Start by listing the appliances already in the property, then prioritise the one that provides a daily essential you’re currently missing: storing food, cooking, doing the laundry or cleaning your home. Before choosing a model, check that you have enough space, the right connections and the capacity you need. A multi-function or refurbished appliance is only suitable if its features and installation requirements meet your needs.
If the kitchen or laundry area isn’t fully equipped, first identify which needs are already covered. An appliance that’s already there and in working order could make a planned purchase from a standard checklist unnecessary.
If space or connections are limited, compare the dimensions and capacity of the exact model you’re considering. A combined appliance is only worth considering if it genuinely covers the tasks you need it for.
Before choosing an offer, check the model, its condition, the essential accessories, installation requirements and the seller’s status. For refurbished goods, France’s Ministry of the Economy states that their features must have been tested and that they must have been restored to working order if necessary.
Start with the everyday task you need an appliance for, then rule out models that don’t suit your home or household’s usage patterns.
| Priority | What to check | What suits my needs |
|---|---|---|
| Function and installation | Make a list of the appliances already there. Measure the space and the delivery route; check that the sockets, water supply and drainage required by the model are available. | I’ll start with the need that’s genuinely not being met, rather than buying a duplicate appliance or one that can’t be installed. |
| Capacity and usage | Choose a capacity that matches the amount of laundry or washing-up you typically have. When comparing like-for-like dishwashers, ADEME recommends checking factors such as kWh per 100 cycles, litres per cycle, Eco programme duration and noise levels. | A large drum is only useful to me if I can fill it regularly. ADEME says a 7 kg washing machine is sufficient for most people. |
| Maintenance and repairs | Check the information available for the specific model, particularly about spare parts and maintenance. In France, the Ministry for Ecological Transition describes the durability index for eligible washing machines as a score out of 10 that takes account of factors including reliability and repairability. | For an appliance I use often, I want to compare more than just capacity: maintenance and repair options matter too. |
| Second-hand or refurbished | Check the seller’s identity, the tests they say have been carried out, the appliance’s condition, accessories and warranty documents. According to France’s Ministry of the Economy, the statutory conformity guarantee applies in France to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to a private individual. | If I choose an appliance that’s already been used, I want to know exactly what’s included, how it needs to be installed and who to contact if something is wrong. |
An appliance might meet your needs but not fit through the door, or its intended location might not have the connections it requires.
Measure the space and delivery route, then check the sockets and connections available against the instructions for the exact model.
A larger capacity won’t necessarily suit the amount of laundry your household produces. ADEME says a 7 kg washing machine is sufficient for most people and recommends avoiding cycles when the drum isn’t full enough.
Estimate the size of your usual loads before comparing capacities, then check the energy label and noise information.
Having two functions doesn’t tell you whether the capacity, programmes and connections will suit the way you use them.
Check each function on the product page for the specific model, along with the space and installation it requires, before deciding against two separate appliances.
The seller’s status affects which guarantees apply. According to France’s Ministry of the Economy, the statutory conformity guarantee applies to sales from a business to a private individual, including second-hand and refurbished goods.
Identify the seller and keep a copy of the listing, invoice, condition description and accessories list. Read the terms of any commercial warranty separately.
These Joybuy options cover food storage, washing dishes or laundry, and floor care. Start by choosing the function your home is missing: these appliances aren’t a shopping list to buy all at once.
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Consider this if you don’t have a way to wash dishes and a countertop model would suit your kitchen. The product name lists 5+1 wash cycles and a built-in 5 L tank. Before ordering, check the space available, how you plan to supply the water and where the waste water will drain.
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If your home doesn’t have a suitable appliance for keeping food fresh and frozen, this model combines a fridge and freezer. Its product name lists a 262 L capacity, a 70/30 split, a width of 54 cm and a height of 176 cm, with Low Frost technology. Also check the depth, clearance requirements and delivery route. Low Frost doesn’t mean you’ll never need to defrost it.
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Consider this if you don’t already have a way to do the laundry and your usual loads justify a 10 kg capacity. ADEME says a 7 kg washing machine is sufficient for most people, so compare the capacity with the way you do your laundry, then check the model’s dimensions, connections and energy label.
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This model with a station is designed for automated vacuuming and mopping, rather than being an essential first purchase for every home. Its product name states a claimed suction power of 25 000 Pa and mop washing at 75 °C. Check where the station will go, whether it’s suitable for your floors and what maintenance it needs.
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Consider this if you need a vacuum cleaner for everyday cleaning and would like a cordless model. The product name claims up to 65 minutes of run time, although this won’t apply to every operating mode. Check that the accessories suit your flooring, and find out how to maintain the filters and where to get replacements.
Make a list of the appliances already there and the tasks they cover, then choose the one you’re missing in your day-to-day life. Measure the space and delivery route, then check that the model you’re considering has the required sockets, water supply and drainage.
When comparing similar models, look at factors such as energy use in kWh per 100 cycles, water use in litres per cycle, capacity, Eco programme duration and noise levels. ADEME notes that the consumption figures shown are based on reference cycles, so they may not reflect every programme.
Not necessarily. Choose a capacity that suits the size of your usual laundry loads. ADEME says a 7 kg washing machine is sufficient for most people. Also check the dimensions, connections and information on the energy label.
In France, yes, when a business sells a refurbished item to a private individual, according to the Ministry of the Economy. This statutory guarantee also covers new and second-hand goods sold under these conditions. It’s separate from any optional commercial warranty, so check the seller’s status before buying.
For eligible new washing machines in France, compare the score out of 10 and, if available, its breakdown. The Ministry for Ecological Transition says it takes account of factors including reliability and repairability. It doesn’t replace checking the model’s capacity, dimensions and installation requirements.