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Home
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whichrightchoice.com 02 I Right Choice guide
This guide is just a taste of the expert advice and
inspiring ideas Right Choice has to ofer you. Just
imagine spending thousands on a new washing
machine or air conditioner, only to fnd that its
fddly to use, noisy or uses up too much electricity.
With our expert testing and advice, avoid
expensive mistakes and zoom straight in on the
Right Choices whether youre looking to buy
a small or large domestic appliance. We put all
products through our rigorous and unique tests,
to identify Right Choice models and let you buy
only the best. And when you have decided which
product is right for you, well help you with advice,
hints and tips to get the most out of your purchase.
Right Choice is a completely independent
monthly magazine. We accept no advertising and
carry no commercial content from providers of
goods or services, either directly or indirectly.
Were backed by Which? in the UK and funded by
consumers and for consumers, so we can tell it
like it is and give you the facts, both good and bad.
Thats why Which?, and now Right Choice in India,
has for over 50 years helped you, the consumer,
make better choices.
Live easy with Right
Choice home appliances
Dear Reader,
W
e continue our exclusive series
of guides to cater to every aspect
of buying advice that you may
need. This one focuses on household
appliances which often may not be
seen or heard but take up a lot of our
household budgets and can take a
similar amount of our workloads.
Whether you want a microwave or
a washing machine that works quickly
and efciently, or an air conditioner or
refrigerator that will help keep electricity
bills down, our tests cover everything
you need to know before you buy a
product for your home.
Our research team does the hard work
to help make your choice an easy one.
As well as covering everything you need
to know about large appliances in the
rst section of this guide, the second part
focuses on the appliances that play a
supporting role in our households.
High-performing hand blenders, mixer-
grinders, food processors, induction hobs,
water puriers and irons are just some
of the unsung heroes that can make the
daily grind that little bit easier.
This guide will help you nd the right
model for your needs whether youre
looking at the top end of the market or
want something cheap and functional.
Our recommendations are independent
and unbiased. These Right Choices,
awarded after our extensive and
independent scientic testing, will help
you select the right choice for you.
I do hope you nd it useful.
Paul Antony Smith
Editor
Household Guide
whichrightchoice.com Right Choice guide I 03
Contents
04 Planning your kitchen
How to get the kitchen youve always wanted by planning well
08 Refrigerators
Energy-efcient refrigerators that reduce your electricity bill
10 Washing machines
Get super-clean clothes with these top-loading washing machines
14 Convection microwaves
Reheat, cook, bake these appliances can do it all and do it well
16 Split air conditioners
They cool well, are energy-efcient and produce minimal sound
20 Food processors
Save time, money and efort in the kitchen with these appliances
22 Mixer-grinders
Our reviews guide you to the best indispensible mixie
24 Hand blenders
Blitz smoothies, lassi or juice easily and within seconds
26 Juicers
Quickly juice any fruit or veggie you want, to make yummy drinks
28 Induction hobs
These make for quick, hassle-free cooking and are safe too
30 Sandwich makers
Big brands may not be necessary to make a perfect sandwich
32 Water purifers
Get the purest water at the best price with a Right Choice
34 Irons
Make ironing less of a chore by picking a model that performs well
35 Cookware
Right Choice cookware is long-lasting and ensures even cooking
36 Taking care of your appliances
Learn to maintain appliances the right way so that they last longer
04
08
22
34
28
T
he frst thing you need to decide when
planning a kitchen is whether you
want to update your current kitchen
or start totally afresh. Look at what you
already have, what you like and dont like,
and what you want to remove or keep. If the
kitchen layout works for you, change it only
if there is a real beneft for example, if it
increases the value of your home.
If you want an entirely new kitchen,
think about the layout and how you use your
current kitchen. For example, where will you
want most worktop space? What elements
do you want to be close to each other, such
as the fridge and cooking station? Do you
use it for dinner parties? Do you have a lot
of gadgets to accommodate? This will help
ensure that your day-to-day needs will not
get overlooked in the planning process. You
then need to look at the constraints in your
kitchen, such as size and the positions of
doors, windows and sockets.
Start your kitchen plan by mapping
out your current kitchen layout (or empty
kitchen if you plan to start from scratch)
on graph paper. Highlight where the
electric sockets are, how these return
to the fuse box and where the plumbing
and waste pipes are. In addition to this,
add windows and any other restrictions,
such as a chimney breast and doorway,
then mark which kitchen walls are external
or internal.
Expert advice on where to start, how to plan your kitchen layout and more
whichrightchoice.com whichrightchoice.com Right Choice guide I 05 04 I Right Choice guide
In the kitchen
If your budget is tight and you dont need
an entire new kitchen, there are simple
changes you can make that will transform
your current kitchen without the cost:
n Paint Refreshing your walls or kitchen
doors with a lick of paint is less
expensive than replacing the whole
kitchen, and a great way to add colour.
n Create a feature wall Use colourful
or patterned wallpaper (specially
designed for kitchens), tiles, or a
distinctive splashback to add character
to your kitchen.
n Update worktops and doors Buying
new kitchen unit doors, drawer fronts
and worktops will refresh your kitchen
but at a fraction of the price of an
entirely new one.
n Lighting Lights, especially small ones,
can change the feel of your kitchen.
