Five interesting things you didn’t know about appliances

1. We spend more per year on washing machines, refrigerators and other appliances than on alcoholic beverages. According to INEGI data, in its survey carried out in 2017, the expenditure we make on books and purchase of household appliances is almost the same; while the annual expenditure on distilled beverages and spirits amounts to half.

2. In the home environment, the tendency of the main technological manufacturers is to offer a wide range of intelligent products such as washing machines, refrigerators and all kinds of appliances connected to the Internet. The so-called Internet of Things allows them to be controlled from mobile devices and enables the installation of software and apps updates and USB ports.

3. The main consumers of electrical energy at home and that represent an important leak are the so-called “vampires”, which consist of those equipments that remain connected to the electricity grid, such as refrigerators and some stoves. When an appliance remains connected, it continues to consume energy despite being turned off and unused. Therefore, the CFE recommends the use of a manual switch from which the supply to the current can be controlled. This facilitates disconnecting them when you are away from home.

4. The predecessor of the refrigerator was invented by Carl von Linde in 1876. His refrigerator used steam compression, which circulated through a pipe system to absorb heat from a cooling chamber. Before, people used underground cellars and refrigerators to keep food fresh.

5. The cultural importance of washing machines and refrigerators is very impressive. Even L’Ossovatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper, announced that washing machines were more related to women’s liberation than the birth control pill or their right to work. A study from the University of Montreal agrees and reports that appliances (including the washing machine and refrigerator) helped women have more time which allowed them to join the workforce sooner.