Thread Number: 90126
/ Tag: Modern Automatic Washers
If Forced To Choose Only One Modern Major Appliance |
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Post# 1147024   4/20/2022 at 22:15 (960 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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What would you have?
Washing machine? Dishwasher? Clothes Dryer? Am asking because it wasn't that long ago it seems when our mothers or grandmothers generation started out and lived with for some time only one major appliance. In most homes it was a fully automatic washing machine. When parents were starting out and just bought their house Mother got an automatic washing machine. That's far as Dad would go then, so Mom used clothesline in yard. Later on Dad loosened up the mousetrap and sprung for a dryer. One night while again being saddled with KP duty, asked Mother why we didn't have a dishwasher. She shot back she already had three of them (myself and siblings), so that was me sorted. |
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Post# 1147025 , Reply# 1   4/20/2022 at 22:28 (960 days old) by ea56 (Cotati, Calif.)   |   | |
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Most certainly a washing machine! I could hang clothes to dry and I already wash the dishes by hand anyway. But I’ll be damned if I’m willing to hand wash all the laundry, oh hell to the no to that!
And BTW Laundress my Mom was just like yours, LOL. My siblings and I were her dishwashers, and she said the same thing as your Mom more than once. Mom never had an automatic dishwasher except for one month in May 1962, We had a 1956 Westinghouse DW that broke down within a month after moving into that house. My Dad died in June and the DW was the least of our problems and was never repaired. We never really missed having a DW. And I have one, but haven’t used it in 4 years now. And I don’t miss using it one bit either. Eddie |
Post# 1147027 , Reply# 2   4/20/2022 at 22:35 (960 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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After getting that vintage GE portable dishwasher find oneself using it less and less as time went buy. Just seemed quicker to wash things by hand than moving that big heavy DW about. It's taking up space that could be used for one of my washing machines, so have a feeling by year's end it will be going somewhere else....
Thus can see why many households either never bothered with a dishwasher, or even used them much or at all if they had. Few of my aunts had dishwashers when one was growing up, they still washed things by hand. Myself and cousins couldn't understand why we were stuck in kitchen washing dishes by hand with that nice DW just sitting a few feet from sink. One cousin dared to voice her opinion, she never did that again... *LOL* |
Post# 1147032 , Reply# 4   4/20/2022 at 22:59 (960 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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To lessen wear and tear on Miele or even AEG front loading washers. Both seem to work best when loaded near or at capacity, far less bother with OOB spins.
Also certain bed linen have nasty habit of balling up which contributes to OOB issues. Years ago now bought a Child's "rapid washer" posser, and am here to tell you it works a treat. Using a tub and posser can get through two sheets and pillow slips in < 20 minutes washed and rinsed twice, all with little effort. Things are then bunged into spin dryer for bit, then onto lines. www.lehmans.com/product/r... These sort of vacuum possers really do shift dirt. Have done really filthy loads like dust cloths, socks (worn around house indoors), and so forth. With first downward push it is amazing how much dirt is forced out. Just five minutes of such "agitation" and things are clean. Also find doing dark or black colored items by hand results in far less lint. |
Post# 1147037 , Reply# 5   4/20/2022 at 23:41 (960 days old) by qsd-dan (West)   |   | |
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Dishwasher. Most dishwashers today have heaters and wash decently when loaded accordingly. Reliability and is a whole different subject though.
I need a vintage washer since I can't tolerate dumbed down temps, poor rinsing, no lint filter, and a lack of flexibility in modern top loaders. Prefer my vintage TOL Maytag dryers which have much better durability, reliability, and build quality than anything currently on the market. |
Post# 1147044 , Reply# 6   4/21/2022 at 02:36 (960 days old) by chachp (North Little Rock, AR)   |   | |
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Post# 1147050 , Reply# 9   4/21/2022 at 07:09 (959 days old) by rpms (ontario canada)   |   | |
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One appliance I could do without is a freezer.
