Washing machine broken!

We certainly could not cope without clean underwear every day. Both of us suffer from urinary problems (I know, too much information). DH has prostate problems and I am awaiting a prolapse operation.

Thank goodness for some sunshine to dry our (hand washed) clothes!

petra

^it makes me wonder how our grandmothers, managed especially with those large families^
Because they couldn’t afford the time or money to put something in the wash that’s only been worn once or twice.

I remember hearing that people used to change their underwear and other clothes once a week, they also only bathed once a week. Men had detachable shirt collars that could be changed more frequently than the the shirt.

Going back even further people would be sewn into their winter undies in late autumn.

My washing machine broke last week. I can easily manage without my dishwasher, but not without my WM.
So off to Curry’s I go and picked the most basic, no frills cheap and cheerful one, Indesit for £400 (including delivery, installation and recycling of old WM).). I am very pleased.

Ours broke for the final time a few weeks ago. it was very old and had been repaired a few times. My new one can be set on an app which I find slightly confusing. I prefer to handset it but DH is excited about the app and will spend at least 10 minutes figuring out which cycle to use! I have 1 that I use for most things and would rather shove the clothes in and switch it on manually. I remember when we got married we had one which was a top loader, didn't spin and I used a mangle thing to squeeze the water out of clothes. How times change!

Panic sets in when washing machines stop working, doesn’t it?!
If your machine is only two years old it seems illogical to be thinking about a new one but I suspect it may be deemed not worth repairing.
We all know things are not built to last these days.

When I need a new machine I usually go to Curry’s to have a look at various models and then order one from our local electrical store in the village, which takes the old one away and installs the new one.

I can remember as a child, the local laundry collecting and delivering our laundry.

It has been said that the invention of the domestic washing machine did more for the cause of female emancipation than any other invention (even including the pill).
AuntieE smiled at you comment - you know those 'washer-wifes' you mention were also people, and having to do other peoples washing as well as their own. My Grandmother was one of these back in the early part of the 20th century in London's East End.

I do remember back in the 1950's, my Mother had a part-time job, so each week she would take a pillow case of washing to a local shop where it was collected for a 'bagwash' and returned still quite damp (obviouly put into a commercial washing machine, but not dried). Every four weeks the Best Wash would be sent, tablecloths, sheets, etc. These were washed, bleached, dried and ironed.

The machine is only two years old so we may have it replaced. Meanwhile my experience of hand washing has been very negative! I certainly do not consider
myself lazy because I use a washing machine, what a strange point of view!

Many years ago my washing machine broke down and we couldn’t get a replacement for a week. As we live rurally there was no laundrette for 12 miles.

I filled the bath with all the washing and laundry soap and the children marched up and down the bath, then I left it soaking overnight and rinsed and hand wrung it in the morning.

The kids really enjoyed it.

Oh snoopy! Wow, can't imagine life without my washing machine. I am impressed but most definitely will not be hand washing any time soon !!!!

petra

^it makes me wonder how our grandmothers, managed especially with those large families^
Because they couldn’t afford the time or money to put something in the wash that’s only been worn once or twice.

Very true in my experience!

I remember that in the early 1980s, my parents had new neighbours who had one child. My parents were bemused by the fact (obvious from what was on the washing line) that the child was clearly being dressed in clean clothes every single day!

Do it by hand, i do all my washing by hand, people with washing machines are just lazy people.

How long have you had that washing-machine? If it is more than six years old or so, it will probably be too expensive to have it repaired.

If so, buy the cheapest you can find - washing machine parts are mainly made in China whatever the brand, and there is no point in paying for a name if the working parts of the machines are identical.

I bought the cheapest I could find, ten years ago, and it is still washing as clean as it did when new.

Our grandmothers, unless they were very poor, had a washer-wife who came in to do the washing, or if they were more well-to-do, sent it out, either to one of the women who "took in washing" or to a laundry.

Underclothes were changed and washed once or twice a week, as was bed-linnen. Dresses, suits etc. were washed or dry-cleaned once or twice a year.

If as you say the mitor has burned out doubt it will be worthy of repair at least cost wise.
My machine refused to work on returning from break over Xmas and NewYear. Had been grumbling for a few months and was 15 years old so new on ordered. Friend collected from store and installed for me. Old one collected by Council the next week. Nothing lasts for ever but all the new programmes are a challenge!

It is not only our grandmothers who hand washed. I didn't have a machine until both my daughters were out of nappies. I stood at the kitchen sink every morning scrubbing away at our clothes, with the nappies in the Baby Burco boiler beside me. More often than not it boiled over, taking the colour out of the red Marley floor tiles. However, I was lucky enough to own a spin dryer, which spun faster than automatic washers do.
I hope you soon get a your machine repaired or replaced.

it makes me wonder how our grandmothers, managed especially with those large families
Because they couldn’t afford the time or money to put something in the wash that’s only been worn once or twice.

Have you tried taking the filter out first, or fuse?
Sometimes it won’t spin, or drain if the filter is blocked.

Mine tends to wait until holiday times to cause the most inconvenience it is under a repair contract and usually they come quite quickly. Fortunately if it goes totally kaput we have a local electrical goods supplier who can have a new machine with me in hours.