Mallory

yes, that's why they euthenize ones that come around and walk inside your house! BTW it wasn't free. I had to pay a catcher to come. He set traps, and we had to $100 for each one trapped. It was quite an experience. Over the course of the days that he was trapping, we trapped our neighbour's cat twice, and the other neighbour's dog once. I ran out early in the morning to try and get the beagle out, and didn't know how the catch worked. he slobbered all over my hands while I tried to get him out. In the meantime, I could hear his name being called!!! (i didn't want them to know he was trapped!).

We caught 3 coons.

Mandana

Another thank you from me to you guys ...

I've been back to Home Depot and complained about the machines we bought (had already spoken to them on the phone so it wasn't a surprise).

They've agreed to swap out my machines for front loaders, which is what I wanted in the first place if I'm totally honest. I was swayed by the salesMAN and should have listened to my gut instinct.

Anyhow, all sorted - and I wasn't standing for their policy of 'you can exchange, but you have to detach appliances and bring them back to the store'. Erm, no! They don't do what they said they would on the tin, so I'm not a happy bunny!

Will take delivery of my new LGs next Wednesday

Thanks again for all your advice on the machines.

Next I'll be putting your detergents to the test as I'm about to run out soon!

Jerseygirl

Good for you...well done. Happy laundry.

lanky spoken here

a) I Recycle paper and glass, but here in the Woodlands collection is non-existent.

b) I have Sears Kenmore brand, reliable but a rustbucket.

c) I try to use what I had in UK, Proctor and Gamble products.

d) Compost food waste? No, lol.

e) Only dishwasher I have are my two arms

lanky spoken here

I used to work for Home Depot, the aftersales services in Appliances is not very good. Lowes is better for aftersales service.

I should know, being an electrician

Jerseygirl

I bought my stuff from Sears.

NC Penguin

The city of Durham picks up every week the following:
paper (inc. newspaper, brochures, catalogs but not phone directories)
corrugated cardboard (flattened and there's a maximum size allowed)
plastics (1,2, 5 & 7. Not bags or containers where the opening is bigger than the base)
cans (soda, tin cans)
glass

In addition, we pay $60.00 p/year to have our yard waste picked up. e.g. grass clippings, leaves, small branches. This charge will be dropped next year.


You were given inaccurate advice that top loaders are more economical. They are not. A front loader is the way to go. They use less water, less electricity and less detergent. The initial outlay for the machine will be higher but over the years, you'll make up the cost and start saving money.

I have Maytag Neptune 6500 (I think that's the model). This is the middle model in the range and has a water heater. If you live in NE, midwest or N of the country, this is a must. Please search for my posts on front loaders.

Also, the laundry comes out drier than a top loader so if you do wish to use a dryer, it won't need so long as for a top loader. i.e. you use less electricity.

I rarely use a dryer. I have two liners where I air dry my laundry.

With a front loader, it's appropriate to use "higher efficiency" aka HE detergents. I use a perfume and dye free detergent made by Sears. It's more expensive than regular detergent for top loaders but as I mentioned previously, I use less than I would for top loaders. A huge tub (powder for whites) lasts 120 loads and the bottle (liquid for darks) lasts maybe 60.

No. I don't use the food compactor that is part of the sink either.

I don't use tablets, I use liquid. I don't use that stuff that makes the glassware squeaky clean either. I buy Cascade or the equivalent at Costco.

I've not heard of a dishwasher using salt in the US. Maybe it's used in the UK to counteract hard water?

Hove

I have a washer and dryer which are over 30 yeras old and are Maytag,My husband bought them rebuilt when he came back before me in 1990,I have had the repair man out twice during that time wash in cold water with concentrated All which works fine.You may have hard water that may require a different detergent maybe thats why the clothes are not getting clean.
Here where I live I am just in the county line so no recycling,As to throwing food on the garden it would probably attract Bears and Racoons and no telling what else.
Lynne in Idaho

Mandana

Thanks Penguin .. whole post very helpful. They took my top loader machines away yesterday and the new front loaders (LGs) are arriving on Wednesday. Don't know what I'll do in the meantime - I'm a bit of an avid washer on the quiet!

Didn't know about the HE detergents, so will look out for them now. And I like seperate powders/liquid for whites and non-fading stuff for colours.

Thanks again .. very helpful.

NC Penguin

HE detergents are now available in grocery stores and places like Target (they weren't when I bought my front loader two years ago so this gives you an indication that Americans are catching onto front loaders). However, I've not found perfume and dye free varieties of HE detergent in those places so that's why I've been sticking to the Sears brand. It's not always in stock at my local Sears so when I find it, I buy in bulk.

A useful site for all things laundry, especially front loaders and HE detergents, have a look at this-

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/laun...e=Laundry+Room


NC Penguin

Mandana

Even though I told the store I wouldn't be here, GE tried to deliver our machines this morning at 09.15 - just when I was sweating buckets on the treadmill in class.

Managed to get through to the driver and literally begged him to come back!

We've been without washing facilities since Friday and we're going on holiday on Saturday, so desperately need the machines.

Are there launderettes in Houston? I've just googled and there don't seem to be any. Sorry, not google, white pages. What do people do here? Take their smalls etc. to the dry cleaner? I've not noticed a launderette anywhere nearby, so I'm thinking they must do.

:curse:

TruBrit

i think i've seen launderettes on richmond however they are usually located in the not so nice areas so be careful. you can always bring them to me although i am right inside the loop and quite a way from you but at least you will go on holiday with clean clothes!

just a little tip on deliveries for future, you will find if you ask the company to call you 30mins before delivery the driver will do that...always works for me

check out this page...http://aolsearcht5.search.aol.com/ao...nType=spelling

Mandana

I did tell them to call before - an hour before.

And I even rang the store at 8 am to tell them I wouldn't be home. It was on the docket for the delivery men to call me. But they didn't. Until they were outside. Arses.

Thanks for the offer of your machine - really appreciate that!

They tell me they will be here at 8 am on Friday now. If they're not I'm buggered again as I'll be out most of the day from 8.30

Did I say arses?! :curse:

scrubbedexpat097

You will be very very fortunate if they do turn up at 8am......good luck I hope it all works out for you.