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Just Another Morning in Consumer Paradise

Posted June 2, 2009

Whiner-in-Chief’s clothes-washing machine is out of commission. We don’t know what happened. Or why, other than the same astrological blot that has been bringing mostly bad news for as long as we can remember.

It all started about a week ago. One morning, W-i-C was happily doing a load of wash — that is, she wasn’t happy about doing it, but then the machine broke down, and she realized just how happy she used to be, every single day, so long as she was  able to load the machine, press a few buttons, and get the damn thing done.

When the machine broke down, it did so, naturally, at the most inopportune point in the entire clothes-washing cycle. The machine was completely full of water, a full load of clothes were completely saturated, and suddenly, without a bang or a whimper, it all just stopped.

Whiner-in-Chief had a few other things on her mind that day, putting it mildly. However, she set those things aside  and emptied those saturated clothes into a cart  (after first trying to squeeze whatever dirty, soapy water she could get out of them back into the soggy mess that had become her Appliance From Hell du Jour).

Cursing a blue streak, she wheeled the cart downstairs to her apartment building’s laundry room, leaving a trail of sudsy, dirty water behind her. (Yes, she did need to head back up to her apartment, arm herself with a mop, and then retrace her steps all the way back down to the laundry room to clean up that mess.)

W-i-C’s troubles, of course, had only begun.

She needed to empty out as much of the dirty water from the broken machine as she could get, a time-consuming and incredibly messy project that she tackled, with 8-ounce, 4-ounce, and 2-ounce measuring cups and a bucket. Of course, she couldn’t get all the water out. But she pretended she could.

Also of course, she couldn’t find a repair person to come to her apartment to do the repair. She pretended she could do that as well.

But only for about an hour, which was the limit she allotted for all the phone calls she made to would-be repair professionals who either didn’t answer the phone at all or put her on hold and kept her on hold and only occasionally returned to the phone to ask her the same set of questions which then resulted in her being placed back on hold.

Whiner-in-Chief has a few other things on her mind at the moment (elderly parents, teenage offspring, career meltdown, and that’s not even counting the whole piss-poor state of the world which she really should be pundit-ing about, if it weren’t for matters like broken washing machines). So W-i-C decided, after that one hour, to forget about the washing machine, just for a little while.

And she did. She forgot about it for one entire week, although, not really, because periodically, she would ask herself, “What the hell am I going to do about that washing machine?” But then she decided to think about it tomorrow.

This morning, Whiner-in-Chief noticed that the washing machine has started to smell. In a big way. She probably needs to do something today. She doesn’t have time to do anything today. But she probably needs to do it anyhow. As in, now.

The only question is, what to do? With the passing of this week, the question has taken on more cosmic proportions in W-i-C’s mind, embodying what has become a mountain of consumer problems that she doesn’t know how to handle. She thinks about them all “tomorrow.”

Fortunately, most of them don’t  smell.

Here’s the issue. She should probably just get the machine fixed. But W-i-C lives in a pricey city. The repair will probably cost at least $200. It’s hard to find a repair person. And this particular washing machine shows signs of being less-than-perfect, to put it mildly: It’s only about 5 years old and has already had one major breakdown and costly repair, about a year ago.

So, maybe she should buy (a word that causes cringing every time she sees it). She could probably buy a good, energy-efficient machine for about $800. (Fellow Whiners, we know this is more expensive than a rock-bottom washer would cost. But when you live in an apartment building, you’ve got to buy the quietest model on the market, or you get into a lot of trouble with the neighbors who live below you and the neighbor below W-i-C does like to bang on his ceiling with a broom handle when the spirit moves him.)

Buying a new washer would solve the washing machine problem, with one machine in the door and the other out probably within the next few days. But, and here is a big but, Whiner-in-Chief has been living with the absolute worst, most unreliable dishwasher on the planet for years now.

She dreams of replacing this dishwasher.

She has written whole epics about her hatred of this dishwasher. She only keeps this dishwasher going (a euphemism if there ever was one) by running it empty, with a cupful of vinegar at the hottest possible water setting, every couple of weeks.

