Washing machine update
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So as I wrote a while back, my 3 year old LG washer died and it would have been cheaper to replace it than fix it I was told. Many grrrs.
Since it's summertime and clothes are light I've been hand washing since then, and have put off taking the bigger things to the laundromat.
Anyhoo, I decided to try something a little different--an experiment. It's just me here so why do I need a full sized washing machine? I don't. So I searched the webs for small, portable washing machines and ended up deciding on the Black and Decker 0.9 cu ft portable. To me, 0.9 sounded un-workably small, but more searching and reviews convinced me it was worth a try.
It arrived yesterday. To my eyes, the tub seems twice as big as 0.9 cu ft and it's capacity of 3.5 lbs of clothes isn't bad at all, not for my needs. That's about half the load of what I'd put in to the crap LG, and big enough to do queen sized sheets. The LG wash cycle was long, the B&D "normal" cycle is only 30 minutes. It evens out.
I cannot believe how clean the clothes are coming out of this little gem, I'm astounded. It puts the full-sized LG to shame while using much less detergent, and only cold water.
I'm in love with it. It's small enough to roll under the counter where there's space for a dishwasher--which I don't have. Easy to roll out and hook up when I need it, in less than 5 minutes. I can do my regular laundry in an hour. On days like today I can hang the clothes outside to dry even though the drier down stairs still works (it's from the 1980s I should add!).
Perfect. Time will tell how well it holds up over time. This setup works for me because it's just me here. It would be useful in the larger household for quick washes etc. but it obviously can't replace a large capacity washer for multi-person households.
A video I found on YouTube about it:
Link to video
The industrial revolution cheapened everything.
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So as I wrote a while back, my 3 year old LG washer died and it would have been cheaper to replace it than fix it I was told. Many grrrs.
Since it's summertime and clothes are light I've been hand washing since then, and have put off taking the bigger things to the laundromat.
Anyhoo, I decided to try something a little different--an experiment. It's just me here so why do I need a full sized washing machine? I don't. So I searched the webs for small, portable washing machines and ended up deciding on the Black and Decker 0.9 cu ft portable. To me, 0.9 sounded un-workably small, but more searching and reviews convinced me it was worth a try.
It arrived yesterday. To my eyes, the tub seems twice as big as 0.9 cu ft and it's capacity of 3.5 lbs of clothes isn't bad at all, not for my needs. That's about half the load of what I'd put in to the crap LG, and big enough to do queen sized sheets. The LG wash cycle was long, the B&D "normal" cycle is only 30 minutes. It evens out.
I cannot believe how clean the clothes are coming out of this little gem, I'm astounded. It puts the full-sized LG to shame while using much less detergent, and only cold water.
I'm in love with it. It's small enough to roll under the counter where there's space for a dishwasher--which I don't have. Easy to roll out and hook up when I need it, in less than 5 minutes. I can do my regular laundry in an hour. On days like today I can hang the clothes outside to dry even though the drier down stairs still works (it's from the 1980s I should add!).
Perfect. Time will tell how well it holds up over time. This setup works for me because it's just me here. It would be useful in the larger household for quick washes etc. but it obviously can't replace a large capacity washer for multi-person households.
A video I found on YouTube about it:
Link to video
@Bernard interesting! I’m glad you found a solution that works.
The whole thing about consumer electronics and other household products that don’t last is incredibly frustrating. And so unnecessary, given the technological capability humans have acquired over the last 150 years. Today nothing of the environmental impact of all these broken products that get thrown away because they quickly become useless.
My biggest household concern is our HVAC. It is working fine right now, but it’s 15 years old. When it goes, we’ll have to choose from whatever models are available. Besides the expense of replacing an hvac, what guarantee is there that we’ll get something that will last another 15 or more years?
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I'd never heard of such a thing. Do they have little dryers too? I've been trying to convince Janet to install a small laundry unit in our walk in closet. It's right on the wall that has the waste and water lines. Easy peasy and we don't need nearly the closet space we used to when working.
I find it very strange bordering on criminal that appliances don't last any time at all but cars, infinitely more complex machines, can easily go 15-20 years. Surely they could build ones that last. I'd be willing to pay for them.
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I'd never heard of such a thing. Do they have little dryers too? I've been trying to convince Janet to install a small laundry unit in our walk in closet. It's right on the wall that has the waste and water lines. Easy peasy and we don't need nearly the closet space we used to when working.
I find it very strange bordering on criminal that appliances don't last any time at all but cars, infinitely more complex machines, can easily go 15-20 years. Surely they could build ones that last. I'd be willing to pay for them.
I've been trying to convince Janet to install a small laundry unit in our walk in closet. It's right on the wall that has the waste and water lines. Easy peasy and we don't need nearly the closet space we used to when working.
Thought about doing the same thing in a closet in a spare bedroom that is set up as an office that we basically don't use anymore. There are those dryers that vent moisture into the drain rather than to the outside.
Two story house here plus basement. Our laundry setup is currently in the basement. Installing a washer and dryer on the second floor would save trips up/down the stairs but doesn't eliminate them altogether. Of course I wouldn't have to carry the clean laundry up two flights, though now I bring small armloads up to the first floor and hang them in the front hall closet until I head up to 2. And I wouldn't be likely to hang out on the second floor while things washed and dried.
Part of me thinks that hiring someone to come in and do laundry for us once a week if I can't do it myself might be the way to go rather than investing in a second setup upstairs. Dunno.
Portable dryers:
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