The Buckets by Greg Cravens for May 08, 2015

According to Consumer Reports, if the washer or dryer is under 4 years old, fix it; between 4-7 years old, consider fixing it; 8 years old, replace it. Broad brush guidance to be sure, but worth having.

After my surgery I was told not to lift more than 10 lbs., roughly equivalent to a gallon of milk. At 49 and seemingly healthy, I felt a little silly asking grocery store clerks to keep individual bags under 10 lbs., or for help bringing them out to my car, but it’s better than writhing in pain and a return trip to the surgeon.

Larry looks like a little boy in the first panel, with the way he is crouching behind the table.

Good luck Larry.

Live dangerously, Larry!

xxx

I have owned and repaired both top loaders and front loaders. I’m never owning or using a top loader again.One button stops my front loader so I can add items.Top loading washers have a complicated transmission, clutch, and belt system that usually runs the drain pump. Front loaders have a dedicated electric drain pump and the drums have a direct electric drive or a belt from the motor with no transmission. Simple is more reliable. Front loaders only have usually 5-7 gallons of water which is under the front door level. Wet clothes can be removed and there is only a few inches of standing water in the drum. Top Loaders have 15-20 gallons in the tub and will be half full.My normal wash cycles are 35 or 43 minutes. There are features that run longer, but I haven’t needed to use them. The clothes are barely damp after a spin cycle and take 35 minutes to dry in an electric dryer. Top loaders twist, wring and stretch clothes. Front loaders drop clothes into swirling water and spin extract it. The lint filter on the dryer catches a lot less lint since front loaders put less strain on clothes. Large Items like comforters, sleeping bags, throw rugs, towels, and bath mats wash in front loaders with no problems. Delicate and hand wash only have cycles that slosh them until they are clean. Front loaders will wash more clothes per load and do a better job than top loaders. When comparing costs, top loaders usually have porcelain steel drums that chip and rust. Front loaders have more expensive stainless steel drums that last..Top loaders use a lot of hot water and the old drive trains and inefficient old design electric motors use a lot more electricity. One belt replacement, 2 years of utilities, and extra loads costs more than the difference in price. Rebuilt front loaders washers are available at prices comparable with the cheaper top loader.

Good information, PoodleGroomer! Thanks! I’m glad to know someone’s happy with their front loaders. Maybe folks where I live are just cranky. I know I am, but it’s not from my washer at the moment.

I was empathizing with the comic. If you have twisted the transmission shaft off with the agitator, the machine is beyond economical repair and is being severely overloaded. Our clothes weren’t getting clean and I found that my daughter was overstuffing our top loader and had stripped the gears out of the transmission. I have had 2 front loaders over the last 20 years. I wore out a used one, and have had only one electrical repair after a lightning strike.

Here we go again…

Does this mean that Larry actually wants to go to the store?

As for washing machines, I have a front loader because I was led to believe that they were more efficient for domestic use, but I didn’t analyse it in detail. I have had to have it repaired twice in 5 years, though, mostly because of the paddles coming detached from the drum.

Our machine cleans 6-8 large loads a week. How much longer the poor thing lasts, who knows!