Ahh... Appliances

In the last six years we have purchased 2 washing machines, 2 clothes dryers, 2 refrigerators, 1 range, 1 microwave, and 1 dishwasher. I fancy myself pretty experienced in this exercise of appliance selection.

Can you believe that I allowed my husband to select the appliances we needed for our rental? I am still a little baffled by my sudden trust, seeing as this is the first time I have allowed him to participate. They were purchased while I was driving across the country. See, he arrived two days before the kids and I did. The schedule just worked out that way, and really what was the hurry if there wasn't a washer/dryer or refrigerator? Those are the work horses in our home.

Am I happy with his choices? Of course, because when given the opportunity he always chooses the best of his options. Meaning he always chooses better than I would have. Those pesky dollar signs really put a damper on my preferences. I knew full well giving him the power to make this purchase meant that I would be getting something nice, and for once I didn't care how much it cost - what is happening to me?

When we realized the house we were renting didn't have a refrigerator or washer/dryer (yes, I knew before we signed the lease) I kicked myself a little. It would have been nice to have them already here and ready to go. But.... considering how well they cleaned the house I can only imagine what those appliances would look like. In the end, I am very happy with our new (although scratch and dent), clean, refrigerator and washer/dryer. And they are mine to do with what I please.

That means they are also mine to deal with when they break. The refrigerator has a water/ice dispenser and we noticed after the first day that puddles were forming on the tile in front of it. The first time we dismissed it as "darn kids, playing with the fridge". The second time I started to get worried, and by the third time we were moving the refrigerator and assessing the damages. After some trial and error we discovered that they installed the water line wrong. Instead of actually "connecting" it, they just placed the water line in the hole. Genius. Do I have to do everyone's job?

Now that we fixed it, we are good to go. And the washer/dryer, other than sounding like a tornado, is great. I am sure all dryers sound like that, but we have been accustomed to having it in the basement where we never heard anything. Now that is on the main living floor I am sure I am just more aware of it. I hope that is the case.

And since I am talking appliances, can I say that if the other appliances were mine I would replace them. They look nice enough and new enough, but the dishwasher trays are rusting (prongs breaking off and everything) and the oven needs to be cleaned and leveled. How did the previous occupiers live with an oven that moves every time any pressure is applied to the surface? I am cleaning it and it rocks back and forth. Call me chicken, but I am afraid to move it and see what is back there. I am going in!