Start by equipping your home for the activities you’ll need to do regularly: storing food, preparing meals, doing the laundry and cleaning the floors. A specialist appliance can wait if you’ll only use it occasionally. If you’re buying second-hand or refurbished, the item’s condition and the seller’s status matter just as much as the features you’re looking for.
If space is limited and your needs may change, every appliance should have a clear purpose. Insee highlights the greater mobility of younger households, so before buying a bulky appliance, think about how much space it will take up if you move.
Storing food, preparing meals and doing laundry at home are all part of your weekly routine. The aim is to cover these activities without buying lots of specialist appliances. ADEME points out that fridges and freezers run continuously.
You’d like to consider a second-life appliance and know what has been tested, what condition the item is in and who is selling it. DGCCRF recommends checking the technical and cosmetic details specific to the refurbished appliance.
Start with the activities you do each week, then check whether your home already has a satisfactory solution for each one. Measure the available space before choosing the capacity or features of a new appliance.
| Need | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Storing food | Choose a capacity to suit your shopping habits and measure the available space. Compare the energy consumption shown for appliances in the same category; according to ADEME, fridges and freezers run continuously. | If I regularly keep perishable food at home, I want enough space without leaving a large appliance half empty. Around 31% of consumers make food storage a priority. |
| Doing laundry at home | Check the existing connections, the dimensions and the space needed to open the door or lid. Then choose a capacity to suit how often you do laundry. | Doing my laundry at home becomes important if a shared or off-site option doesn’t suit me. Laundry at home is the main priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Making the most of limited space | List the functions you’ll actually use before combining several tasks in one appliance. Check its dimensions and the clearance it needs. | In a small home, I’d rather make room for everyday activities than for several appliances I rarely use. Making the most of space comes first for around 25% of consumers. |
| Waiting or buying second-life | If you’ll rarely use an appliance, consider waiting. For second-hand or refurbished items, check the actual condition, tests carried out, accessories included and the seller’s status. | I want to avoid an unnecessary immediate purchase, or choose a second-life appliance whose condition I can assess. Around 19% of consumers prioritise this decision. |
Extra capacity or features take up space, even if you rarely use them. ADEME points out that fridges and freezers run continuously and recommends avoiding unnecessary appliances.
Think about your usual food shopping before choosing a capacity or adding a separate freezer.
According to the French Ministry of the Economy, an appliance sold as refurbished is a second-hand item whose functions have been tested. DGCCRF specifies that its technical and cosmetic description must relate to the actual item being sold.
Ask what has been tested or repaired, check the stated condition and included accessories, and keep a copy of the product description.
In France, the Ministry of the Economy states that the legal guarantee of conformity applies to second-hand or refurbished goods sold by a business to a consumer, but not to private sales.
Check who the seller is before paying, and ask for a clear description of the item’s condition and any known faults.
An appliance for a need you’re not sure you have may become clutter or duplicate something you already own. ADEME advises buying only the equipment you really need.
Cover your regular needs first, then wait until you know your habits before adding specialist appliances.
These appliances are designed for different tasks: doing laundry, storing food, reheating or defrosting meals and cleaning your home. Decide which activities you need to cater for at home before comparing models.
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Worth considering if you do laundry regularly at home and have the necessary connections. Top-loading design, spin speed of 1,400 rpm, B energy rating, Inverter motor, Wi-Fi and 17 programmes. Check there’s enough space to open the lid, and confirm the delivery and installation arrangements.
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Worth considering if you keep food at home but want to save space. This model has a freezer compartment and an E energy rating. Before buying, compare its capacity with your habits and check all its dimensions, ventilation clearances and the model’s stated annual energy consumption.
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Worth comparing if you regularly need to store both fresh and frozen food. The stated capacities are 153 L for the fridge and 74 L for the freezer; it has a stated width of 54 cm, a reversible door and an E energy rating. Make sure the capacity suits your shopping habits, then check the height, clearances and annual energy consumption.
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Handy for reheating or defrosting food in a home with limited equipment, but don’t assume a microwave will cover all your cooking needs. It has a stated power output of 700 W, six preset programmes, 11 power levels and a defrost function. Check the space and ventilation clearances it needs before choosing a spot for it.
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Worth considering for cleaning floors and surfaces if a corded appliance suits the layout of your plug sockets. It has a stated power rating of 550 W, a 0.5 L dust container and a 4.5 m cord, which limits its reach unless you change sockets. Do not vacuum liquids, hot ash or flammable materials.
Start with the appliances you need for activities you do regularly at home, rather than following a standard checklist. If you store perishable food, consider your refrigeration needs. Then think about how you’ll cook, do laundry and clean before buying anything.
No. It helps you compare the information shown for similar appliances, but it doesn’t tell you what capacity you need or how much space you have. Measure the available space and decide how you’ll use the appliance before comparing labels for models in the same category.
In France, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to refurbished goods sold by a business to a consumer, according to the Ministry of the Economy. Check that the seller’s description matches the appliance being sold and keep your proof of purchase. Any commercial warranty is separate from this legal protection.
No. In France, the legal guarantee of conformity that applies to sales from a business to a consumer does not apply to private sales, according to the Ministry of the Economy. Ask about the appliance’s condition and any known faults before paying, and keep a record of your written messages.
Check what functional tests have been carried out and read the description of the specific item you’ll receive. According to the Ministry of the Economy, refurbished goods are second-hand items whose functions have been tested and which have been repaired if necessary. DGCCRF specifies that the technical and cosmetic information must relate to that appliance, not just the original new model.