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Sunday, October 11, 2015

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?


16 comments:

  1. I understand your frustration. My previous washer was a hand me down from my mom and it had lasted 33 years. The new one I got is a cheap, small front loader and it is HE. It uses very little water but I deceive it. The wool program sucks in the highest amount of water so, I start it on the wool program and after the water is in, I turn it off and start at whatever program I want. Sometimes I dump in more water using a jug. The best thing is, it has a 15 minute program to wash things that are not dirty but worn just once. I hope, you will get what you want.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. T'Pol,
      So, it is not just me! I have decided that tomorrow I will call Amana and see what it takes to repair this one.Even if it cost the price of a new one, I will be just as well off. I stand over the machine for a really short wash...lol.

      Delete
  2. I miss the days of simple machines, but that time seems to have passed. I have an HE machine and have not had any issues with it, but I have found using a HE detergent makes quite a difference.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anne,
      I won't buy the HE machines. The ones I am looking at are HE. I think they make them so cheaply so we will switch to HE!

      Delete
  3. This looks like the GE washer I bought from a vacating tenant, as I moved into a former rental. Paid $100 + $100 more for dryer, later reselling them @ $200/each. Plain, basic models, they worked fine. Did you check the second hand market? habit for humanity?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Habitat store is 50 miles away. I am not physically capable of driving and shopping. I could go to Best Buy in Huntsville, too. I have a used machine, so have not gone to places that sell them. They have no electric carts.

      Delete
  4. http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-3-7-cu-ft-Top-Load-Washer-in-White-GTWP1800DWW/203229575

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CTMOM,
      I know how to copy and past an address, but on this computer and 8.1 and now 10, I cannot copy and paste anything. grrrr So, I will check Home Depot's web site for this model. Thanks.

      Delete
    2. CTMOM,
      Fpund it. It looks perfect, but the reviews are not great. Decatur is closer, so we may drive up there. It depends on what exbf thinks tomorrow. I may not buy one tomorrow.

      Delete
  5. I bought a washer at LOWES....I HATED it. It was a stupid machine. When washing whites I like to fill the washer with clothing and water and leave the lid up until am ready to add the bleach. That dumb machine would go through the entire cycle with the lid up. I hated it so much that after a few months I had my son put it in the truck and I returned it! I was on the phone with my repair guy as I shopped for the next one. I'm with you about not wanting a front loader.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Janet,
      Wow, that sounds like a real pain, yes, a stupid machine. It's good you got rid of it instead of suffering for years.

      Delete
  6. The last time we got a washer, we went all out and got a top of the lin whirlpool HE top loader - the biggest top loader they had, mainly because they promise the moon with these machines.

    I'd never do it again. A basic washer is fine.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cherdo,
      I never buy top of the line or the bottom. These washers I am seeing look like toys, have plastic knobs, and not enough options to make washing clothes less of a chore. There is no mid range!! I don't even look at the HEs.

      Delete
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Okay, hoping the annoyances have gone away.