Regular readers will doubtless recall the excitement here when our kettle died on December 30th 2006.
Anyway, another year, another ****ing kettle. Now the obsolescence timer on its replacement has just gone off, so I have been kettle hunting again (by the way, my advice, don’t buy a Morphy Richards kettle).
I really am fed up with buying things just to add them to landfill a few months down the line. I believe I mentioned this when our toaster exploded (again) and we remortgaged and bought a Dualit.
Anyway, I think the best answer is to get a Russell Hobbs K5. Aside from anything else, you can get spares for them and they are, somewhat to my surprise, relatively cheap. Mind you, I still think £25 is a lot for a kettle.
I struggled to find one, I tried John Lewis, who only do expensive, stylish kettles, which presumably also have 1 year 1 day obsolescence timers installed like our deceased jug did. I tried Tesco Direct, but it was 3p under the free delivery price. I looked at Amazon, but again, would have got stung for delivery. Then I remembered, Argos, Argos have everything. I am just too much of a snob to shop there, I mentioned this when I bought the rodent repellers from them. So I keep trying to avoid them, but I seem to keep being drawn back, like a moth to a flame (or competitively priced camping lantern). Anyway, I did a stock check and have reserved a K5 for collection tomorrow. Sorted.
EDIT: the Russell Hobbs has a removable locking lid. What happens if you lose the key? And I bet you can’t guess where they make them.
Mexborough ?? 😉 Went for a job interview there once.
actually that could be morphy richards….
Now you see if you had taken that job, maybe Morphy Richards might be making better kettles and I wouldn’t have had to buy a Russell Hobbs, which is made in China.
I am of the view that Hugh FW and Jamie O should turn their attentions to getting the residents of Axminster to buy their kettles from countries other than China. Our kettle was made in Malta.
We had a new kettle every 12 1/2 months for a while, but we’ve had the current one for a while. Just wait, it’ll stop working tomorrow…
We have a Tefal Vitesse (made in France) that I think we brought with us to this house so is at least 12 years old. It’s now in semi-retirement for the last 5 years only used in the summer and for a few days around servicing of the Aga.
The Aga kettle has a 10 year guarantee and is made in the UK. Was more than £25 mind you . . .
Just been and looked. HOW MUCH? :-O
This is why we are perpetually broke.
Although I could argue we have spent less on kettles in the last 5 years than you have. 🙂
And you would probably be right. Almost certainly.
We had Tefal vitesse, which I bought a while ago in the old house, so prob at least 5 yo. It died late last year – it wa s leaking around the plastic window in the side. I then manage to poke my finger through it, it was so weak. Only on one side though. I reckon it was the UV light from the sun (always the same side facing the window.
Problem with the Rh one there is I don’t like that style of kettle, and i don’t like shiney SS, just spends it’s life looking scruffy
I would much prefer to have had one without the silly window. Just something to leak, break or otherwise go wrong. Must admit I quite like the chrome look. I used to have a Swan kettle which was very similar to the Russell Hobbs. No idea what became of it. I think it may have disappeared when I moved.
We have a stove top whistling one which is great, and no parts to break, apart from the whistle when you drop it, and so have to remember that the kettle is on because there’s no whistle to remind you. And of course Ikea won’t sell you just the whistle, will they?
Yes, I agree about windows in kettles, but I much prefer the cordless jug type. I like the look of shiney chrome or SS, but unless you keep it nicely polished (moi?) fingerprints, water scale etc. don’t do so much for it 🙂
Someone i know uses their smoke blackened campfire kettle, maye that’s a look they could go for?
But surely the ‘£25 is a lot for a kettle’ view is part of the problem? I don’t think it sounds a lot for something if it lasts/is repairable. when I last bought something in Argos a few weeks back, they had toaster for £3 – which just seems silly really. I wonder if we are really served overall by such cheap throwaway objects – though if I was getting by on the minimum wage I’d probably just be happy I could get such things. (I guess cheap throwaway is better than more expenisve throwaway)
Enamalled steel, that would be good for a kettle. colourful (if you want), hardwearing.
I think it ought to be quite reasonable to expect that a simple item like an electric kettle should not be throwaway.
All it is is a can with a spout and handle equipped with an electric element and a thermal switch. That is also why I think £25 sounds quite a lot, there is not that much to it.
Possibly my price expectations are geared up to cheap, poorly made items which don’t last. After all, that seems to fit most things we buy. As Michelle has pointed out, if you have to keep replacing that kind of tat, it will work out cheaper to pay once for something properly made.
It’s like watching Statler and Waldorf all over again.
Are you still on about Hugh FW and Jamie O?
Nah, you and Chris debating the qualities of kettles. You should have your own show dedicated to discussing the ordinary. I’d watch 🙂
Yep, stovetop kettles for the win, in my experience! Electric ones last about 5 minutes in our house.
Tempting fate here…. our current kettle is the one we were bought as a wedding pressie, and we celebrated 10 years of marriage last year (now watch the **** thing blow up tomorrow…)
Overall I really like this Russell Hobbs K5. Kettle. It warms water quickly, the heating element is covered, it seems well built, and it is aesthetically pleasing. However, it is slightly smaller than I expected. I know it says how much water the kettle holds,.
I am keeping it because even though it is a little on the small side, it fits nicely in my cupboards and works well. It’s a great buy for the price.