Hey Dads! Do you know how much laundry gets done at your house? I learned some interesting stats this week…from an appliance repairman…as he took apart our washing machine. Now before you judge me for calling a repairman please note that we attempted to fix it ourselves first. The boys and I (mostly the boys, actually) had already taken the washing machine apart to do some self-diagnosis. We thought we were close to solving the problem but we had failed so I relented and called in the big guns…that is, Mr. Appliance Repairman. Please forgive me for the amount of mathing we are about to partake of.
On to the statistics: A family of four people does about eight loads of laundry each week. I don’t know if your family is above average or below average (I suspect in most areas your family is above average 😉). I know our family is above average in at least one area…the quantity of laundry done each week. I don’t always use math but when I do I conclude that we do 24 loads of laundry each week. Our family has 12 people and so we triple that fascinating statistic we learned earlier.
My memory may be going downhill as my age climbs uphill but I think the friendly repairman also said that a washing machine should last about 10 years. Going back to the math this means washing machines in our house will only last about 3.3 years. I think that’s an accurate stat. I think we’ve been married about 21 years. A quick trip down memory lane suggests we’ve gone through six washing machines. We’ve lived in three houses and I’m pretty sure I can remember bringing a washing machine into each of those homes. Granted, a few of them were purchased used so perhaps some of their best years were already behind them. So 21 years divided by six washing machines equals 3.5 years per machine. There we are, above average again!
But now we get to machine number seven. Unfortunately, Mr. Repairman informed me we were headed to somewhere around $6-$700 for parts and labour to replace the gearbox in the washing machine. I also paid him for the friendly visit. My patient wife visited the local appliance store and found we could buy a new machine for not much more than that so we decided against repair. In a few days we’ll be able to take all these piles of laundry and begin the cleaning process.
At the end of the day, dad, sometimes we can fix the stuff and sometimes we can’t. But the boys and I learned a bit more about washing machines and maybe in 3.5 years we’ll have to implement the lessons on this washing machine…or just buy another one. Is there something you and the kids can try fix this weekend? Or even better, just take them shopping for a new one. Or even BETTER…take your wife shopping for something. Oh man, so many good ideas. Time flies, dad. Make every moment count! Even the appliance repair ones.
Jason Weening burns through many appliances with his 10 kids and one wife. Read more of his not-so-handyman stories in his book, “Yes, Dear…I’m Watching Them”, on Amazon.