Best home appliances — washing machines, fridges and ovens compared

A large appliance is bought once and paid for over a decade. That is why the purchase price is the weakest predictor of a good decision here, and why we always set it against energy, water and consumables across the lifespan typical for the class.

The European energy label was rescaled in 2021, so a machine sold today as class C can be more efficient than one that carried an A+++ sticker a few years ago. We read the label as a set rather than a single letter: the energy and water figures per cycle, the spin-drying class, the noise level in decibels and the noise class. For dishwashers and washing machines we also check what the eco programme actually costs in time — the class is measured on a cycle that frequently runs three to four hours, and a household that never uses it will not see the declared consumption.

Then come the things labels do not cover: whether the drum bearings are replaceable, how long the manufacturer guarantees spare parts, what a service call costs in the second and fifth year. An appliance that cannot be repaired economically is not a bargain at any price, and it is the single most common reason a cheaper model ends up costing more.