Spotlights add a modern touch, while
pendant lights bring a country element.
n Flooring If your foor is old, replacing it
can lift your kitchen.
Kitchen design ideas
Planning your kitchen
T
he frst thing you need to decide when
planning a kitchen is whether you
want to update your current kitchen
or start totally afresh. Look at what you
already have, what you like and dont like,
and what you want to remove or keep. If the
kitchen layout works for you, change it only
if there is a real beneft for example, if it
increases the value of your home.
If you want an entirely new kitchen,
think about the layout and how you use your
current kitchen. For example, where will you
want most worktop space? What elements
do you want to be close to each other, such
as the fridge and cooking station? Do you
use it for dinner parties? Do you have a lot
of gadgets to accommodate? This will help
ensure that your day-to-day needs will not
get overlooked in the planning process. You
then need to look at the constraints in your
kitchen, such as size and the positions of
doors, windows and sockets.
Start your kitchen plan by mapping
out your current kitchen layout (or empty
kitchen if you plan to start from scratch)
on graph paper. Highlight where the
electric sockets are, how these return
to the fuse box and where the plumbing
and waste pipes are. In addition to this,
add windows and any other restrictions,
such as a chimney breast and doorway,
then mark which kitchen walls are external
or internal.
Expert advice on where to start, how to plan your kitchen layout and more
whichrightchoice.com whichrightchoice.com Right Choice guide I 05 04 I Right Choice guide
In the kitchen
If your budget is tight and you dont need
an entire new kitchen, there are simple
changes you can make that will transform
your current kitchen without the cost:
n Paint Refreshing your walls or kitchen
doors with a lick of paint is less
expensive than replacing the whole
kitchen, and a great way to add colour.
n Create a feature wall Use colourful
or patterned wallpaper (specially
designed for kitchens), tiles, or a
distinctive splashback to add character
to your kitchen.
n Update worktops and doors Buying
new kitchen unit doors, drawer fronts
and worktops will refresh your kitchen
but at a fraction of the price of an
entirely new one.
n Lighting Lights, especially small ones,
can change the feel of your kitchen.
Spotlights add a modern touch, while
pendant lights bring a country element.
n Flooring If your foor is old, replacing it
can lift your kitchen.
Kitchen design ideas
Planning your kitchen
whichrightchoice.com 06 I Right Choice guide
In the kitchen
LIGHTING
There are two main types of lighting:
functional and decorative. Popular fxtures
for functional lighting are fuorescent
strips, as they consume less energy than
incandescent bulbs. For decorative fxtures,
you can opt for ornamental glass, pewter
(metal) and satin nickel lighting fxtures,
which will give your kitchen some old-world
charm. To light up an island, you can use
fuorescent lighting fxtures or recessed
lights above it. Use halogen or fuorescent
lights under cabinets to illuminate
countertops where you prepare food.
FLOORING
When buying tiles for your kitchen foor,
make sure they are water resistant and
non-porous (easy to clean and maintain),
as spills are unavoidable. The tiles will
also need to be strong enough to bear the
weight of dropped pots and pans. Glazed
tiles arent ideal for a kitchen, as they tend
to get slippery when wet. Vitrifed tiles are
popular in Indian kitchens, as they are hardy
and scratch-resistant. They are processed
to make them non-porous, stain-resistant
and tough. Wood fooring, although more
expensive, has also recently started to gain
popularity in India. There is a wide variety
to choose from to suit your needs and
tastes. Wood fooring is easy to maintain
and clean, and the best ones are extremely
durable, which means they could work
out quite economical in the long run. They
are recyclable, too, making them a good
ecological choice.
COUNTERTOPS
See that countertops against a wall dont
exceed a width of 65cm, or they will be hard
to reach across and clean. Granite is elegant
but expensive. You can set a hot pan on
granite without leaving a mark. Marble is
heat-resistant, but its nearly impossible to
remove stains from it. Engineered stone,
new to India, is resistant to stains, scratches
and heat. Again, it is an expensive option.
Laminate countertops are cheap, come in a
variety of designs and colours and are easy
to clean. However, laminate scratches and
burns, and repairing it is next to impossible.
Wood and steel countertops are other
expensive options.
PLUMBING
It is advisable to hire a professional
plumber for your kitchen. Make sure you
install a good, free-fowing drainage system
or you will have to plunge your sink every
time you wash utensils. If you have a
dishwasher, tell your plumber to provide
you with an outlet to drain the dirty water.
What to look for
Our advice on things to look out for when planning a kitchen
whichrightchoice.com Right Choice guide I 07
Modular kitchens are perfect for modern
apartments where people do not have the
luxury of big spaces. Practical modular
fttings solve the obvious problem of
storage space without taking up too much
usable room.
A modular kitchen is composed of
diferent cabinets that ft together in
various combinations, making efective
use of limited space. These designs
are extremely fexible; you can choose
between foor cabinets or wall cabinets
as well as a combination of both types,
depending on your requirements.
A modular kitchen includes cabinets,
countertops, appliances such as a
refrigerator, chimney, built-in oven,
dishwasher and hob as well as a sink
and other hardware. Modular kitchen
accessories can add functionality to
the kitchen.
