In 1969 I bought a washing machine from Sears; it was a Kenmore. We had purchased only the washer since we could not afford a dryer, so I also bought a wooden foldout drying rack on which to hang the laundry to dry. Several years later, we were fortunate enough to buy a dryer. Both were placed in the carport utility room and laundry had to be taken from the house outside to the washer/dryer. I thought I lived in luxury – a matching set of “poshiness,” sitting next to the lawn mower, boat seats, and bicycles.
We moved in 1976, taking the machines with us and housed them in an inside laundry room where they dutifully did the job until 1990. Then we moved to an old house in town and they were placed in the kitchen since that was the location of the plumbing. The washer just got tired after 30 years and gave up the spirit in 1995. So I acquired my mama’s washer – of similar age – and also her dryer. I believe the dryer had come from her neighbor who died around 1984 – he probably had it since 1969 by the looks of it. For the next 23 years both washer and dryer served us well.
Last week, it became necessary to replace the appliances and that may be because I decided they should be “cleaned.” So I scrubbed the washer inside and out, vacuumed the dryer filter and then deciding that I would clean under them – bad decision – I ran a Swiffer sweeper under each. Twenty-two year old gunk was not pleasing to me, or the units, and in protest the washer started leaking and howling and requesting final rites and a peaceful passing to the dump. The dryer – not wanting to be separated from its mate – simply refused to dry things in less than 90 minutes. I agreed with them and sought burial for both. My husband commented, “You just can’t buy good machines any more. They lasted only 50 years.” To which I replied, “But they were free, so the price was right.”
When I bought our first washing machine, man had not walked on the moon, an unknown Internet was floating randomly around cyber-space, women stopped wearing bras, and Sears sold Kenmore appliances. Sears is closed. Now I was faced with Maytag, GE, Amana, Samsung, Speed Queen, LG and I couldn’t tell which one was Kenmore quality. A Google search was in order and in answer to my question, I discovered that Kenmore is not even a manufacturer but rather a brand name made by Maytag – which is really a Whirlpool owned company – marketed by Sears. Whirlpool also manufactures Amana, Kitchen Aid and from what I can tell intergalactic vehicles. GE – which isn’t owned by General Electric anymore – makes Hot Point, GE and like Ben Franklin dabbles in electricity. A Chinese conglomerate now owns GE.
Since I did not want to go to a home improvement store or Wal-Mart/Sam’s and load a washer and dryer into my truck, where they would sit for eternity along with the storm door I bought that cannot seem to hang itself, I went to an appliance store. Actually I went three times before compromising – a requirement in the selection of a pretty set to hide in the closet that will fit in the space I have allotted. The Chinese won. The old saying is that tragedies happen in threes and now I wonder if I count a washer/dryer as one or two happenings. The appliances were delivered, installed, the dead ones hauled off – all free – and the time clock on durability starts ticking while I ponder if a witch cloak is a “delicate” or a “casual?”
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