Buying a Washer

Friday and Saturday were washing machine shopping days. I have been without a working washer since January. I did not realize it was leaking until I stepped on a soft floor where it is rotting out.

When I told a friend I needed to call a repairman, she called the next day and said her husband said to let him look at it first. Well, that was over six months ago. Friday, I was at the end of my rope. Blankets were never washed and stored away. Since I had some on the floor in a pile to wash, I really don't want to start using them dirty. One has globs of something dark on it.

I never washed my sweaters because commercial washers would ruin them. Gloves need washing; scarves need washing.

Since January, I have spent about $10 each week at the laundry. Hauling clothes to the car, into the wash and hauling even heavier wet laundry up the stairs has taken its toll on me. Plus, some days, my friend insisted I wash at her house. NOW, her washer broke. But, her husband and her friend got right onto that problem.

I am very discouraged by the machines out there. I refuse to have a HE washer. Besides, they are very expensive. My predilection  for other machines left little to choose from. My current machine is Amana. The only Amana in town has a flimsy, flexible knob that is surely destined to break. Hotpoint looks like a child's toy.

There is a knob with option: heavy dirt, medium dirt, light dirt...or something like that. When I asked what that option controlled, the guy said it controlled that amount of water used by the machine. WHAT?!?!? I want to control the water height. So, if I put in a blanket lightly soiled, I only get a little water?

Plus, I  cannot find a machine that allows me to choose the wash cycle water temperature and the rinse cycle water temperature independent of the other. Just because I want to wash in hot water does not mean I want to rinse in hot water.

Another thing, one machine had a water temp choice that included cold and tap cold (or something like that). Does that mean the water is cooled before washing and the tap cold is what comes out of the tap. Honestly, the temperature of tap water matters little to me.

I think I bought this washer in 1996, so I have not looked at a washer dial in the store since then. How long has this been going on. Choosing the washer I have was easy. These new ones completely stump me.

Since I married in 1966, this will be my third washer purchase. I hope the next washer I buy will be the last one I need. My two washers lasted 49 years. The machine repair guy said most only last about five years. Aaaargh!

Tell me it's not true. If it is so, I should need another three or four washers in my lifetime. If I could find the same quality washing machine, I would buy it. It appears a good washer is not available without buying HE. However, I don't think they are good washing machines.

It is in the 40s, and I need clean blankets, coats, and sweaters!

Your turn
Have you found the new washers to be flimsy and with confusing options or too few options? Do you have a brand or model to recommend, one still on the market and not HE?