Modular kitchen fttings are available
in all hardware stores and your local
carpenter can install them.
Non-branded modular kitchens of
around 150 sq ft cost from `2 lakh and up,
while branded ones can cost about twice
as much.
Modular kitchens
Also, if possible, place your dishwasher
close to the sink, and the sink near existing
plumbing lines.
CABINETS
Cabinets above your refrigerator and the
cooking range are useful only to store
items that you use infrequently. So, if space
permits, make sure most of your cabinets
are at eye level, over the counters. Also,
make sure your upper cabinets are fastened
securely to the walls, especially if you are
going to be storing heavy items in them.
For your pots and pans, use a cabinet with
a wide drawer base, rather than the usual
door, and make sure its within reach. If you
can, include a plate rack and small spice
drawers in one of the cabinets. Concealing
these will give you more countertop space.
KITCHEN GADGETS AND
ELECTRICS
Work out how many sockets youll need
at work-surface level. Most people have a
kettle, refrigerator and microwave in regular
use, so its good to think about placing these
somewhere easy to access. Other kitchen
gadgets to consider are food processors,
mixer-grinders, juicers and hand blenders.
KITCHEN STORAGE
Key to the design of your kitchen are
your storage requirements. Asses your
needs what you have to store away and
how much storage space you will therefore
need. Consider also what you want to be on
display or hidden away.
Think about the different types of
storage available: kitchen islands, open
shelves, pull-out units, corner storage racks,
hooks, freestanding units such as dressers,
foor-to-ceiling cupboards, plate racks and
wine racks (built in or freestanding). Once
you have the dimensions of your kitchen,
you can then determine what types of
storage will ft where and how these will best
serve your needs.
KITCHEN BUDGET
Next, consider how much you have to
spend remembering to set aside at least
10% for emergencies and then see what
you can get for your money.
On average, people spend around
`5 lakh on a new kitchen. Its important to
consider all the costs such as installation,
appliances, plumbing and electrics.
whichrightchoice.com 08 I Right Choice guide
R
efrigerators may look similar on
the outside, but our tests reveal
theres more to these big cool
boxes than meets the eye.
Practically all brands promote
their latest fridges by claiming new
or cutting-edge technologies. When we
test refrigerators, we look behind the
doors and beyond the manufacturers
claims. Accessories like wine racks
and boxed-off compartments may look
appealing, but they can also affect the
space available for keeping food and
drinks cool.
But the real differences come
down to energy use. A cheap model
may seem like a bargain, but running
costs over time could mean you end up
paying more.
The SJ-K31S-SL from Sharp is the
cheapest refrigerator to feature in
our table, but guzzles so much energy
that it can also be quite an expensive
refrigerator to run.
Both our Right Choice models
aced their performance tests, scoring
impressive four and fve stars for
keeping the food fresh by maintaining
the right temperature in each separate
compartment and rapid, even cooling.
They are also energy-effcient, with
running costs between `2,500-3,500
per annum, compared with over `4,500
some models can add to your energy bill
each year.
Refrigerators
A refrigerator with poor energy efciency can leave you with high electricity bills
Running costs
of cheap models
might be more
Big appliances
whichrightchoice.com Right Choice guide I 09
RIGHT
CHOICE
This Right Choice was a top-scorer for its superb
cooling speed, evenness of cooling and maintaining
storage temperatures and energy efciency. The
appliance cools speedily and evenly when switched
on the fridge reached its target temperature in a little
over two hours and the freezer in just over an hour
and a half. Once cool, the central (fresh food) section
and the freezer maintain the optimum temperature
for foods stored there, even when the room is a hot
76% WHIRLPOOL NEO
IC255 TCG4, `21,650
43C. However, while the temperature in the chiller
(the topmost tray of the fridge) should ideally stay
between 2 and 4C, it varied from -6 to 8C in our
tests. The refrigerator is easy to use. Though it has the
smallest capacity of the Right Choices, it has adjustable
compartments and provides an extra eight litres over
its stated net capacity. All shelves and racks are sturdy,
easily accessible and well lit by an LED bulb.
