never kick your washing machine.
It looks like I will be taking a few days off from ornament making, due to a washing machine mishap. Due to a sprained wrist, due to a washing machine mishap.
Last week, my dinosaur of a washing machine stopped working. I was pretty positive that it was a goner, until I looked it up on google, and found that the entire problem could be something as simple as the lid switch. That is this little part that gets triggered when you close the lid, making the machine drain or spin or eat your socks or whatever it does in there when the lid is closed.
I found the replacement part very cheap on ebay, and I even found a youtube video explaining how to replace it. I am not handy at all, but yesterday, with part in hand, and with no clean clothes left in the house, I desperately decided to attempt this repair on my own, rather than wait for help like any smart girl would have done. Besides, it was just this little tiny part, that had nothing to do with electricity, water, or heights, so really, how difficult could it be?
Well, replacing the part was easy. It was getting the stupid washing machine cover off that was nearly impossible. The man in the youtube video easily lifted the entire big white cabinet right off of the washing machine, as if it were made of feathers. In fact, in that happy 3 minute video, cute little woodland creatures, chirping and singing “Whistle while you work,” came and carried it off for him. I, on the other hand, could not get the thing to even budge. I shook it, shimmied it, yelled at it, and then, I kicked it. Really hard too, since I was wearing boots and they made me feel tough. I yelled a few expletives and there were lots of loud metal banging sounds that had my kids running to their rooms to hide.
But…I did it. Isn’t she just lovely?
Yep, and I replaced the little switch in about 5 minutes, like a superhero. I had almost as difficult of a time getting the cabinet back on the washing machine, but I mostly got it. (Okay, I will admit that it still isn’t on perfectly right, but seriously I DON’T CARE. It’s just a STUPID COVER ANYWAY.)
I yelled for my kids to come quick and LOOK! We haven’t had a working washing machine for a week, and I just fixed it because I’m the coolest mom EVER, and I’m about to turn it on…bring all your clothes, your bed sheets, the cats, anything, QUICK!!
I turned it on, and…I could hear the water…but I couldn’t see the water…and then I felt the water, soaking through my boots. Mocking me. The kids and cats ran back to their rooms.
I cried a little, and then I tried to hold up the front of the washing machine and look under it to see where the water was coming from. That’s when I smashed my hand and hurt my wrist. I cried a little bit more. Apparently I’m not really a superhero.
So…my stubbornness gave in, and I called my neighbor for help. He quickly figured out that I had just knocked this hose-looking thing loose…maybe when I kicked it. So that’s the moral of my story…don’t kick your washing machine. The washing machine will have its revenge.
Hey Girl!
U know waiting on some man to fix things we can usually get it done ourselves at least 10 times. I am always fixing things myself most of the time, except the CAR! My mechanic does that.
Hope ur o.k. but know what u mean u get so mad, cuss, scream and kick like a small child throwing a tantrum. I laughed my butt off reading this, it was funny, O.K. maybe to u at the time it wasn’t, but when we think about these dumb things we do later they r funny. Maybe u ought to write a book, this was really good.
Take care of urself and and try not to kick anything else for at least a month!!
Diana
Thanks so much, Diana! You are right, it definitely didn’t seem funny yesterday, but by this morning, I had changed my mind about it. :D
And, I will definitely try to not kick anything for awhile!
OMG! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Your blogs are awesome!!!!
haha thanks Sherry! :D
Hey that’s great that you fixed it! You’re not only talented, creative, (and organized which I am still trying to be), but doggone smart!
Thanks, Peggy! But if it seems like I have it all together…believe me, I don’t! In fact, I am pretty much a walking disaster, haha :D
Haha!! I would have done the same thing! Ur hysterical!
Haha, thanks! :D
Oh my goodness… I’m laughing out loud at this! It looks like you took off more than the cover with that kick!
Why not video this next time and post it???
I wish I had! (But then again, then everyone would know what a wacko I REALLY am…haha)
I feel your pain Ornament Girl. I am really awful when it comes to fixing things. I got mad and kicked my washing machine really hard too. Unfortunately for me, I was wearing tennis shoes and I almost broke my big toe. I must have hopped up and down on one foot and yelled for about five minutea while holding my throbbing toe. You are right. I learned my lesson, I will never do that again.
Hey, Staci, you weren’t afraid to try, and you learned something in the process!! Way to go!!