Unless you have a big family or are a hunter I just don't see the need for it. How many of us do not live within a twenty minute walk or drive from a grocery store. I find chest freezers are the worst. Who ever really sees the bottom of one and knows what is really in there? |
Post# 1147059 , Reply# 12   4/21/2022 at 09:16 (959 days old) by gizmo (Victoria, Australia)   |   | |
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Now that's cheatin'. Ain't it? |
Post# 1147061 , Reply# 13   4/21/2022 at 09:51 (959 days old) by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA)   |   | |
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I'd go for a washer, dryer, and dishwasher. All GE, all matching. |
Post# 1147062 , Reply# 14   4/21/2022 at 10:04 (959 days old) by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA)   |   | |
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I hate washing dishes by hand. I have a dishwasher for that, so I'm not gonna complain. I will ABSOLUTELY NEVER do laundry by hand or on a line. I'm grateful to have a washer and dryer for that. I can't live without either of them. |
Post# 1147065 , Reply# 15   4/21/2022 at 10:43 (959 days old) by eriksp (Norway)   |   | |
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You know, the obvious choice for most people here is the washing machine, but I think I would actually wash my clothes on a washing board for the rest of my life compared to having to do my dishes by hand for the rest of my life. |
Post# 1147072 , Reply# 16   4/21/2022 at 11:47 (959 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)   |   | |
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Post# 1147074 , Reply# 17   4/21/2022 at 11:56 (959 days old) by petek (Ontari ari ari O )   |   | |
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Being as Laundresses question is which one of those particular three appliances would you choose over the others given no choice it would have to be a washing machine of some sort. I don't like doing dishes but could get by as we have in the past and I can and already do hang laundry out when I can,so a dryer isn't really essential But I'm not going to do my weekly laundry by hand or dragging it to a laundromat.
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Post# 1147107 , Reply# 18   4/21/2022 at 17:56 (959 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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Purposely left out appliances like fridges, freezers, modern ranges, stoves and ovens because don't consider them mod cons, but essentials. Right up there with indoor plumbing including running hot and cold water.
Modern refrigeration and freezing is one of the biggest health benefits of appliances, not to mention household economics. As for solid fuel fired ranges, ovens, etc..., as someone said yes there is a group out there that love using AGA type ranges, but they are a small minority. |
Post# 1147117 , Reply# 19   4/21/2022 at 19:04 (959 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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Think with trend of smaller families or households nowadays washing dishes by hand is less of a bother. In past with two adults and several children multiplied by at least three meals per day, that's quite a lot of dishes, pots and pans that want washing up daily.
Have always found when cooking or baking if one cleans up as one goes, there is less washing up afterwards overall. |
Post# 1147121 , Reply# 20   4/21/2022 at 19:32 (959 days old) by ea56 (Cotati, Calif.)   |   | |
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I completely agree with you Launderess. To me its just easier to get her done. I hate having unfinished business. When DW’s were fast, like under an hour to complete a cycle I didn’t mind so much, and of course at the time I got my first DW in ‘87 it was a novelty, something that I’d aspired to all my life, since I grew up without one. But the new DW’s that take over an hour, some over 2 hrs., well by that time I’m over KP duties and I don’t want to have to stop watching a program I’m interested in to unload the DW and put everything away. Which would frequently also require drying off some items that didn’t dry completely or wash something that didn’t get completely clean, it happens no matter how careful you load the DW. And I’m sure as hell adverse to getting up in the morning to a full DW that needs to be unloaded, no bueno!