n PROS Fast, even cooling, energy efcient
n CONS Temperature uctuations in chiller
Right Choices
USING THE TABLE The more stars, the better. Right
Choices are highlighted in red
SPECIFICATION Price (`) Guide prices as on
November 1, 2013 Dimensions (cm) Measurements
are rounded up to next centimetre, including hinges
and with door closed. They dont include space
required for ventilation Rated storage volume As given
by the manufacturer on the energy label of the fridge
Measured storage volume Our measurement of usable
space in the refrigerator
TEST PERFORMANCE Cooling speed How fast the fridge
and freezer cool down from 43C to 5C and from
43C to -13C respectively Storage temperature Shows
if the refrigerator is cool enough to keep your food
fresh Evenness How uniform the temperature is across
diferent parts of the fresh food section Ease of use A
subset of overall convenience Noise and vibration
Analysis of the noise and vibration produced by the
compressor Annual running cost Estimated based on
average energy cost in Mumbai in December 2012
SCORE This ignores price and is based on:
Cooling speed of refrigerator ............................................. 30%
Energy use according to size.............................................. 25%
Storage temperature .............................................................. 20%
Evenness ........................................................................................10%
Overall convenience ................................................................10%
Noise and vibration .....................................................................5%
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SPECIFICATION TEST PERFORMANCE
BRAND
1 WHIRLPOOL Neo IC255 TCG4 21,650 151x57x60 219 227 3,348 76
2 SAMSUNG RT2735 24,900 148x59x65 226 229 2,646 74
3 SHARP SJ-K31S-SL 22,290 149x55x59 227 238 4,623 53
TEST AND RATINGS
RIGHT
CHOICE
This Samsung is quick to cool to uniform, optimum
temperatures. The compressor is softly audible while
functioning but doesnt cause any vibrations in the
appliance. It brings down the fridges temperature in
under two hours. Like the fridge, the freezer is also
faster than average to cool. After the initial cooling,
all parts of the RT2735 remain around the optimum
temperature for foods stored there. Measured storage
capacity is similar to that of the top-scoring Right
74% SAMSUNG RT2735,
`24,900
Choice, but the space is compartmentalised very
diferently. While there is no separate chiller tray in the
top part of the fridge, there are two in the bottom that
are covered by ventilated vegetable baskets. Access
to these bins is fairly easy, though they might bump
against the bottle racks on the door if you attempt to
pull them out completely. The user manual has detailed
instructions to help you adjust the shelves.
n PROS Excellent overall performance
n CONS No covered chiller tray for dairy
Big appliances
F
rom curry spills and chocolate milk to grease, the clothes that
go into your wash come with all kinds of stains and only a
good washing machine will be able to cope with every single
one of them. In this round-up of top-loading washing machines, we
fnd out which ones are the best at taking that load off your back to
keep your clothes sparkly clean.
Of the 10 top-loaders we tested, three of them had excellent
scores of above 75%, and have been named Right Choices.
These models performed extremely well in all our tests and
represent the cream of the crop. There are two other models
here that are worth considering; had it not been for their poor
score in a single category, these washing machines could have made
the Right Choice cut.
WHAT WE DID
Our lab tests assessed more than just wash performance; we also
looked at how well the washing machines got rid of the detergent
from your clothes, along with how well they dried them after the
wash. In addition, we judged how effcient these machines are when
it comes to water and energy use.
Many of the tested washing machines have useful features, such
as the ability to restart automatically after a power outage.
Some of them even have sensors to fgure out how much
detergent youve used and how heavy your clothes are to come up
with the most appropriate settings to wash your clothes.
All these new and additional features are designed to take the
hassle out of doing your laundry but whether you really need these
add-ons would depend on your personal preferences.
Washing machines
A Right Choice top-loading washing machine ensures a clean and efcient wash
whichrightchoice.com 10 I Right Choice guide
Big appliances
Right Choices
Our testing champ in this round-up was the LG
T72CMG22P, which came top of the class in
several testing categories. In fact, along with
the Whirlpool Stainwash, it was the most
energy-efcient washing machine on test.
With a mid-sized 6.2kg drum, this LG model
is available in cool grey or marine blue.
Features Some of the models special features
include a turbodrum feature, where the drum
rotates in the opposite direction to the pulsator.
This should improve the agitation of your laundry
and produce a more efective wash. It also
has an air dry mode, which LG claims will dry
clothes better by sending bursts of air through
the drum as it rotates. It does lack features in
comparison with the other tested LG model,
the LG T7222PFFC. For example, it adds an extra
rinse cycle if the machines fuzzy logic judges
it necessary. The LG T7222PFFC, instead, adds
more rinsing time to the existing cycles. We also
found the control panel display a bit small to
use comfortably.
This model scored three or more stars in most of
our tests, doing especially well in stain removal.
With a capacity of 6.5kg, it comes in colour
combinations of wine-chrome or grey-chrome.
Features The machine comes with a cleaner-
looking display than some of the other
machines and given how cluttered many
washing machine control panels are that is a
considerable achievement. The manufacturer has
also sought to make the machine user-friendly
with huge gures of one, two and three
outlining the order in which buttons should be
pressed to operate the machine.
However, the display doesnt look like it will
stand the test of time, with its imsy plastic cover.
The buttons also feel like bubbles of air when
you press them and, since they dont give much
feedback, you dont really know if youve clicked
a button or not. It comes with an in-built 1,450W
water heater which is uncommon, though there
are several issues to consider when using hot
water for your wash (see p13).
This LG performed well in all our categories,
doing especially well when it comes to rinsing
detergent out of clothes. With a 6.2kg-capacity
drum, the model is available in colour schemes of
free-silver or wine-red.
Features One of the prominent diferences
between this and the other LG model on test, the
LG T72CMG22P, is the fact that it has separate
inlets for cold and hot water. It may not make
much of a diference to many but, if you have a
separate hot water supply, this is something you
could take advantage of. The availability of hot
water allows the machine to mix it with cold
water and wash your clothes at the temperature
you desire.
