In an unfortunate bit of timing, our washer died just after the major plumbing mess we wrote about yesterday. We had hoped the issue would be simple and inexpensive, but the appliance gods apparently had other plans.
The repair technician inspected the machine and pointed out extensive corrosion, rusted bolts, a broken belt, and other signs of long-term wear. He told us he could try to patch it up for about $200, but he didn’t expect it to last and advised against spending more money on it. We appreciated the honesty, even if the news wasn’t great.
So, right after writing a plumbing check, we found ourselves reaching for the emergency fund again to buy a new washer and dryer. We briefly considered used appliances from places like ReStore or Craigslist, but decided it made more sense to invest in a reliable set that would last, rather than a temporary fix. After looking at online appliance retailers and big-box stores, we headed out to see options in person.
We had actually been looking forward to upgrading our laundry equipment eventually—we knew it was only a matter of time since our washer was likely over twenty years old—but we hadn’t expected to be shopping immediately after the plumbing fiasco.
When we first moved in, we joked about someday getting shiny, feature-packed appliances with every gadget imaginable. Of course, laser shows and waffle-making washers were a stretch, but we did want reliable, user-friendly machines. With laundry piling up, we needed a working washer quickly, so our ideal leisurely sale-waiting plan went out the window.
Thankfully, John’s parents let us use their laundry while we researched and compared models. We caught up on everything without any mishaps, and John did the laundry so he’d be on the hook if anything went wrong—fortunately, nothing did.
This time around we adopted a new appliance mantra: don’t just chase the cheapest deal. We wanted to research, be willing to spend a bit more, and choose features we’d genuinely use. We plan to stay in this house for decades, so buying well-made appliances made sense.
Our previous washer and dryer were deep discounts and served us well, but they lacked a few small features we missed, like a digital countdown display that shows time remaining. Little conveniences like that add up, and we were willing to pay more for features we enjoyed previously.
After plenty of discussion and research, we narrowed our priorities to the following:
- Top-loading washer. We preferred not bending over as much and wanted to avoid the mildew maintenance that sometimes comes with front-loaders. Modern top-loaders are also more efficient now, reducing some of the previous advantages of front-load models.
- Whirlpool or Maytag. Both brands are reliable, made by the same parent company, and had served us well before. We’d also heard repair costs on some other brands could be high, so sticking with Whirlpool or Maytag felt sensible.
- A silencing option for the end-of-cycle buzzer. Our current dryer has a loud buzzer that can disturb naps, so the ability to turn it off mattered to us.
- Digital display. A countdown timer was one of those small conveniences we wanted back.
- A dryer with steam. Reviews and recommendations suggested steam cycles were useful, so that became a desired feature.
Our search led us to a Whirlpool set that resembled the machines John’s parents had and that had strong reviews. We concentrated our shopping at Home Depot and Lowe’s, since they offered competitive prices, free delivery and haul-away, and additional discounts for store credit cards.
We also considered a very similar Maytag set with comparable ratings and price. Then a third option appeared at Home Depot: a slightly smaller and simpler model with a front design that lacked a window and trim, but it had nearly five-star reviews and a significantly lower combined price—saving us around $130 for the pair. Home Depot had it in stock; Lowe’s did not, though they offered to special order it and match the price. In the end we bought from Home Depot because they had it available, and we liked the salesperson who helped us there.
We were relieved not to pay full price despite needing replacements quickly. Taking time to list our priorities and read reviews made us feel confident in the purchase, rather than simply grabbing the cheapest available option. Even without the deepest discounts, the chosen models’ features and reviews likely would have won us over.
The new machines are scheduled for delivery later today, so we’ll report back after they arrive and we’ve used them. We also plan to check the laundry nook floor—there are small scraps of old carpet beneath the current machines—so here’s hoping we don’t uncover any unexpected disasters when they’re moved. They say problems come in threes, right? Fingers crossed.
P.S. None of the links in this post are affiliate links. Also, your hair looks pretty and I like your smile.