Yet despite her hatred of this machine, W-i-C hasn’t been able to justify spending money on a new one, given the general depressing state of both global and personal finances. Given this situation, how could she spend the money on a new clothes washer when the machine she really loathes to the core of her being is her dishwasher ? And a new dishwasher wouldn’t cost anywhere near as much as a new clothes washer.

But then, there are all those other things that really should get done ahead of replacing either of these two appliances. W-i-C’s apartment has been in need of a paint job for about five years. That’s the time when various leaks started appearing from the roof of her building. For a prolonged period of time (years, really), the roof would get patched, the leaks would get plastered over, and W-i-C would know that “this was the time” to get the apartment painted.

But, sometimes the very act of comparison-shopping among painters would seem too overwhelming. Sometimes, there were all those questions about which paint colors to choose, or, who would pick up the paint from the store — the painter or W-i-C? Or, when to time the paint job so that it wouldn’t disrupt the family. Or, how to pay for what is really a very big paint job. (Yes, Fellow Whiners, that’s the big question.)

Just in the nick of time, the roof would usually start leaking again. And that would bring the whole process back to the beginning, allowing W-i-C to whine about the leak rather than the onerous act of getting the apartment painted.

This winter, though, after some cataclysmically awful leaks, the roof finally — really — got fixed. So, this is the time to paint. And it’s hard to ignore the fact that several rooms of W-i-C’s apartment have more plaster than actual paint on the walls.

It’s kind of depressing. Almost as depressing as that smell coming from the soggy water that’s hidden in the broken clothes washer. That smell is worse than it was yesterday. But probably not as bad as it’s going to be tomorrow.

The Whiner wants to know: What would you do if you were W-i-C? How do you decide whether to buy or repair? What’s your most hated appliance, and why?

Reader Comments

  1. Kris

    I think it’s going to come down to what’s your time worth vs your level of frugality.
    You’re lucky to have a laundry room in your building (my last apt in $$$ city was 3 blocks away), can you (or do you) have the time to be bussing laundry up and down the elevator as well as dealing with waiting for machines to free up, etc?

    Same with the dishwasher… can you assign the DH & kids dish duty every night?
    If not, is it worth making the family dinner and standing there at the sink cleaning it up? (and I say this as my current house does not currently have a dishwasher)

    We recently had our washer die, went to appliance store and purchased a “reconditioned” high end machine for 75% of the original price. Thing has worked like a charm thus far for 6mos.
    So many people are selling off their appliances for extra cash, you might be able to find both a washer & dishwasher for a reasonable price (might take crossing one of those rivers however).

  2. Arlene

    I’d have another go at fixing the washer. Use a different repair person. The developing mildew and mold you describe is really going to make people sick; you have to make a move. With so many other things to deal with, fixing the washer one more time is worth a shot because it’s the least expensive option.

    I hate having to be home to wait for repairmen, though–a LOT. I always feel virtuous afterward, having made such a sacrifice in the name of thrift. Plus, I always make the repair guys show me things so in case the same problem recurs, I can do something halfway smart. In this case, make New Repair Guy show you how to drain water out of this washer so if it dies again, it at least will not smell up the whole place.

    About the dishwasher: Stick with the vinegar drill and save up.

    About the paint: Have time? Could you learn how from You Tube videos or a Home Depot guy? Could you do, say, a wall a weekend?

  3. Jerla

    As the self-anointed Queen of Making Do, I hereby recommend that you find yourself a keeper. I need a keeper. Everyone needs a keeper. My keeper would mow my yard, do the dishes, deal with the plumbing, replace the vinyl siding on the front of the house that got blasted by tree bark shrapnel when the tree got hit by lightning 2 years ago, put a new plug on my bedroom air conditioner, replace the living room air conditioner, find and fix the leak in the roof, replace the living room ceiling, and repair and paint all my walls that got cracked and ruined from the leaky ceiling.
    Fortunately, my 20-year-old washer is still chugging along. Its day will come, however, and then it will go on the list to be dealt with by my “keeper”. I hope my own keeper will come equipped with a truck, because a lot of these jobs will require some hauling. Oh, did I mention that the furnace and water heater are both operating beyond reasonable life expectancy? Both to be dealt with by my keeper, upon my getting that all-important Powerball win. I play Powerball twice a week, even if I have to dive into the very bottom of my purse to come up with the requiste combination of nickels, dimes and pennies to pay the dollar. And if you win Powerball and I don’t, I won’t get mad, because everyone can use a rich friend.

