The Dancing Washing Machine
I managed to get most of my laundry done before we left for our last revival, but I had to bring my last two loads with us … slopping wet and still dirty! I had one load on the floor waiting for it’s turn in the washer while the next-to-the-last load finished up. About mid-cycle, I had to make a trip to the laundry room for something, and I found the pile on the floor, soaking wet! Uh-Oh, is right! I moved the pile away from the washer and found a thick stream of water pouring out from under it.
It had been a great machine … a Whirlpool that was given to us as a gift from my parents in 1988. How many washers last 20 years?! I was sad to see it go, but sadder still to have to shop for a new one. I really HATE shopping, so I did as much research as possible before I struck out to buy a replacement. Consumer Reports is my favorite place to check before we spend money on big ticket items. My plan was to identify just the one I wanted, drive to my local Sears, Home Depot, or Lowes, have them load it on my truck, and be waiting in the driveway with it when Benjy got home … but things didn’t work according to my plan this time.
Consumer Reports informed me that the U.S. had recently set new strict standards for washers in an attempt to make them more energy efficient, but most manufacturers are having a tough time complying with the new standard, so they cut back in ways that ultimately kept the machines from cleaning as well as before. One thing I DON’T want is a new washer that doesn’t wash!
I read, I fretted, I prayed … finally I printed the list, and struck out for the appliance store, asking the Lord to lead me to the perfect machine at a reasonable price. What I found was that the list I had from Consumer Reports was last year’s models, none of which were still in the stores where I shop. I was SO discouraged! I turned back toward home with no washer, but on the way, I decided to stop at one more place. The FIRST washer I came to was a Maytag Legacy Series MTW5800T[W] topload washer … it was on my list AND it was offered at a great price, but the report had a couple complaints noted. I hadn’t printed the complaints, so I drove home, read the complaints, and learned that some owners said it shook badly while spinning. My old washer shook badly while spinning, so I wasn’t too concerned.
After dinner, we drove back to the store, bought the machine, brought it home, and washed the first load of clothes. To say the washer shook is an understatement! It literally danced across my laundry room floor. Using a level and some shims, Benjy made sure it was properly balanced, but still it danced. We decided to think on it for night. The next morning a friend mentioned that there are straps that have to be removed from a new washer before it is used. Benjy had removed one strap from the legs, but found another strap holding the tub in place. He removed it, and we washed another load of laundry … SUCCESS!
If you have a Maytag Legacy Series MTW5800T[W] topload washer that dances all over the place, look at the back of the machine and find a yellow plastic placeholder … ours said “Remove Cord.” The plug-in end of the electric cord was stored there, so we mistakenly thought it meant to pull the electric cord out of the placeholder, but the plastic piece was attached to a strap, which was attached to a pin at the base of the tub. If you pull it out, the pin comes loose and the tub is free to spin properly.
I LOVE the new washer! It has some features my old one didn’t have, and the clothes come out clean and fresh and so dry I can set my dryer for about a third less time. I’m so thankful the Lord lead us to the right machine, and that He prompted our friend to tell us how to stop the dancing. Our God is a loving Father, and He takes SUCH good care of us.
Keeping it real,
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