You Won’t Believe How Hard Your Home Appliances Work… (Let’s Show Them Some Love!)
Such an interesting glimpse into a typical year in the life of our household gadgets – I had to share the results of this survey!
* This post may contain affiliate links. They don't cost you a penny, but do pay a commission to this site.

In my house there’s usually something running in the background at any point in the day.
Whether that be the washing machine, dishwasher, kettle, or any of the other number of appliances we’ve got working hard on our behalf.
Are you the same?
They’re a brilliant help for all those household chores we have to do, and they save us so much time and energy – but it’s easy to overlook the tireless work these appliances perform.
As such, when I was sent the results from a recent survey of 2000 Brits (done by AO), I had to share, as they’re eye opening for sure!
It turns out we all tend to use those appliances a LOT – and maybe need to give them a little more love as a ‘thank you’ for all that hard work…
The Kettle: The MVP of the Kitchen
Let’s start with the star player – the kettle.
According to the study, Brits boil their kettles an incredible 1,092 times a year.
That’s nearly three times a day!
Although I’d probably double that for the amount of times we put the kettle on (coffee, tea, hot chocolate, cup a soup – it’s all done in our house!).
TIP: Save energy and money by boiling only the water that you need each time you use it.
Itโs clear that the British love for our cups of tea runs deep, but the kettle isnโt the only appliance working hard…
The Busy Bees in Your Home
Hereโs a quick overview of how often other household appliances are used each year:
- Washing Machine: 364 loads – 1 a day on average
- Oven: 468 meals – all evening meals and a few lunches or breakfasts too…
- Vacuum Cleaner: 416 times – this surprised me the most, who has time to vacuum over once a day?!
- Dishwasher: 468 loads – again, surprising – I would have guessed at once a day at most. Although, with all the weird things you can clean in a dishwasher, this makes a little more sense!
- Microwave: 624 meals. Although this is a lot, it’s not really surprising to me, as they’re so easy to use for quick cooking and quick heating up of things throughout the day.
Which surprises you most? Are you about average in your use of each? I’d love to know, so please leave a comment at the end of the article.

Appliance Appreciation
Despite their constant use, the study found that 24% of people donโt really appreciate their appliances, and 71% even get annoyed with them.
Guilty!
I’ve often found myself getting unreasonably annoyed when the dishwasher keeps beeping to remind me it’s finished, or the washing machine vibrates too loudly when it’s in it’s spin cycle…
How about you?
Understanding Our Appliances
Despite increased usage, the study revealed that thereโs a surprising lack of understanding about how our appliances work.
62% of people donโt know how to use all the functions on their appliances, and 95% use the same setting every time.
Why?
One reason might be that 13% have never read the user manuals, and another 10% have discarded them.
No wonder 49% of us regret not keeping those manuals when something goes wrong!
TIP: You can often find the up to date manuals online if you want to declutter the paperwork from your home.
3 Ways To Show Your Appliances Some Love
The big takeaway from these results really is that our appliances work tirelessly for us, and itโs time we showed them some appreciation.
As such, here are a few simple tips to keep your appliances happy and efficient:
Read the Manual
Understanding how to use your appliances properly can save you a lot of hassle in the long run.
Don’t be afraid of reading that manual when you get a new item. You may be surprised at what you find out.
In fact, it may ultimately help you to make them work more efficiently which will save you energy, time and money – and that’s got to be a win all round!
TIP: Consider making it a goal to learn a new function on one of your appliances each week. Not only will this make your appliance more efficient, but you might also discover a feature you never knew existed. Itโs a fun way to enhance your routine and get more out of your appliances.
Regular Cleaning & Maintenance
A clean appliance with no outstanding issues will ultimately work better and last longer – and is more pleasant to use.
As such, add them all to your cleaning schedule and make sure you give them regular maintenance checks in order to reap the rewards of having an efficient item to use, with no major issues (and expense) building up behind the scenes.
Give Them A Break
With the current cost-of-living crisis, many of us have had to rethink how we use our appliances so that we can enjoy the help they give without wasting too much money in the process.
Here are some common adaptations:
- Reduced Usage: Over half (56%) are trying to use their appliances less frequently.
- Unplugging: 47% now switch off appliances at the plug when theyโre not in use.
- Bigger Loads: 34% are filling the washing machine to the brim to reduce the number of cycles.

So, there you have it – exactly how hard your average home appliance works each year, and how to look after them as a thank you!
They’re a lot more than just tools, theyโre the backbone of our daily routines:
The smell of a Sunday roast cooking in the oven, the comforting hum of the dishwasher at the end of a long day, the satisfying click of the kettle turning off after boiling…
All these little moments add up to a lot of comfort and joy in our daily lives, and by appreciating and maintaining each one we can make our home life infinitely easier and more efficient.
So, the next time you boil the kettle or load the dishwasher, take a moment to thank that hardworking helper.
You’d be lost without it!
And don’t forget to let me know in the comments whether your use of these appliances is more, less, or about average, based on the survey results. I’d love to know!
Read Next: Yes! – You Really Can Clean ALL Of These 21 Things In Your Dishwasher…