  4. Bruce Coulson

    In an era of planned obsolescence, at a certain point it becomes cheaper to buy a replacement. The question is, is now the time for your washer?

    The repair price you quoted is roughly 25% of the cost of your replacement. And that’s not counting your time and aggravation in getting the repairs done. Plus the fact that with a repair having been done a year ago, the machine is wearing out (they do that) and will require more repairs, possibly in the near future.

    So, ugly as it is, I suggest that you check Consumer Reports for the most reliable model that fits your needs in your price range, cross your fingers, and hope it all works out.

  5. dd

    Find appliances that have energy rebates:
    http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=rebate.rebate_locator

    from the manufacturers and combine with the federal tax credit. Some states and utility companies also have incentives. You can save a couple of hundred dollars that way. You can feel frugal each time you use the machines, as the utility savings may be more than $50/year.

  6. yalda

    Facing exact same issue with stove (except that my smell factor is gas!). Replace w/more efficient, reliable WARRANTEED appliance or struggle through trying to get this one fixed. Again. Or forgo baking entirely.

    My friends vote for a new one– I think mainly because they are tired of hearing me complain or worried that I’m going to blow up the house with the leaky gas stove….

    Sigh. Either way it’s $400- to $800 bucks that I don’t want to spend.

  7. Diane

    I had a similar issue with my garage door opener. We came home from a weekend getaway, and it wouldn’t open – chain/springs were broke. The worst timing and highly annoying. The repairs were roughly half the cost of replacing it. We opted for the repairs. Why? The repairs restored it to a good condition and bought us more years; a new garage opener at double the price was a budget buster for us, and it was a time saver given the situation we were in.

    Having said that, a 5 year old washer with 1 major breakdown in it’s history sounds like a lemon. If the repairman can’t restore it to a good condition and add some years to it, it may be time to pop for a new one. Also, perhaps you can shop around for a cheaper repairman?

    Worst appliance? By far my dishwasher. It never cleans the dishes quite the way I want it to.

  8. Hope

    Given you have had two major breakdowns in five years, I would be tempted to follow Bruce’s advice and check out CR, and dump the damn thing. However, if you decide on repair, you will need to order Smelly Washer to get rid of the gunk that has built up.

    As for painting, I agree with Arlene…I would paint it myself, but I’m a old painter from waaaay back.

    I hesitate to say this, but my appliances are all working at this point. Of course, we paid the high dollar for new stove, fridge and d/w a few years ago.

  9. Tamara

    The fridge. Elderly, cold & warm spots, and worst of all, the defroster leaks water all over the inside of it if I don’t put a full sized towel on the top shelf and change it daily.

    Oh yeah, and roaches are nesting inside the mechanism. I clean under and behind and spray in through the vent holes monthly, but the nasty little monsters are still in there. Hates them, we do, nasty, tricksy little…

    But I rent, so I’m stuck with the #%$%!! thing.

    tamara

  10. Been There, Done That

    Oh, boy. Do I feel for you on this.

    We’re having similar issues.(The gas has been out in our old UWS apartment building since September. Only advantage? Saving $30 a month on ConEd bill. That’s how much they charge you at a minimum, no matter if you only boil water for tea once a week).

    Here’s mysuggestions to consider, for now, based on my and friends in city past experiences (You’re not alone in the worst-case scenario for washers).

    1. Given it’s history, this machine is a lemon. Don’t waste your time trying to repair it. Get it out of your apartment (pay the super or his assistant)ASAP. (FYI: There is a way to have someone disconnect the piping and then drain water that way. Ask the super.)

    2. Postpone buying a new washing machine, for now.

    and use those in the basement. It can be done! You must have done it before. Yes, it’s a hassle. But it’s not forever.

    Research new machines without being rushed (no matter how good you are at researching, it’s time-consuming. I know. I had to get a new refrigerator in two days in NYC. I spent hours online, hours making calls and several hours physically checking models in whatever stores still sell them. Which is like two.) and make sure you check their repair histories by brand. You want to feel as if you’ve made an informed choice and one that allows you to research prices as well.