This LG model comes with an i-sensor which
determines how much detergent youve put in
and the waters temperature and hardness to
come up with the best program to clean your
clothes. One shortcoming of the i-sensor is that it
supposedly works better with powder detergents
than liquid ones.
n PROS Excellent at removing stains
n CONS Extra rinse uses a lot of water
n PROS Well-organised display
n CONS Buttons are not very responsive
n PROS Really good at rinsing
n CONS Favours powder detergents
80% LG T72CMG22P, `18,290
77% Whirlpool Whitemagic 1-2-3 nxt 653h, `21,125
76% LG T7222PFFC, `20,090
RIGHT
CHOICE
RIGHT
CHOICE
RIGHT
CHOICE
whichrightchoice.com Right Choice guide I 11
Big appliances
12
13
whichrightchoice.com Right Choice guide I 13 12 I Right Choice guide whichrightchoice.com
Big appliances
Worth Considering
Living up to its name, the Stainwash provides an
excellent wash tackling the toughest marks with
ease in our tests. It was also the most energy-
efcient model on test, which is why weve given
it a mention in the Worth Considering category.
This 7.2kg model is available in colour schemes
of frosted grey and roseberry diva. It is certainly
one of the best-looking machines here, with
an almost space-age look to it. One of the few
issues is that the window for the lid is really dark.
If the point of having a glass lid is to enable users
to see how their washings doing, having a lid that
is difcult to see through defeats the purpose.
Features Several of its features are similar to
those of the Whirlpool WhiteMagic. It has an
in-built 1,450W water heater, a comparable water
re-use function and buttons that give you little
feedback when pressed. It comes with around
25 separate washing programs and so ofers an
incredible level of customisation, and as long as
you arent intimidated by that level of complexity,
it could actually help you with your washing.
This machine was the fourth-best machine in our
testing when it comes to overall performance
and, if it was just a little more water-efcient,
could have even been a Right Choice. Apart from
that it got four or ve stars in most of our other
testing categories. It is available in one colour
combination a white body with a Caribbean
blue lid.
Features This Samsung has a function similar to
the water re-use function of the Whirlpool models,
where water from a rinse is saved for another
wash. It also has an air turbo drying mode where
the clothes get dried better through bursts of air
that come through the drum walls. It has no facility
to memorise your favourite settings, but your last
settings will be stored a useful feature if you
tend to repeat the same wash programs.
The control panel has a very complex design
with lots of indicators and buttons which may
make things easier or overwhelming for you,
depending on how inclined you are to learn all
the functionality involved.
n PROS Energy-efcient
n CONS Glass lid too dark to see through
n PROS Good at re-using water
n CONS Complicated control panel
74% WHIRLPOOL STAINWASH, `24,350
73% SAMSUNG WA82BSLEC, `16,170
When testing washing machines, we use
the programme recommended by the
manufacturer which is usually fuzzy
logic. Where this mode was not available,
normal or a similar mode was used. Water
temperature was kept at 282C and 65g
of detergent was used. Stain removal was
tested by placing strips of cloth stained with
chocolate milk, curry, red wine and carbon.
After washing, our experts measured how
much of each stain was removed. To fnd
out how well the rinsing cycle got rid of
detergent, the water from our washing test
was drained and the alkalinity tested. We
also looked at how well the spinning stage
took water out of the clothes by measuring
the amount of water remaining in the
laundry. Besides this, we also measured the
energy and water used, noise levels and
ease of use.
HOW WE TEST
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whichrightchoice.com Right Choice guide I 13 12 I Right Choice guide whichrightchoice.com
Big appliances
USING THE TABLE
The more the stars, the better. Right Choice models
are highlighted in red.
SPECIFICATION Price Guide price as of November 1,
2013 Capacity The washing capacity given by the
manufacturer Size Dimensions in cm (hxwxd)
TEST PERFORMANCE Soil removal How well diferent
types of stains are removed Rinsing How much
detergent is removed from the water in the rinse cycle
Spinning How efectively water is removed from the
clothes Overall performance A measure formed from
combining scores in the soil removal, rinsing and
spinning categories Energy & water consumption
Energy and water consumed during the whole wash
with respect to the capacity of the washing machine
Noise level A measure of the maximum noise level
recorded during the whole wash Ease of use Formed
by combining the scores in several subjective
categories such as the clarity of the instruction
manual, the ease of using the control panel and how
comfortable it is to load and unload clothes.
SCORE
This ignores price and is based on:
Overall performance ................................................................. 50%
Energy & water consumption ................................................30%
Noise level ........................................................................................ 10%
Ease of use ....................................................................................... 10%
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SPECIFICATION TEST PERFORMANCE
TEST AND RATINGS
BRAND
1 LG T72CMG22P 18,290 6.2 84x54x54 80
2 WHIRLPOOL Whitemagic 1-2-3 nxt 653h 21,125 6.5 91x54x56 77
3 LG T7222PFFC 20,090 6.2 84x54x54 76
4 WHIRLPOOL Stainwash 24,350 7.2 103x54x56 74
5 SAMSUNG WA82BSLEC 16,170 6.2 94x54x56 73
6 SAMSUNG WA85BSOEH 17,880 6.2 90x52x56 73
7 PANASONIC NA-F62B3 16,490 6.2 93x53x53 72
8 ELECTROLUX Elita ET58EGGL 14,490 5.8 85x50x50 70
9 CROMA Craw 1105 13,000 6 92x54x54 66
10 VIDEOCON VT55A11 11,990 5.5 88x56x88 62
Some newer washing machines now
come with in-built water heaters. You
may not pay much attention to the water
temperature when washing clothes, but
at higher temperatures water becomes a
better solvent, which means that the
stains will dissolve quicker and better. This
is why a warm or hot water wash is usually
more efective. And for substances like
oils that dont dissolve or otherwise mix
in water, hot water helps melt them. This
allows the detergents molecules to do
their job properly, binding to stains quickly
before being washed away. But there are
things to watch out for when using hot
water washes.
