Almost 2 weeks ago (Monday, Jan.9th) I was doing my usual Monday activities...
which include tackling the laundry that piles up over the weekend. I had started my 2nd load when I hear a terrible screeching sound coming from the washer. It sounded like gears were grinding. So I stopped the load in mid-cycle & waited for Rusty to come home to check it out.
When we bought this washer (it is a top-loading "front" washer--you load the clothes in the front, but it washes like a front-loading. But instead of the door/opening being in the front, it is on the top of the barrel), Rusty picked this particular one because it was a heavy-duty washer, and the ease of being able to fix the washer yourself.
When you take the front cover off, this is what it looks like. My washer has washed so many loads of clothes, it is amazing! And a sleeping bag fits in (or a comforter, etc.) so I can do any and all of my laundry.
Well, after Rusty heard the terrible sound, he determined it was the ball-bearing, which he can replace, but it is a major repair. He pretty much needs to take the whole washer apart to get to it. So he called the company to order the part. And wouldn't you know it--it wasn't in stock so it is on back-order. They are supposed to e-mail us when the part is shipped, and as of tonight (Sat. Jan. 21) still no e-mail.
Thankfully, Rusty's dad lives right behind us, and he is willing to let us haul our dirty (stinky-boy smelling) clothes over & use his washer. So that is what we have been doing for almost 2 weeks.
I told the kids that before the clothes get into the dirty basket, they had better either look dirty, or smell stinky! I knew I washed a lot of clothes with as big of family as we have and with the activities/sports that everyone is involved in, but we have done close to 20 loads of laundry! (towels & sheets included)
The first weekend, Brienna was an angel & did 5 (??I think??) loads while we were at Zane's basketball games.
We have been hauling the wet, clean laundry back to our house to dry, because it is so much easier to fold, sort & hang up the clothes at home than somewhere else. For the past 12 years I only fold out of the dryer--I don't put the clean, dry clothes into a basket & fold elsewhere/later. I used to do that when I only had 1 or 2 children, but then I would put off folding until I had too many loads out, and some of the clothes would be very wrinkled (so I would have to iron or re-dry/fluff them). When Zane was a baby, I said that I would take the extra 10 minutes of standing in front of the dryer & take care of the clean laundry there--it saves me a lot of extra (& unnecessary) work later.
We are hoping the part comes in so Rusty can take all morning/early afternoon Friday to fix the washer. I feel for my husband--he is so busy anyways with work, planning/designing a house & chores, that any "free" time he does have, all goes to repairing things that break down at our house!
