Dang Appliances!

So there's a thing about appliances that have great similarities to cars. They break down. So we bought this snazzy old whirlpool thin-twin stacked washer/dryer when we moved in. We thought we could only buy the small versions due to the door. But I figured out a way to open it that could allow any large appliance into the room. Our old washer dryer wasn't going to live long and I have learned my lesson buying old appliances, or at least buying them when I know they are at the end of their lives. I have learned a lot of about washers and dryers. I have learned that depending on the brand they live either 5-7 years old or 7-16 years old. So if you buy a 10 year old appliance you shouldn't hope for much. Our washer was leaking. So we got a pan. I did like 12 loads of laundry last week and when I was on my last 3 loads the agitator got stuck and it quit spinning and draining. It would fill up, then drain, then fill up, then drain. By the end of the 14 minute cycle (short I know) it would be half full of water. Great.  We already are poor enough. But now we have to worry about the washer dryer. You know people don't last long on their own with out one.  We also have a problem with our car we are going to figure out this weekend.

Anyway, so what else did I learn? I want a washer  dryer set that is under 5 years old.  I also wanted a front loader because it uses half the water and you can fit 15 more items in it than a top loader. I found a wonderful tacky deal online. First it sounded like a good idea to buy a portable washer from Wal-mart for 260 because its cheaper than all the rest of the washer at the stores. It is also the same size as the washer I had. Our dryer still worked fine. Then I got over my fear of buying used appliances, because I got afraid since we bought this one used, but then I discovered the age thing that I should buy a newer used appliances. Anyway, so I found this deal that a woman was selling a set for 250. Perfect! We could have a larger washer and dryer for the same price as a tiny washer from Wal mart.  I could do more than twice as much laundry at a time. It is tacky though because they aren't matching brands. If it bugs me enough, which it probably won't because as I mentioned in a post long ago, most things in our apartment are quirky, I could buy a another dryer that is the same brand as my washer. We bought the set with thorough inspection. I did take a gamble, however, on the dryer because it wasn't near where it could be hooked up so I just trusted the girl that it worked. Perry and I manned up and brought it home together, lifted it together into our 5 steps into our home and asked a couple neighbors to help swap the hoses since we didn't have a clamp plier. And Voila! We have a Frigidaire front load washer, max capacity, and pretty little buttons that light up the settings. And a older looking Kenmore dryer. I'm still trying to figure out the little nuances that machines have. The dial successfully turns on its own when I have the dryer on a timed dry but on auto dry it doesn't seem to move. Maybe it isn't supposed to. I'm not sure. I can't seem to find the model number anywhere online to find the manual. Luckily I did find the manual for the washer though because I really wanted to clean up the soap dispenser thing. Underneath where no one could see was mold so I clean all the mold out. Now it is almost in pristine condition. I just need to really scrub some soap scum out of the rubber part before you get to the stainless steel drum. It has built up and I doubt anyone thought to clean it.

Anyway we are happy for our new buys and I rearranged the furniture in Grant's room so that it will fit and things are hunky dory. The dryer wasn't closing all the way and it was missing a part that held the door up to latch. Oh I forgot to mention we are recycling our old washer/dryer and someone is picking it up on Friday or Saturday. So I found the part on the old machine and took it off and will put it on our new set so that the door will latch! Yay!