The COVID-19 lockdown has left retailers in the electronics and home appliances segment with loads of unsold inventory in their godowns. A few firms have indicated that their employees may have to take a pay cut for a few months, until the situation becomes stable. Retailers say the servicing segment has also taken a huge hit due to the lockdown.
"As an industry, we have missed [out] on three big sales this year – the year-end sale that happens during the last week of March, the Tamil New Year sale and the summer sale. The stocks we have purchased from manufacturers are lying in godowns," said Vijay Vasanth, CEO of Vasanth and Co. "Most consumer electronics dealers build up stock in January and February for the year-end and summer sales. The inventory includes air-conditioners and air coolers which can be sold only during the summer," he added.
March-May is a crucial period for these retailers, as 30-35% of their total sales happen during these months.
Nitesh Giria, Director of Girias, said, "The government should permit us to operate in accordance with guidelines and social distancing norms. Otherwise, all our consignments will remain unsold for another year." The lockdown has wiped out nearly 40% of his business this year.
Vishal Bysani, Vice-President - Marketing, Viveks, said summer-centric products would remain idle for the next one year. "Our industry should be considered essential because for a housewife, buying a mixer, a grinder or a fan is essential," he said. "Retailers will also stop expanding their stores for the next few quarters. On an average, they open three to five stores every three months," he added.
On salary cuts, retailers are evaluating their options. According to estimates, Tamil Nadu has over one lakh people employed in this segment.
Industry representatives said that if the government allows them to resume operations post-April 20, they would get a breather. Some suggested that like e-commerce players, they could allow consumers to place orders online by visiting their website and get the products delivered to their doorstep. The industry is also seeking a reduction in GST rates to enhance affordability for consumers and profitability for retailers.
According to an analysis of the Indian appliances and consumer electronics market by CARE Ratings, the industry is likely to suffer a considerable loss in sales going forward. It may be noted that even if the spread of the pandemic is curtailed, consumer sentiment is expected to remain unfavourable and demand, muted.
Concessions In Lockdown, Mobile Shops & Electronics Stores Opened Today
Trying to stop the spread of germs has come to the forefront recently with the spread of coronavirus, with people going to extreme measures to try and avoid in the infection.
The important thing to remember with coronavirus is that as it's so new, there's very little testing that's been done to show what's the most effective way of combatting it. For that reason, we're focussing on general cleaning tips that can sanitise your home and keep it spotless using technology. (Don't forget to also look at our guide to the best vacuum cleaner).
Where possible we've linked to current advice surrounding generic advice and the latest coronavirus information. For the latter, the picture is constantly changing, so look out for NHS and government guidance on what's best and treat this guide as one for the best ways to keep your house clean.
Cleaning vs disinfecting
The first thing to understand is what the difference is between cleaning and disinfecting. Cleaning concerns removing germs from a surface but doesn't kill them. Disinfecting means to kill the germs.
For example, washing your hands with soap for 20 seconds or more under running water will wash a virus away; using a hand sanitiser that is at least 60% hand gel can "help you avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others", according to the CDC.
Health organisations recommend a two-part process, starting with cleaning and then disinfecting. For cleaning, you should use disposable cloths that can be thrown away, otherwise, washable cloths, sponges and mop heads need to be cleaned thoroughly and disinfected after use.
Bleach, mixed to the right quantities as shown on the instructions is a good disinfectant, although you can buy premixed disinfectant that's designed to kill most common germs. Don't assume that these will kill coronavirus: Dettol has put out a statement explaining how existing products have been effective on existing strains of coronavirus:
"Specific Dettol products have demonstrated effectiveness (>99.9% inactivation) against coronavirus strains from the same family as the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in third party laboratory testing when used following the directions for use. These products are Dettol Antibacterial Surface Cleanser Spray, Dettol Antibacterial Surface Cleanser Wipes, Dettol All-In-One Disinfectant Spray, and Dettol Disinfectant Liquid."
Using a steam cleaner
Heat treatment has proven effective in killing past viruses, particularly in areas where you may not be able to use detergent, such as for soft furnishings. The Government advice on cleaning COVID-19 says, "When items cannot be cleaned using detergents or laundered, for example, upholstered furniture and mattresses, steam cleaning may be used."
This sentence also points out a useful element of steam cleaners: they don't require detergent to work. Instead, they use water that's heated and turned to steam, so can be used anywhere you have a tap and running water, which is handy if supplies of cleaning fluids are running low, or you simply can't get new cleaning products.
Steam has often been highlighted as a good way to decontaminate areas. After the norovirus outbreak, the UK produced a guide on cleaning cruise ships to prevent infection, including cleaning carpets and upholstery using steam at a temperature of at least 70C.