Then 4 years ago this month I experienced the straw that broke the camels back as far as DW’s go with me. I had a fully loaded DW and I was preparing dinner in the afternoon. The DW cycled off, I opened it and when I pulled out the rack everything was still dirty, with the food dried on(I’d selected heated dry). Apparently the pump and motor went out and the water didn’t recirculate and the detergent Pod never released from the cup. I had to take ALL those baked on dirty dishes out and hand wash them in the midst of preparing a large dinner. Since it was just under a year old I had Whirlpool repair it. They put a whole new motor assembly in it. However by that time I’d been washing the dishes by hand for 3 weeks, even a family Easter Dinner’s worth of dishes. And I discovered that I liked doing the dishes by hand! I immediately found it to be calming and I felt that I had more time, not less, I always had very dish, pot, pan, utensil, bowl, cup and glass available whenever I wanted to use them. No more having to stop and hand wash something that was in the DW waiting for a full load to start it. I know most members here think I’m crazy and would never entertain the thought of a home without a DW. I still use my DW in a way. I store the dish rack and drainboard on the lower rack along with the coffee can compost holders and on the top rack I store the dish-mats for putting glassware on to dry if I need to wash a lot a time. I also think the kitchen is easier to keep clean too, with a sink of hot soapy water to use with a dishcloth to wipe off all the counters and the stove top. Much quicker than getting out a spray bottle of cleaner and using a sponge, at least for me it is. I don’t see myself ever using the DW again. Different strokes for different folks I guess. So Laundress you make me feel not alone in my aberrant behavior, LOL. Eddie This post was last edited 04/21/2022 at 20:47 |
Post# 1147150 , Reply# 21   4/22/2022 at 10:35 (958 days old) by Adam-aussie-vac (Canberra ACT)   |   | |
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I’m honestly not really a fan of washing dishes by hand, and I would much rather use a dishwasher, vintage washes and vintage dryers or something I would happily use, I just even washed my dressing gown in some vintage soap powder that would’ve came with the washer when it was new, i’d much rather be putting things through a wringer, compare to toiling over a hot kitchen sink, Kind of the same with vacuums as well I’d much rather have something older because knowing the chaos of using a counterfeit bag in the vacuum leading dust dirt and sand getting sucked into the motor, it’s just easier to shake out a cloth bag 26 times a year compared to trying to mangling the clip That the disposable bag is attached to so that the lid would close Plus they’re just so much quieter and I don’t mind the smell of Vacuum either
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Post# 1147154 , Reply# 22   4/22/2022 at 10:58 (958 days old) by rinso (Meridian Idaho)   |   | |
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I would love to be able to afford an induction range. My other appliances are all up-to-date current models. |
Post# 1147160 , Reply# 25   4/22/2022 at 12:16 (958 days old) by ea56 (Cotati, Calif.)   |   | |
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I believe the term “Modern Appliance” is a general term referring to the the concept of these appliances as part of our accepted way of life from the 20th century on. Not to be confused with these appliances as they are known today.
For instance, when washing machines, dryers and dishwashers were first introduced they were “modern”. Today they are common place for most people. So the question in the OP is really, which of these three modern conveniences could you personally not do without given the choice between the three. Eddie |
Post# 1147162 , Reply# 27   4/22/2022 at 12:39 (958 days old) by ea56 (Cotati, Calif.)   |   | |
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Really, when you think about it a washing machine would have to be the one of the three that changed the life of the American housewife the most! I know many are simply horrified at the prospect of thrusting their hands into a sink of hot water to wash dishes.
But compare washing dishes to washing ALL your laundry by hand! Think about having to scrub sheets, towels, blankets and heavy coats and jeans on a washboard, then rinsing them, having to lift these heavy, water laden items out of the water and then wringing the water out by hand. Oh hell no! There is absolutely NO comparison between the intensive labor required to wash laundry by hand as opposed to hanging wet laundry on a clothes line or washing dishes in a sink. Just sayin’. That’s why Monday used to be known as laundry day, because it took the whole damn day to do it! Eddie |
Post# 1147199 , Reply# 28   4/22/2022 at 22:05 (958 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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No less than the Vatican among others claim automatic washing machines are the best thing to happen for women and girls.