n Hot water could set some protein-
based stains, such as blood. If your
clothes happen to have those kinds
of stain, you may want to wash
them separately.
n Also, fabrics such as cotton, wool and
linen shrink in hot water, so use warm
water instead of hot.
n One issue that weve seen with the
models featuring built-in water heaters
is that they only give generic labels, such
as warm or hot, without giving the actual
temperature. This means you cant select
the actual temperature of your water.
n When you heat water for your
washes, energy gets used up which
in turn will bump up your electricity
bills. It is said that modern detergent
formulations are only marginally less
efective in cold water than in warm
water. However, without conducting
an independent test on this claim in
Indian conditions, nothing can be said
for certain.
n There is a stronger
consensus, though,
over the idea that
towels or blankets
should be washed
in hot water. This is
because germs can
be killed more easily
in water that is at a
higher temperature
than normal.
Should you wash your clothes at a higher temperature?
O
nce used purely to heat up
food, todays microwaves are
taking on more and more
functions traditionally reserved for
ovens. With the right model you can
save time and effort in the kitchen,
avoiding lengthy pre-heating and
using automatic programmes that
calculate timings and do the thinking
for you.
On top of microwave cooking, the
latest models also allow convection
cooking, which should produce
results similar to those youd expect
from an oven. A good convection
microwave will bake a cake that is
soft, moist and fuffy on the inside
with a crispy, golden brown surface.
Most convection microwaves we see
heat food evenly and are excellent
at microwaving. But many struggle
when it comes to convection, and the
four lowest scorers got our poorest
one-star rating for convection cooking.
Convection
Microwaves
From heating to cooking to baking, heres
how to buy the right one for your meals
14
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whichrightchoice.com Right Choice guide I 15 14 I Right Choice guide whichrightchoice.com
Big appliances
Right Choices
If you want a microwave that will take on pretty
much any cooking task, this is the one to go
for. It has the worlds rst charcoal lighting
heater, which uses a charcoal lament for
natural barbecued avours. This LG also
boasts a 201-strong auto cook menu, including
132 Indian items and an Indian Bread Basket
This is our cheapest Right Choice convection
microwave and one of the cheapest weve
tested, so if you want great cooking results
across the board without breaking the
bank its an excellent option. Convection
cooking produces crispy golden edges without
drying out or burning your food, and liquids are
75% LG MJ3281BCG,
`27,790
69% SamSung ce104VD-B,
`13,390
range for naan and paratha. It heats quickly and
convection results are great: youll get crisp,
brown edges and soft centres when you bake.
A step-by-step guide on the display walks you
through diferent recipe stages a nice touch if
youre cooking a complicated dish.
heated evenly. Its slow and managed a rise of
just around 55C in 100 seconds in our tests,
while the fastest we see manage 57C rise in
80 seconds. 41 auto-cook programmes are
provided, including 10 Indian dishes, but this is
one of the nosiest microwaves weve tested.
n PROS Lots of functions, great results
n CONS Expensive
n PROS Cheap, good all-rounder
n CONS Noisy in operation
RIGHT
CHOICE
RIGHT
CHOICE
USING THE TABLE
The more stars, the better. Right Choices are
highlighted in red.
SPECIFICATION Price (`) This is a guide price as of
November 1, 2013 Stated power This refers to the
maximum power, as stated by the microwave's
manufacturer Warranty The number of years cover
provided as standard by the manufacturer, at no
additional cost
TEST PERFORMANCE Evenness of heating The evenness
and consistency of temperatures when heating
liquids Heating beverages The temperature
rise of liquids when heated on recommended
settings, and the time taken to get there Microwave
heating Considers the temperature rise, the time taken
and the consistency of temperature when heating
liquids on the recommended settings Convection
cooking How well the microwave oven baked a cake
on recommended settings. Results provided are the
average taken from three test runs Ease of use How
easy the microwave is to use and clean Noise The
volume and pitch of the noise
SCORE This ignores price and is based on:
Microwave heating................................................................... 40%
Convection cooking ................................................................ 30%
Ease of use .................................................................................. 25%
Noise ................................................................................................. 5%
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SPECIFICATION TEST PERFORMANCE
TEST AND RATINGS
BRAND
1 LG MJ3281BCG 27,790 900 1 75
2 SAMSUNG CE104VD-B 13,390 900 1 68
3 LG MC 2841SPS 14,090 900 1 62
4 MORPHY RICHARDS MWO 30 CGR 14,995 NA 2 56
5 GODREJ GME 30 CR1 BIM 16,800 NA 3 56
6 PANASONIC NN-CD671M 14,290 900 NA 53
7 IFB 30SC3 16,600 NA 1 46
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whichrightchoice.com Right Choice guide I 15 14 I Right Choice guide whichrightchoice.com
Y
ou cant beat coming back to a
cool, comfortable home after a
hot day out and the latest air
conditioners allow you to personalise
the cooling settings. Timers automatically
switch the unit on before youre home to
make sure your room is just the way you
want it the moment you step through
the door.