Note that the advice mentions upholstery and mattresses, but doesn't talk about hard surfaces. This is because the advice is that hard surfaces should be cleaned with detergent and then disinfected with chemicals to fully clean them. That's not to say that steam cleaners can't be used on hard surfaces, as a way to kill germs and to clean without using detergent.
However, if you want to follow best practice, it makes sense to clean your floors and other hard surfaces using detergent first, and then to follow up with the steam cleaner as a second option. Just remember that there are no official guidelines on this as a cleaning and sterilisation routine, although this technique will give you a deeper clean than just using detergent or just using steam.
There's also a big difference on how effective a steam cleaner is depending on whether you're using a standard accessory or a steam mop (or mop accessory). One of the reasons that steam cleaners are so effective is because the full steam temperature output is directed at the cleaning surface, and can penetrate and access gaps and cracks in surfaces. However, this is only true if you're using a regular steam cleaner, where the steam output is directed out of the nozzle. These types of steam cleaners (cylinder and handheld), often have cleaning attachments, such as brushes, but these don't typically affect performance, as you get a shot of steam first, and the attachment is then used to remove dirt.
The most important thing with these products is to use the steam cleaner close to the surface that you're cleaning. Steam loses temperature fast as it moves through air, so if you're a long way from the surface you make the cleaner less effective.
Using a steam mop is different, as the steam is directed into the microfibre cleaning cloth, which absorbs much of the heat, preventing it from transferring to the floor. As such, you're not getting the full disinfecting effect that you would if you could use steam directly. Steam mops aren't a lost cause, though. The heat generated helps loosen dirt and germs, which are picked up by the microfibre cloth.
Not that microfibre merely collects germs, rather than killing them. There's a good chance that the steam from the cleaner will disinfect your cloth, but you should wash all cloths at the highest temperature they'll take after use to disinfect them. Remember, don't use fabric conditioner with microfibre.
In all cases, it's important to use the steam cleaner for the right amount of time, as you must kill germs thoroughly. A simple swipe through will most likely not provide enough of a clean. How long you clean for depends on the temperature of the steam that you're using, with higher temperature steam cleaners able to do a job faster. The advice from WebMD for cleaning up after an illness is to expose upholstery to steam for at least five minutes at 70C or one minute at 100C. Our selection of the best steam cleaners can help you find a suitable model.
What is it safe to use a steam cleaner on?
As steam cleaners use pressured steam to clean, they can be used on a surprising number of surfaces, but not all. If you've got anything that's sensitive to heat and/or water, then you may not be able to use a steam cleaner. For example, avoid using a steam cleaner on anything that can be damaged by water or heat, such as painted surfaces; delicate items, such as silk; and porous surfaces, such as brick or marble. Also be careful using a steam cleaner on oiled wooden floors, as this can damage the surface protector and cause water to enter the wood and make it expand.
That all said, you can use steam on pretty much all other surfaces, including laminate floors, tiles, grout, sealed worktops (quartz, etc), sinks, baths and glass. You can also use steam on carpets and upholstery, although it's worth testing on a small area that's out of sight to see if there are any detrimental effects before you carry on. Just remember that you should steam for the suggest time, based on the temperature of your cleaner, and that hard surfaces should still be thoroughly washed with detergent in order to give you the deepest clean.
How to clean a hard floor or carpet
Cleaning your floors is an essential part of keeping your home clean. For hard floors, rather than simply mopping, which can spread germs around, using a device such as the Karcher FC 5 Hard Floor Cleaner is a better option. This product sucks up the dirty water into a separate tank, removing dirt from the floor, so the clean water is never mixed with the dirty. This process also leaves the floor almost dry.
In comparison, when using a mop, it's recommended that you have two buckets: one with detergent and one for rinsing, so that you don't contaminate the cleaning bucket and further the spread of germs. Mopping also leaves a floor much wetter.
Remember that using the FC 5 with detergent won't kill viruses. However, you can use this product with any cleaning solution, including disinfectant, provided it doesn't contain ammonia or bleach. To avoid damage to the machine, you may find it easier to clean with general detergent and then to mop afterwards with a disinfectant.
For carpets and upholstery that can be cleaned with liquid, you can use one of our best carpet cleaners. Again, carpet cleaners are good, as they pump out clean water mixed with detergent from one tank, and suck up the dirty water into a separate tank, preventing cross-contamination. To kill viruses, you should use them with a carpet shampoo that has anti-viral properties, or clean once and then use a carpet-safe disinfectant afterwards once the carpet is dry.