Remember watching British television series "1900 House" where a modern family goes back to live in Edwardian times. Families all over UK were fighting to be chosen, and the Bolwers were over moon when they made cut. Within few days of living in that Edwardian home Mrs. Bowler was mean tempered and reduced to sitting and weeping most of day. She just never imagined how difficult life was for an housewife then including things like laundry. Personally found all her moaning rather odd. Fully automatic washing machines did not become wide spread in UK until well after WWII. So it was either something like Hoover TT, going to wash house or doing things by hand for good number of households. Mrs. Bolwer surely had a mother, grandmother or older female family members who could (or should) have warned her about what was to come. |
Post# 1147264 , Reply# 30   4/23/2022 at 22:21 (957 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)   |   | |
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It kinda depends honestly. If I lived somewhere and had a laundromat nearby, then I would choose to have a dishwasher. If I lived somewhere with no laundromat nearby, then I would choose to have a washing machine. And if I lived somewhere that had a HUGE sink to easily wash clothes and dishes off completely clean, then I would choose to have a dryer. But if I overall had to choose only one appliance no matter where I would live at, then I would certainly go for a washer. I could have a high pressure flow faucet and strong detergent to easily clean dishes to where I wouldn't need a dishwasher but it is always nice to have. And I could hang my laundry up to dry like what my grandparents in Utah used to do. I had a neighbor of ours who owned a log cabin and a ranch up in the mountains, but they didn't had any of the three appliances and with no laundromat nearby. At least the last time I was there which would've been almost 11 years ago so I'm not sure if they since added any or not until the time of their passing. And I have a friend of ours that also owns a log cabin up in the mountains and they have a stackable top load washer and dryer but no dishwasher. Makes me wonder now if they ever regretted not putting one in when they first built the place. Thank goodness though that we have stackable washers and dryers. If my grandfather up in Montana only had a washer up at his log cabin instead of his stackable set, he would've had a harder time drying off his clothes cause his place is one of the coldest areas in the country. Especially with his age and health declining.
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Post# 1147273 , Reply# 31   4/24/2022 at 04:32 (956 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN)   |   | |
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Post# 1147277 , Reply# 32   4/24/2022 at 07:25 (956 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)   |   | |
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For me it would definitely be the washing machine. I have a covered balcony where I can hang laundry and otherwise a drying rack in the bathroom would work, it's big enough.
If I wouldn't have a dishwasher, I would do less cooking I suppose, take more short cuts. And I would think twice about baking a cake that causes a mess. But doing laundry by hand would be the worst. I have a separate spin dryer that would come in handy, but it still would be a lot of work compared to the other household tasks. |
Post# 1147336 , Reply# 33   4/25/2022 at 00:03 (956 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)   |   | |
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For me-the washer.Don't think its practical to do clothes manually.I can do my dishes manually-since I don't use too many at a time. |
Post# 1147365 , Reply# 34   4/25/2022 at 12:41 (955 days old) by Mrsalvo (New Braunfels Texas)   |   | |
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I’d have a washer. I wash a lot of dishes by hand, it’s just myself here at the house, unless I’m doing a lot of cooking or not feeling well. |
Post# 1147440 , Reply# 35   4/26/2022 at 15:20 (954 days old) by vacerator (Macomb, Michigan)   |   | |
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I have one, but it's great! No bags, less dust in the house because what gets past the filter all gets exhausted outside. I empry it and clean the filter witha dry brush twice per year. Otherwise a Miele S8 unique. |
Post# 1147459 , Reply# 37   4/26/2022 at 19:22 (954 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI)   |   | |
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I can’t stand washing dishes by hand so the dishwasher seeing as how mine holds a lot of kitchenware dependably doing a great job…
So what if either of my laundry equipment, washer or dryer or BOTH fail in the middle of a load, I go out and replace with another GE or Whirlpool from days of old… I’ll cook with a coil-top electric range just to get self-cleaning more likely than on a gas stove or get a gas range that I hope is as reliable as any new… As for the fridge—I’m dieting in the face of rising food prices and I have all that ice cream I take a few spoonfuls of then wondering how I’ll finish or why I bought, so if anything that’s a fridge/freezer combo not too far from when they made ice and not kept cool with a block of ice, our homeowners Insurance covers us for the loss and I put a box of remnants of spoiled food out on the lawn which my ten-year-old Whirlpool ice and water dispensing side by side could one day become… (There!) — Dave |