Buying a New Appliance
Have you ever noticed how all major appliances tend to break at the same time? 
This weekend, our washer decided to bite the bullet. Of course it would be BEFORE we did all of our laundry. 5 people + broken washer = a quick trip to buy a new one! Thankfully it’s supposed to be delivered today. We’re getting one of the front-loader kinds, and I picked it based on which of them was reasonably-priced and could hold as much laundry as humanly possible.
My husband gently pointed out that, just because the washer holds more does not mean less laundry. Don’t ruin my fantasy, honey. If I can do 7 loads instead of 15, I’m all over that. 
There is also a time-delay function, so I could theoretically program the machine to run at 3 a.m. and when I get up at 5:00, it would be ready to switch into the dryer. 
Now how sad is that, being excited about time delay.
It’s the little things, people. 
But I found out you have to use a special high-efficiency detergent with the machine. Huh. Now why you can’t just use less detergent, I’m not sure. You’d think that would work. I am married to a rule-following engineer, however, so I’ll never know the answer to that. 
I am waiting at home on my day off for this delivery. And that’s one of my pet peeves. Why in the world, in this day and age of cell phones, can’t they call us thirty minutes beforehand, and we could just leave work? But no. We’ll be there sometime between 8 a.m. and noon. This, of course, means they’ll show up at 2:30. The all-time worst for me was when the satellite repair guys were supposed to show up between 4:00-6:00 p.m. They showed up at 10:30 p.m. Yeah, there was that little issue of it being DARK outside. And the guy wanted me to initial that I was satisfied with their service. Um…just that little problem of being 6 1/2 hours late. Needless to say, I wrote a note on that one.
Now that I’m awaiting my spanking new washing machine, I’m hoping that it will be everything I dreamed of. Buying a major appliance makes you pray that it won’t be a lemon, and that somehow it will make your life easier. But there’s that little part of me that worries–should I have gotten the other brand? The one with less space for laundry but possibly a better computer? Ack. The choices!
Do any of you have a front-loader washing machine? Anything I should know about?
Michelle posted in Writing @ 9:30 am | Viewed 2266 times
LauraP Says:
They’re no good for washing freshly sheared sheep fleeces, but that’s probably not an issue for you.
I had a front-loader at the last house, loved it (except for that fleece limitation). It handled laundry for 6, outlasted three teenagers and is still going strong for my daughter. No special detergents for ours, just halve the detergent/bleach amounts — and dissolve any powdered products in water before adding. Bad things can happen if the Oxy-clean clumps on somebody’s favorite t-shirt.
Robyn Says:
I want one of those so badly. Along with the dryer that steam-freshens your shirts. I have teens that can really, really use that.
kacey Says:
I ended up getting a regular old washing machine when ours “broke” this year. Couldn’t justify the $$ for the front loader. Don’t like to bend over doing laundry much anyway. So I would have bought one of those stands for it (more $$$) or have my husband build a box for under it to elevate it.
but they had a cute red front loader that would have looked so adorable off my kitchen…
beth Says:
I just drool over them. Sadly, my old machine is still running fine.
Hope yours comes quickly and is wonderful!
Tori Lennox Says:
I think the frotn loaders are really cute. Not something I ever thought I’d say about a washing machine. *g*
Liz Kreger Says:
How sad that a washer can make a woman drool.
But I’m with you about the multiple appliance breakdown. Our freezer went first and within a week we needed a new dryer and microwave. Pitiful.
Found this site from LaDonna over at MagicalMusings and will be returning.
Liz Kreger Says:
Oops. I meant I got this from Jan Kenny over at MagicalMusings. Sorry ’bout that.
Kim A. Says:
I hope that by now you are up and running with the new machine.
I’d be excited about time delay, actually. I don’t know how it works in various states, but here in the province of Ontario, rates are cheaper during “off” hours. This would be why most of my laundry gets done at 4AM and 5AM! (Yeah, sadly, I’m awake at 4AM seven days a week.)
-Kim
Donna Alward Says:
Are you sure you have to use the He detergent? We bought one recently (and like you…I love it…and I use the timer ALL the time) and we can either use the special detergent or regular. It does definitely use less, and less water, and less wear and tear on the clothes. It was pricey but I adore it.