Washing soft furnishings and clothes
For clothes, curtains, washable sofa covers and the like, the current government advice for coronavirus is to wash items at the highest temperature that they will take. You can also use steam if you have a washing machine that lets you add this to a cycle but still wash at the highest temperature that you can. Our list of our best washing machines will help you find a new model if you need one.
The more generic NHS advice on how to stop germs spreading says to wash items at 60C to avoid germs, or at 40C with bleach. Check your care labels carefully before washing to avoid any damage.
Washing dishes
Current advice for dealing with dishes is to use a dishwasher where possible. Using one of our best dishwashers means that you don't have to physically handle anything while you're washing, and the machine will do a more thorough job, rinsing at the end of the cycle. In terms of coronavirus, there's no specific information on the setting to us, but given that general NHS advice for clothes is to wash at 60C, it would make sense to use the same or higher temperature setting in a dishwasher. Typically, dishwasher eco settings will be lower than this (often around 50C), so use one of the standard or higher programmes where you can.
If you can't use a dishwasher (or don't have one), you can wash up by hand. Wear rubber gloves and wash dishes in hot soapy water, leaving them to air dry before use.
Related: Whirlpool WIO3033 DEL
Dealing with glass
Our homes typically have a lot of glass surfaces, from shower screens to mirrors and windows. Standard window cleaner with a cloth has the same problems as using a mop on the floor. A window vacuum, such as the Karcher 10 Year Window Vac Anniversary Edition is effective a wet vacuum cleaner that sucks up the left-over dirty water off of glass and into a separate tank. This makes it faster to get good results, with dirt more easily being removed from the glass surface.
As with other surfaces, the advice remains to clean first and disinfect second, and this goes for cleaning windows. In the absence of disinfectant that you can use, windows can also be cleaned with a steam cleaner following the advice above. Remember, any cloths or squeegees that you use on a window should also be disinfected, either with sprays and chemicals or, for cloths, using a washing machine.
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Starting life on the consumer PC press back in 1998, David has been at the forefront of technology for the past 20 years. He has edited Computer Shopper and Expert Reviews, and once wrote a book on ho…
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Apple chips, dried mango and beef jerky are all foods you can make in a food dehydrator, which dries foods at a low temperature over a long period of time. The lack of moisture intensifies the food's flavor, which makes fruit taste sweeter and herbs more pungent; it also allows it to store well for a long time.
In addition to being more flavorful and shelf-stable, homemade dehydrated snacks tend to be healthier than the ones you buy in a store; they typically feature one whole ingredient that has simply been dried with no additives, preservatives, or calorie-laden ingredients, like oil or sugar. They can also be customized exactly how you like (you can add extra salt or none at all, for example).
Dehydrating also retains the nutrients in food better than some cooking methods. When an ingredient like kale, which is full of water-soluble and heat-sensitive vitamin C, is boiled, it loses some of its immune-boosting potency. Dehydrating it at a low temperature preserves its nutrients and vitamins better.
How does a dehydrator work?
Dehydrators dry foods out by circulating air at a very low temperature. The foods must be arranged in a single layer without touching so they can dry fully and evenly. Different temperatures are recommended for different foods based on water content:
Water-dense ingredients, like fruit, usually benefit from a higher temperature, like 135°F, so they can dry quickly without becoming too crisp.
Vegetables can be dehydrated at a lower temperature, like 125°F.
Delicate foods, like herbs, should be dehydrated at even lower temperature, like 95°F, to prevent over-drying and discoloration.
For meat, the USDA recommends cooking it first to an internal temperature of 165°F and then dehydrating between 130°F to 140°F. This method is suggested to kill any potentially harmful bacteria and encourage the cooked meat to dehydrate quickly and safely.
Here's what else you can do with your dehydrator:
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Dry homemade pasta
Ferment yogurt
Make fruit leather, granola bars, dog treats, and more
Make potpourri
Recrisp stale foods like cookies or crackers.
DIY art projects, like dehydrated flour and water molds that can be painted
What kind of dehydrator is best?
There are two main types of dehydrators: Dehydrators with shelves that stack and dehydrators with pull-out shelves. The main difference between these two styles is the placement of the fan, but in our dehydrator tests, we saw minimal difference between the two styles when we dried apple slices, parsley, and beef for jerky. We also found that both styles offer models with wide temperature and timer ranges, an important feature to look for so you can control your results with precision.
Dehydrators with stacked shelves have a small fan is on the base and circulate air upwards. Stacking dehydrators often take up less space and are less expensive. Some are round and others are more rectangular in shape; we prefer the rectangular ones that create more surface area and accommodate different-shape ingredients better. Stacking dehydrators are ideal for dehydrating newbies or infrequent users.
