I'm not saying that Vera's struggle to get her washing machine fixed had any power to affect my appliances, but I am letting you know that mine is the second washing machine in our corner of blogland to fail.
It happened last week when I went downstairs to get a completed load of laundry and hang it out, but instead, I was greeted with a washer full of soapy grey water and no lights on the display. It seems that something involved in the pumping out of the water (pump? transmission? computerized control board?) has failed. John is fairly handy and has often attempted to fix our broken washers and dryers, but this one may be beyond him. I don't know if it's even worth calling a repair person as a service call will be at least 25 or 30% of the cost of a new washer. We'll probably go to Lowe's and get one of the cheapest washers we can find since we entered the age of disposable washing machines at least one washer ago. We were both surprised that this one was seven years old and had lasted two years longer than our last one.
I had to go to the laundromat with the sopping wet, half-washed load of clothes and it is a different kind of place. There is one nearby, and when I went it was clean and not crowded at all. The washers take $4.00 in quarters and I dug plenty of change out of our basket before I went. It's just the people that were different. There was one older man who sat down near me and it didn't even seem like he was doing laundry. Maybe it's just a fun hang-out for him. Every time my washing machine drained, spun, or filled it made some noise and he was compelled to say, "Houston, we have a problem," and chuckle loudly.
He did ask why I was taking pictures at the laundromat and that seemed like a fair question. I explained the blog to him and he wondered if "those people on the internet" who would be reading would really be interested in my saga of a broken washing machine. I assured him that you would all be enthralled, and after shaking his head, he said to be sure and tell you that I spoke with a handsome older gentleman who made my visit to the laundromat more pleasurable. So now I've done that and can tell him about it if he's there when I go this week.
I will probably go to the laundromat again tomorrow and then make the painful visit to Lowe's and maybe pick out a washing machine. I'm sending good vibes for all of your washing machines and hoping that these things don't fail in threes.
Two words for you Speed Queen. They make the machines that are in most laudromats. As a weaver, I'm in with a pretty large textile crowd. There is strong support for their machines among us. You won't find them at Lowes or Home Depot. But they are out there. Everyone I've steered in that direction have been very happy.
ReplyDeleteOh bother! (but what a fun laundromat story!) I am sorry that your machine is on the fritz... and what a sad state of affairs... disposable washing machines. I am old enough to remember getting a hand-me-down washer that was my grand parents for a number of years, then my parents for even longer, and then I used it for another 6 years... that washer lasted almost 40 years without any problems ever. Perhaps not the smartest thing for company longevity... to make a washer that you never need to replace (and I think that is the real reason why appliances don't last... the bottom line is better if you sell more products)
ReplyDeleteI am right there with Valerie: Speed Queen. A few years ago when our (very old) washing machine bit the dust, we went to a very fine local applicance store (which has, alas, recently closed their doors after decades in the community), and while I'd been hoping for a new-fangled, front-loader replacement, they sold me on a boring old Speed Queen. They told me they were the best washers in the market, and I believed them. (It was that kind of place.) I don't know if you'll be able to find one at Lowe's, but it might be worth checking out. (We're in Year 8 with the Speed Queen, by the way.) Please tell your dapper gentleman that we are VERY interested in your washing machine saga -- and seeing photos of your local "launderette." XO
ReplyDeleteSpeed Queen! Hey, Bonny, just popping in and I find a post I can actually contribute to. I abhor computerizing washing machines! I got a Speed Queen years ago, and I love it. Only totally mechanical washing machine made in the USA, so not a lot to fail. It just washes clothes, that's all.
ReplyDeleteOh No! I did NOT send the failure your way, I promise. And, I wish I had bought a Speed Queen! Mine is a Maytag (now owned by Whirlpool) and my recommendation is to stay clear of them!
ReplyDeleteWhen I moved to Illinois in 2007 I left behind an 18 year old Maytag that was still going strong. Since I've moved here I am on my second washing machine. Laundromats are interesting places and I made a friend at one when my last washer broke. I knew her as one of the part time checkers at our local grocery store, we struck up a conversation and have been friends ever since.
ReplyDeleteTwo washing machines in 16 years are not very good numbers! The previous owner of our house left a 10-year-old Maytag, and it lasted for another 20 years and did lots of laundry with both kids in cloth diapers. I'm off to the laundromat again tomorrow, so maybe I'll find an interesting friend!
DeleteWelllllll . . . I hadn't shared this with the blog but our dryer bit the dust last June. Maybe that's the 3? We've been using Jack's since his house is right next door but we have a new-to-us washer/dryer set that friends gave us when they bought a new house last month and their current set wouldn't work in the new location. Now we're just waiting on the plumber to come out and install them both. He's been delayed since he, along with so many others, got Covid from Jack's wake.
ReplyDeleteThere must be something going around in the washing machine community, because would you believe ours broke last night?! Our issue is the locking mechanism -- the prongs on the piece on the door that go into the piece on the main body of the machine just broke clean off. And we can't get someone to come service it for about three weeks (if we want to buy a new machine, on the other hand, they can be here tomorrow). If we do decide to wait for service, I'll be taking our laundry to my parents' place, however. I'd be too creeped out to go to a laundromat after reading about your experience.
ReplyDeleteI had a washing machine problem a few months ago -- I don't even remember what, because it's such a distasteful thing -- anyway, I was getting kind of googly-eyed about the possibility of a new machine so did a little basic research/scrolling. I don't think there's any such thing as a "simple" machine anymore, except perhaps for the Speed Queen that so many here are recommending. They all had wifi and Bluetooth and, cripes, why in the world would anyone even want to monitor their washing machine that closely??? I love your laundromat story, and, yes, we are ALL glued to this channel for washing machine updates!! ;)
ReplyDeleteOur washing machine bit the dust in the spring and my sister was out and I said just buy the simplest machine they have and it's still fancier than anything we've ever had. I have heard good things about Speed Queens and I know our local family owned store sells them around here.
ReplyDeleteSo many people have recommended Speed Queens that it would be foolish for me to not at least take a look at them!
Delete:-) OF COURSE we want to know all about your laundry and I'm just so sorry you have to buy a new washing machine. ugh! Our washer and dryer are into year 14 and *fingers crossed*
ReplyDeleteI feel like I should whisper this, but my dryer has been going strong since 1987 (a Sears Canada model - Kenmore - now defunct)… the washing machine side of the pair we bought back then gave up the ghost about 5-6 years ago and the replacement is chugging along! Hope you get your machine sorted soon. It’s not one of those things you want to spend $$ on regularly, but have a hard time doing without!
ReplyDeleteI read your comment in a whisper and also knocked on wood while I was reading it! A dryer from 1987 is some sort of record, and honestly, even a 5-6 year old washing machine isn't too bad. My husband thinks he might be able to fix it, but that hasn't happened yet, so it's back to the laundromat again tomorrow.
Deletewhat iis going on with the washing machines?? Crazy coincidences!! Our washing machine is 2 years old and I have no idea how old the dryer is, it came with the house.
ReplyDeleteOh rats. I do not like this age of disposable appliances. It seems as if they reach the five year mark and then give up the ghost. I kind of hope that gentleman is not at the laundromat when you return.
ReplyDelete