On top of that, the latest models are also
smart enough to know when youre not in
the room and adjust the air temperature
accordingly.
If anything, it is clear that todays
models are nothing like the air conditioners
you may have grown up with. But while
these features may be nice to have, the
Split air conditioners
A good split air conditioner isnt just great at cooling but is energy-efcient and
quiet, too. Find out which of the seven we tested are worthy of a place in your home
most important thing to consider when
buying an AC is how well it will cool your
room. We have tested seven 1.5 ton split air
conditioners and reveal which are best for
getting the job done.
WHAT MAKES A RIGHT CHOICE?
All the air conditioners that made the Right
Choice cut scored over 77% in our tests,
meaning they performed well across the
board. The reason just four of the seven
models tested received the Right Choice
label is that the rest fell short in more than
one category.
But almost all of them cool your room
well, have average or above-average scores
when it comes to removing humidity from
the room and are energy-effcient while
they work.
NEW TURBO TESTING
A new addition to the way we test air
conditioners is the turbo test, in which
we check how well an air conditioner cools
your room when its set to its most powerful
mode. Pleasingly, almost all of the models
had good results when it came to this test.
?
whichrightchoice.com Right Choice guide I 17 16 I Right Choice guide whichrightchoice.com
Big appliances
Right Choices
The Panasonic TC18PKY air conditioner scored high when it
came to cooling capacity (the rate at which heat is removed
from a room). And even better, this unit was respectably efcient
while doing this. While it may consume as much power as
the others, it will be quicker to cool your room to the desired
temperature.
Features The Panasonic model has certain frills which make it
all the more appealing. It has an econavi mono sensor which
detects human activity (or lack thereof) in the room and decreases
or increases the temperature accordingly. All of which means
more savings for you on your electricity bill. Its lters purify the
air by getting rid of various germs and allergens that might
compromise your health. Also, its design allows air to be sent
The Blue Star 5HW18ZBW is a great all-rounder. It was at least
close to the top in almost every category. Its average performance
in our energy efciency test may have just stopped it from coming
top in our rankings but wasnt enough to stop it from being a
Right Choice.
Features In terms of useful features, this air conditioner has
an I feel mode, which cools the room to a target set by the
temperature previously sensed in the room. Another feature is
that if theres a power outage, when the power comes back the
unit will switch to the previous settings. There is also an LCD
display on the front panel of the indoor unit, with indicators that let
you know if the air conditioner is experiencing errors or the lter
needs cleaning. On the downside, this air conditioner cannot direct
One of our top three models in this round-up, the LG LSA5MR5M
air conditioner gets almost everything right. It did well in the
cooling, energy efciency and turbo tests and was above
average at dehumidifying the air. While it is by no means
noisy, its also not the quietest model; otherwise this LG put in
a solid performance across the board.
Features The LG LSA5MR5M has special modes such as
a monsoon comfort mode, so if you happen to be living in
a place with a very humid monsoon, this mode will regulate
the temperature and humidity of your room periodically to
keep you comfortable even when its damp outside. Using
your air conditioner in this mode could even lead to energy
savings over using it in the dry mode. The commitment to
n PROS Excellent and energy-efcient cooling
n CONS No remote-controlled horizontal swing
n PROS Excellent all-round performance
n CONS No silent mode
n PROS Well-thought-out operating modes
n CONS Noisier than other models
80% PANASONIC TC18PKY, `43,990
80% BLUE STAR 5HW18ZBW, `42,600
78% LG LSA5MR5M, `41,990
RIGHT
CHOICE
RIGHT
CHOICE
RIGHT
CHOICE
with greater power across larger rooms, though keep in mind
that larger rooms also need air conditioners with a higher tonnage
for efective cooling.
airow from side to side (it only goes up and down) and it does
not have a silent mode of operation to quieten it down when you
are sleeping.
being energy-efcient is also evident from the e-saver mode,
which allows the air conditioner to level of after reaching a
certain temperature.
whichrightchoice.com Right Choice guide I 17 16 I Right Choice guide whichrightchoice.com
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whichrightchoice.com Right Choice guide I 19 18 I Right Choice guide whichrightchoice.com
Big appliances
A top or above average scorer in almost every category, the
only area in which the Hitachi 518ITDA fell short in our tests is that
of energy efciency. Its more environmentally friendly than other
models, though, as it uses the refrigerant R410A in place of the
more commonly-used R22.