Dehydrators with pull-out shelves have a large fan in the back that tends to circulate the air better and more evenly, which results in more consistent results. Dehydrators with pull-out shelves are typically made of more solid materials to better control the temperature. Some have metal shelves instead of plastic for those who avoid cooking on plastic.
Can you use the oven as a dehydrator?
Like ovens, food dehydrators work by circulating air at very low temperatures for an extended period of time. But instead of cooking with heat, dehydrators draw moisture out of foods so they dry out and can be enjoyed for a long time.
Most ovens do not offer the same low temperatures that a dehydrator does. Some new models offer dehydrating as an option, but it is still not ideal due to the limited amount of racks and accessories most ovens come with. We do, however, like dehydrating in a toaster oven, especially large capacity ones like the June Smart Oven and Breville Smart Oven Air, which allow you to buy additional air frying/dehydrating racks to dehydrate more ingredients at once.
Is buying a dehydrator worth it?
Dehydrators are a useful appliance for mindful eaters. They encourage eating real, whole ingredients and are a good aid in eliminating food waste. They're particularly great for parents who try to feed their kids healthy snacks, those who suffer from allergies, and those have a hard time finding additive-free snacks in stores.
Dehydrators are also very cost-effective in the long-run. They allow you to buy produce in bulk, especially when it is in season or on sale, and store it to use later on. They're also a great tool for gardeners who often have a surplus of ingredients on hand.
The downside of dehydrators is they take a long time to dry out food and their yield is often easy to devour in one setting. If you buy a large one with a timer, however, the process is quite hands off and rewarding.
Tips for dehydrating
Cut foods into even pieces before dehydrating. The thinner the food, the quicker it will dehydrate.
Arrange food in a single layer, with at least 1/8 inch of space in between.
For a chewy texture, dehydrate foods for less time.
Turn dehydrator off when foods are flexible but still dry. They will be come less flexible as they sit.
Foods must be fully dehydrated before storing for long periods of time. Y0u can check for this by placing dehydrated food in a sealed plastic bag. If any moisture droplets accumulate over the coarse of a day or two, the food is not fully dry. Dehydrate again.
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Chrissy Teigenand John Legend just scooped up another home in the ritzy neighborhood of West Hollywood.
According to Dirt, the A-list pair recently forked over $5.1 million for a 3,440 sq. ft. home that's just a hop, skip and a jump from their current residence in the Beverly Hills. The house was built from the ground up and is thus equipped with all the features a famous family could need, including a Smart Home system and floating gardens.
It's unclear what purpose the house will serve for the couple, as Chrissy and John still live in their massive mansion, but it's the perfect space for the cookbook author to work. The home designer equipped the home with high-end Miele appliances and a large countertop. What's more is it seamlessly transitions into a spacious living room that opens up to the backyard.
When they're not in the communal areas, the members of the family can go to their respective rooms, as there are four bedrooms and four baths.
A lot of big things happened for the family this week. Luna Stephens turned 4-years-old on Tuesday, which called for a major celebration: Breakfast in bed!
Of course, Chrissy cooked a marvelous meal from scratch and recorded one of the many moments they shared from the day. At the end of the clip, Luna shouted, "Thank you three, you've been good to me!"
All in all, the Legend-Teigen-Stephens' have been keeping their fans thoroughly entertained during the coronavirus pandemic. John and Chrissy have their respective TV shows that are on the air and continue to post tid-bits from their day-to-day life. So stay tuned!
A meditation room, vegetable patches and an art studio: Inside MasterChef star Poh Ling Yeow's incredible Adelaide home ...just DON'T ask her about her dining room table
By Joshua Fox For Daily Mail Australia
Published: 01:54 BST, 16 April 2020 | Updated: 02:03 BST, 16 April 2020
MasterChef Australia star Poh Ling Yeow's talents go way beyond the kitchen.
The 47-year-old has spent the past decade perfecting her interior design skills and creating her dream home in Adelaide after moving into the property in 2010.
From a heavenly garden with vegetable patches to a tranquil meditation room and art studio, Poh's 1959-built home is now complete, and it's full of colour and creativity.
Queen of interior design! MasterChef's Poh Ling Yeow (pictured) has spent ten years creating her dream home in Adelaide after moving into the 1959-built property in 2010
As expected, Poh's kitchen is state of the art - yet still feels homely and cosy.
Vibrant Turkish tiles create an upbeat cheery atmosphere, distracting from the large stainless steel appliances and surfaces used to create her masterpieces.
The bright colours continue to run throughout the entire house, with large pieces of art decorating her stylish lounge, hanging above a brown leather sofa.
