bought an oven for her baking for the upcoming Idul Fitri holidays. She said she would have a lot of time for cooking and baking.

Aida, who has a housemaid that normally does the family washing, said that she would have a tough time when the maid goes home to Central Java to celebrate the Islamic festivities. "I'm planning to buy a washing machine next month," she said, explaining that this was the most important appliance for her.

Rita said that because of the many appliances she has, she must use them efficiently otherwise they will consume a lot of power. "It's comfortable to have electronic home appliances," she said, "but it will be a problem if PLN (the state electricity company) increases the tariff."

Rita believes that to solve the routine challenges and problems of household chores, her appliances can be counted on. She said she is not worried about the days her maid will away for the holidays. "My children can help me."

Various models and brands of appliances can be found in the stores. The hundreds of models can confuse consumers. Before you "hunt" for what you need, read the following tips provided by appliance technicians: * Research -- Research at home before going to the stores. Product information can be obtained from advertisements, catalogs and manufacturers' websites. * Make a list -- Make a list of models, prices and features that attract you. Then make a list of basic requirements and stick to it. Stay focused. The more requirements you add the more problems you are likely to have. * Measure -- Make sure that the appliances you want will fit into the space you have at home. * Price Limit -- Set price limits that are affordable to you. Do not follow what the salesperson says if your budget is limited. * Warranty -- Always compare all the fine print of warranties and ask for everything in writing. Remember that longer and more complete warranties protect your investment better. * Review -- Step back and review your options before making your final choice. When you are in a store, do not get pressured!

During a long vacation, there are some ways to prevent your home appliances from causing dangers, even injury or death by following some tips: * Washing Machine -- Unplug your washing machine whenever you are not using it. * Refrigerator -- Turn your refrigerator thermostat/control to a more moderate setting to save energy. * Hot Water Tank -- Turn your hot water tank to a cooler setting or off to save energy costs.

Always disconnect your appliance from its power source by unplugging it or breaking the connection at the circuit breaker or fuse box before you do any troubleshooting or repair work.