Multi-Use Appliances: Revenue Drivers in the Household

Household chores are not always fun and are often a necessary evil. Preparing meals and keeping the home clean take time. All the better when clever household appliances make the work more pleasant and more efficient – or even take it over completely. Combination appliances that have been developed recently and are enjoying success in the market are particularly suitable. They increase convenience, offer added value by saving time, and perform functions that would otherwise require several appliances. This saves space on the worktop, in the kitchen, or in storage. A well-known model from the consumer electronics sector is the smartphone, which, thanks to its integrated music player, camera, and navigation device, has made many individual devices virtually obsolete. Good examples from the electrical household appliance segment include vacuum cleaners with a mopping function in a wide variety of designs, ovens with integrated air fryers and steam cookers, smart personal care products, and 3-in-1 air conditioners.

The classic vacuum cleaner has become a true multi-device: mopping the floor in a single step has been added to vacuuming. Not only cordless handheld vacuum cleaners, also known as hand sticks, master these disciplines; many robot vacuum cleaners also offer a mopping function. Handling has also been consistently improved, with many of these devices featuring docking stations that empty the dirty water and dust container and then refill fresh mopping water. This means complete cleaning is not required after every use. New are vacuum-mopping robots that fit into the plinth of the fitted kitchen and can even put themselves away accordingly. The popularity of these products is reflected in their market success: according to joint market figures from NIQ and GFU, handheld vacuum cleaners with a mopping function increased by 95 percent in unit sales and 59 percent in revenue in the months from January to April 2026 compared with the previous year, while vacuum-mopping robots grew by 47 percent in unit sales and 18 percent in revenue over the same period.

Speaking of success – the triumph of air fryers in recent years has been almost unparalleled: double-digit growth rates were the order of the day. These successes have inspired product developers to integrate the functions of air fryers into an oven. There are also ovens that, with the corresponding function, can bake pizza in record-breaking time. In addition to the classic heating modes as well as the microwave and steam cooking, further preparation options are thus combined in one space-saving appliance.

Smart combinations are also available in the personal care product segment: one “handle” serves as the basis for a wide range of possible uses – from shavers and toothbrushes to foot care. This approach is practical and sustainable: the “handle” requires only one battery, one motor, and one charger for many possible applications. Especially when traveling, such a combination device makes luggage easier to manage.

3-in-1 air conditioners also offer increased comfort for a pleasant home environment: in addition to efficient room cooling, dehumidification and ventilation solutions are combined in one and the same device. Automatic modes keep the indoor climate within the desired range even when no one is at home. In sleep mode, all operating lights are switched off, noise is minimized, and the indoor climate can be selected to suit sleep cycles. Sustainable refrigerants and high energy efficiency are a matter of course, making hot days more bearable even without a guilty (environmental) conscience.