Features The Hitachi 518ITDA air conditioner has an
auto-climate technology feature which, if switched on, makes
use of the temperature and humidity information for around
100 Indian cities. After recognising which city you are in, this
Hitachi sets an appropriate temperature and fan speed, then
adjusts it throughout the day. It also has a timer feature which
means the air conditioner can be set to cool the room to a specic
temperature at a certain time. The unit will switch on an hour
n PROS Intelligent features built in
n CONS Could be more energy-efcient
78% HITACHI 518ITDA, `49,100
before the set time and, after making an assessment, only turns
the cooling on for as long as is necessary to get the room to the
temperature you want.
RIGHT
CHOICE
We use industry-standard testing
equipment to scrutinise each air
conditioner in our tests. We check how
much power is supplied by a unit to cool
the room, the power consumed, how
efcient a unit is and how much humidity
is taken out of the room by using a
balanced ambient calorimeter.
The calorimeter is a complex structure
comprising two rooms that simulate
indoor and outdoor environments, with
monitoring equipment attached to provide
the measurements we need.
To see how noisy a unit is, we
combined objective measurements with
the subjective assessments of testers,
who stood two metres away from the
machine and rated the noisiness of the
air conditioners.
A new addition this time was the turbo
test, in which we looked at how well
each model could cool a room in half an
hours time which is the way many use
their air conditioners at home. For this
we used the turbo, supercool or function
most similar in concept; if there wasnt
one, we set the air conditioner unit to cool
at its most powerful setting. After that,
using the balanced ambient calorimeter
structure mentioned earlier, we checked
the temperature and humidity levels and
took readings again after half an hour to
check for diferences.
The cooling capacity supplied and the
power consumed by the air conditioners
during that half hour also formed part of
our calculations.
HOW WE TEST
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whichrightchoice.com Right Choice guide I 19 18 I Right Choice guide whichrightchoice.com
USING THE TABLE
The more stars, the better. Right Choice models are
highlighted in red.
SPECIFICATION Price Guide prices as of July 19, 2013
Size Dimensions (hxwxd) of indoor and outdoor units
in cm
TEST PERFORMANCE Cooling capacity The rate at
which heat is removed from a room Power
consumption The power used by the unit to run EER
Ratio of the cooling capacity to power consumption
Dehumidication capacity Rate at which humidity is
removed from the air Noise A measure formed from
putting together objective and subjective
assessments of noise levels at both the lowest and
highest settings of the AC Turbo test Combines
scores for cooling, dehumidication, power consumed
and degrees in temperature reduced during the rst
30 minutes of units operation at its highest setting
SCORE This ignores price and is based on:
Cooling capacity .........................................................................25%
Energy Efciency Ratio .............................................................25%
Dehumidication capacity ..................................................... 20%
Noise ................................................................................................ 15%
Turbo tests ...................................................................................... 15%
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SPECIFICATION TEST PERFORMANCE
TEST AND RATINGS
BRAND
1 PANASONIC TC18PKY 43,990 31x107x23 70x94x40 3.4 80
2 BLUE STAR 5HW18ZBW 42,600 33x93x20 68x93x38 3.3 80
3 LG LSA5MR5M 41,990 31x109x21 56x86x34 3.5 78
4 HITACHI 518ITDA 49,100 26x79x34 60x86x34 3.3 78
5 LLOYD LS19A5L (WHITE) 35,490 32x108x23 55x84x55 3.4 76
6 SAMSUNG AR18FC5UAEBX 36,800 22x106x32 64x93x36 3.3 69
7 MITSUBISHI Mr Slim G18VC 45,300 33x109x24 56x87x34 3.4 65
If youre not in the market for a new air
conditioner, or arent sure whether you need
an upgrade, here are some tips that will
help you get the most out of the model you
already have.
n If you want cleaner air, the flter present
in the air conditioner will help to purify
the air pumped out. However, dirt and
possibly mould tends to build up on
the flter and can affect the quality of the
air. You can avoid this by cleaning the
flter regularly (but no more than once a
month), which is a relatively simple task.
It typically involves running water over
the flter or simply wiping it down.
n Apart from cleaning the flter, keeping
the inside of the unit dry will also help
to prevent the growth of mould. Some
units have auto-clean modes for this but
if yours doesnt, keep the fan running for
at least 15 minutes after you turn off the
cooling. This will get rid of any moisture
the mould could possibly grow in.
n One problem with older units was that it
would get really cold at night because you
set the temperature way too low as you
went to bed. You might have had to get
up in the middle of the night to switch it
off. Newer units are likely to have a sleep
mode, which regulates the temperature at
night and even automatically increases it,
ensuring your sleep is comfortable.
n Instead of using the turbo feature after
you get back from work to cool the room
down rapidly, an alternative is to use the
timer feature. Doing this will make sure
the unit is switched on for a while before
youve reached home. This way you get
the effect you want the moment you enter
the house, rather than 30 minutes later.
n If you experience dampness in the
room, resist the temptation to turn on
the cooling frst; it will only worsen
the problem and the moisture will take
longer to clear up. Some air conditioners
have humidity control features that
automatically set an appropriate
temperature and get rid of the moisture
in the air for you. But if your air
conditioners doesnt, you can achieve a
similar effect by running it in dry mode
frst and then putting it into cooling
mode only once it starts feeling a little
less clammy inside.
Getting more out of your AC