    If you’ve never used a high-efficiency machine, I suggest you try them (friends? laundry service)because they operate very differently and the whole washing experience is different (and not better in my opinion).

    Save up some money, or wait until you have some more income coming in.

    Sounds to me that you need the dishwasher more than a washer right now, given that you can use those in the basement.

    I live in an old building. Even if we could afford it, we can’t physically install either a washer or a dishwasher.

    Heck, we can’t even get the 1920s stove replaced. We literally can’t get it out! (It was brought in originally thru a back door that is now sealed up!)

    So we live with a lot of frustration.

    We’re still trying to get our kitchen plumbing fixed (super has been here three times already; still has leaks).

    We’re still awaiting the replacement of our original 1920s bathroom sink/pedestal. A nightmare process we don’t even want to think about. Given our super’s skills, we’re afraid the water might literally not be able to be turned on again! Then, no tub, no toilet, no sink. And nowhere else to live!

    Do what you can to minimize the irritants around this as much as you can.

    Good luck.

  11. forkboy1965

    Replace, replace, replace. Forget that it is only five years old and remember that it seems to have issues and has already cost you money very recently.

    Get out from under this elephant before it crushes your wallet.

  12. anita

    Replace the washer. Like others said, that smell indicates mold, which is not good for you or your family.

    I’m not being snarky here when I say I wish I had your problems – I live in an apartment and don’t have a washer, dryer, or dishwasher. Doing laundry means taking everything downstairs, through a hallway, around the backside of the building and into the basement. When it’s raining, that’s really fun. With 20 units, and limited laundry room hours, it’s a real pain. When I had money, I sent my laundry out – it was thrilling to pick up the neat squares of clean, folded clothing.

    I’ve never lived in a place that had a dishwasher, except for at my parents house…. decades ago. I dearly wish I had one. When I’ve been super busy, I’ve actually given up and gone the most un-green path and used paper and plastic.

    I don’t want to think of how many hours of my life I’ve spent doing dishes by hand and hauling laundry up and down those stairs.

    Replace whatever you need to replace. It’s worth it in the time you save which you can use to deal with all the other things going on in your life.

  13. Crayon

    WIC,

    Don’t rush into an energy efficient clothes washer if it’s the kind that uses low amounts of water. Think low flush toilets, how you end up flushing them extra anyway and use more water in the long run. I was an early adopter of a low water use “energy” efficient washer and it was a nightmare. The model I had even had a class action suit filed because it destroyed clothes and laundry rooms. I used to pour extra buckets of water into it and used the rinse cycle several times for each load. NO rebate is worth the h-ll and expense I went through with that thing. I now have a normal top loading washing machine that I’m happy with. One other thing, I’ve heard front loading washing machines can leave you with a mess if they break down with clothes and soapy water inside, kind of like an aquarium.

    Right now I’m at peace with my appliances….but the carpeting is wearing out. I’m ignoring it, absolutely don’t have the money to have furniture moved out and the old carpet torn out and new relaid.

  14. Arlene

    I know I said, “Fix the washer.”

    But after reading everybody disagreeing with me, I change my vote–I was wrong, and you all have persuaded me. Dump the washer. Five years IS unusually short for two sets of major repairs.

    And there is that basement laundry room. Years ago, when I had that arrangement, I actually spent less time doing laundry than I do now, with my teeny-tiny closet apartment machine that takes hours to dry anything.

    Now that you’ve told us about your domestic maintenance nightmares, we all want to know how it turns out, because we all have maintenance nightmares of our own.

  15. Mary

    A week ago my central air conditioner went (and I’m in Florida). The silver lining is that this is a great time to buy because the economy is so bad. I ended up paying 30% less than I would have a year ago and they threw in a 10 year warranty for free.

  16. deborah

    It does sound as though you might have a lemon as it always seems as though top-loading washers are workhorse appliances which go forever (at least in my experience).

    Having said that we had a similar experience with our washer a few years ago and after traipsing around the shops looking at new washers I decided that I didn’t want to spend $800 for a new washer and would go online to find out what the problem might be. It turned out to be the lid switch – a really easy repair and a part which cost under $20.00. I believe you can even jam a piece of eraser in there instead. You might want to investigate your model online and test to see if this is your problem. Then you can buy a dishwasher instead!