ferrousland.com - diary archives
Friday, November 07, 2003
laundry sins - 09:29 AM
our clothes dryer broke. i've had this dryer since i inherited it from mum & dad about six or more years ago when the element inside it burnt out. mum needed a new dryer immediately, so even though the old one could be fixed, they bought a new one. dad then said that if i wanted to see if i could get the dryer fixed, that i could have it.
dad & i pulled the back off it & saw that yes, it was indeed the element. there was a big scorch mark on one section of it. i took the element on its mount to a place to get fixed & it cost me all of $40. so i've had an excellent dryer now for a long time for next to nothing!
mum bought that dryer with her very first pay packet when she began teaching more than twenty years ago, but you wouldn't know it's that old to look at it. it's in really good nick. there's no rust, no scratches or dings. it's in pretty much perfect condition .. well, except for that fact that it's not working now, but that's only the second time in over two decades that it's died. not bad at all.
since this has happened, i've discovered that using a dryer (instead of hanging the clothes on the line) covers over a multitude of laundry sins.
having a baby in the house & using cloth nappies means that i do a load of washing every day. i've not been separating the items for which i would normally do separate loads, simply because each load of washing would end up having only three items in it (a big waste of water), so i throw all the colours in together, as well as the fluffy hand towels which we use as spew rags.
i hadn't noticed how much fluff & lint the hand towels throw out because the dryer must remove most of it as it throws the clothes around. i did notice lots of lint in the dryer's lint catcher, but i didn't realise how much of it stays stuck to the clothes when you hang them on the line instead.
i've never used laundry softener .. for a few reasons. one, i can't be bothered. two, our washing machine doesn't appear to have a fabric softener dispenser, or perhaps it just doesn't work. then again, maybe it does have one & since i've never used laundry softener i just don't know how to use it. anyway, three, it gums up the inner workings of the machine when you wash in cold water, as i do. if i have to add a fourth reason, it would be that it would ruin my enjo gloves as the residue would continue to come out into the machine even if i didn't put it in that load.
the point of all that was to say that the dryer makes everything come out quite soft & fluffy & pliable, especially the hand towels & riley's towelling bottom wipes which i made. they are so scratchy since i've been hanging them on the line to dry, that i have to scrunch them up a bit in my hands before i use them on his little nether regions.
the problem with the dryer appeared to be the same as years ago. it was blowing air, but there was no heat. i pulled the back of the dryer off again but i couldn't see any scorch marks on the element. i had my doubts that it was the same problem. i took it to a place where i know they stock new elements & they tested it for me. as i suspected, it was fine. so i've called an appliance repair man to come out to fix it. he's due today sometime.
i hope it doesn't require a part that can't be purchased anymore because of the age of the dryer. that would suck a lot. it would mean buying a new dyer. i could just continue to hang stuff on the line, but honestly, i hate doing it. other reasons: i'm really (really, really) slow at it, i don't want the sun to fade riley's gorgeous little outfits & i like the laundry coming out nice & soft.
i could bring out environmental reasons why i should use the sun instead of a dryer, but i already do heaps to help the environment & using a dryer is my one concession. besides, even though it's usually very hot & dry out here it does rain sometimes & if i can't get the washing dry in half a day then i run out of riley's nappies & have to use disposables.
if he can't fix it, then i guess i'll just have to keep using the washing line until we put aside enough money to purchase a new one. let's hope it can be fixed.
oh, if you're wondering what brand of dryer has been going so strong for so many years, it's a hoover apollo deluxe. i just did a search. they don't make them anymore.
why not put up a line under the patio? that way it's much more convenient for you to hang things, they're protected from rain, and they won't get "over dry" in the sun. it'd be a good temporary measure, at least, prolly.
heh. I think my dryer is the same type. It's still going strong, though I don't use it very often. And anyway I prefer the smell of line-dried clothing!
what bad luck!
laundry hanging can be good exercise though, arms above head etc.
while you're waiting for the dryer to be repaired you can get a super good technique going. my mum swears by hanging up nappies with one peg shared between two nappies.
PNPNPNPNP
as opposed to
PNPPNPPNPP
which most people seem to do.
I used to share pegs. My dryer is one of those too.
I used to dry jades nappies on the line, and then throw them in the dryer for about 15 mins too, that would soften them up, and remove thrips! Which were a major problem in melbourne in the summer of 80/81!
gmail
com
Yes, i know what yo mean by the towels and nappies being nice and soft, just think, nothing will shrink now?