The Washing Machine of Tomorrow

Our new Washing Machine was just delivered. Out with the old model, which had served faithfully for almost ten years (the past six of those with a child in the house). It broke down almost three months ago, Sears attempted to repair it about two months ago (but didn't), and the problem was finally (properly) diagnosed about a month ago. To repair it, we would have spent more than half of what a new model would cost. (That, and it would have continued our frustrating relationship with Sears Appliance Repair service.) So this was an easy decision to make.

(As an aside: don't ever call Sears for appliance repair service. Or at least, don't say I didn't tell you so. We had to wait weeks for a diagnosis and attempted repair, they tried several times to reschedule without notifying us in advance, and they completely misdiagnosed the problem. And when all was said and done, we had to pester them to get an acknowledgment that the original misdiagnosis had been in error, and obtain a refund.)

In the meanwhile, we've been doing laundry at the Laundromat. I don't much mind, and there's one nearby that I like to use, because it's usually empty and quiet (though I just start a load and go off to run errands, anyway).

This one has nifty whiz-bang light-up buttons and an LCD display, and it plays a little tune when you turn it on and off. (No, really.) In fact, the button you press to start the wash cycle is modeled after the familiar "play" button from a cassette deck or VCR — I know, I'm dating myself — or DVD player. (My six-year-old will love this.)

In the end, it was the mechanical timer mechanism that failed the old model, after so many twists and turns. Ten years seems a good, solid run for a heavily-used appliance, don't you think?

Now I wonder how much longer the Dryer is going to last...