She lives with husband Jono Bennett and their Scottish Terrier dogs, Rhino and Tim.
Vibrant: Poh's home is flooded with colour and creativity. Pictured: Her main lounge
Entertaining: In the basement, Poh has created a trendy bar - with endless bottles of wine
Stunning: As expected, Poh's kitchen is state of the art - yet still feels homely and cosy. Turkish tiles create an upbeat cheery atmosphere against the steel appliances
In the basement, Poh has created a trendy bar - with endless bottles of wine.
There's a home studio for the talented artist to paint too, with book shelves and retro furniture, such as a vintage record player, scattered around the home.
'There's so much space for us to express all our creative urges in it and through it,' Poh told Real Estate when asked what she loves most about her home.
Family: Poh lives with husband Jono Bennett (pictured) and their Scottish Terrier dogs
Tranquil: The couple have a chilled out 'meditation room' inside their Adelaide property
Creative: There's also home studio for the talented chef and artist to paint
Vintage: They have decorated their home with retro items, including a record collection
Although everything has a place, there's one area Poh doesn't keep quite so clean.
Her dining table is a hive of activity, scattered with books, papers, deliveries and electronics as she runs her various businesses from home.
'Just in case you mistakenly think my life is charmed just because I'm on television sometimes, cop an eyeful of my dining table,' she recently joked on Instagram.
'Cop an eyeful': Poh recently joked on Instagram that her dining table is the only place that isn't kept immaculately clean, as she uses it as a very functional office space during the day
Magical: Poh's garden is her most cherished part of the incredible home
Dreamlike: There's vegetable patches, fruit trees, a honeybee colony, fireplace, space to lounge and a swimming pool to cool off from the heat in South Australia
Poh's garden is her most cherished part of the incredible home.
There's vegetable patches, fruit trees, a honeybee colony, fireplace, space to lounge and a swimming pool to cool off from the heat in South Australia.
To mark her 45th birthday in 2018, Poh's husband Jono built her the type of cosy day bed she said she'd 'dream about her whole life'.
'I really go for it when I collect and decorate. Every nuance of my home is an opportunity to express myself,' she previously told Home Beautiful.
Poh found fame on MasterChef Australia's first season in 2009. She placed runner-up behind Julie Goodwin, but managed to go on and achieve much success.
Lucky: To mark her 45th birthday in 2018, Poh's husband Jono built her the type of cosy day bed she said she'd 'dream about her whole life'
'I really go for it when I collect and decorate. Every nuance of my home is an opportunity to express myself,' she previously told Home Beautiful of her interior design
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It's safe to say I've never cooked more than I have in the past five weeks.
I love to cook. But with a busy job, a long commute, and a passion for eating out, I generally only cook somewhere in the ballpark of five meals per week in "normal" times. I drink most of my drinks at bars with friends and hardly ever eat dessert, unless I'm out for a special occasion.
But these are strange times! Homebound, due to the coronavirus pandemic, I find myself cooking 20 or so meals per week. My husband and I break for "happy hour" cocktails every day at 6 p.m. to help transition out of work-from-home mode. And I've developed a sweet tooth that just won't quit.
All of this time in the kitchen spent preparing meals, cocktails, and dessert has made me very reliant on kitchen tools.
Here are the 15 gadgets, appliances, and tools I'm using the most.
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Janelle Monae's new midcentury-style home is just as unique as the singer/actress/activist herself. Situated in the celebrity-friendly neighborhood of the Hollywood Hills, the "Electric Lady" singer's $3.9 million property is made up of two separate houses connected via a shared central breezeway, with a total of 3,403 square feet of living space, Variety reports.
Built back in the 1950s, the dwelling still retains much of that decade's funky aesthetic, with exposed wood beams and a decidedly tropical feel to its surrounding courtyards and grounds. The two-bedroom main house features an open floor plan with a main living area that spills out onto an outdoor dining area through a wall of floor-to-ceiling glass sliders. The kitchen is chic and modern, with stainless-steel appliances, built-in wooden shelves, and a temperature-regulated wine fridge. The master suite has its own intriguing components, including an indoor/outdoor steam shower, a private patio surrounded by tall trees, and an in-ground cedar spa. A serviceable claw-foot bathtub is tucked against the house elsewhere on the property for warm-weather dips.
The second house has its own separate entrance and boasts two bedrooms. Its kitchen is considerably smaller, but no less equipped for an aspiring chef. It is perfect for a guesthouse or a music studio. Other offerings of the Hidden Figures star's new property include a full outdoor kitchen with built-in BBQ and stainless-steel appliances, a lavish patio area, and a large rectangular pool.
