musings about machines. Is there no getting around it?

My washing machine has rusted. It has also stopped spinning and drying the clothes. And it has become odoriferous, even though we keep it as dry as possible. There’s no saying how long the repair will take, what with spare parts being sparingly in stock.

I have just decided to buy another. A front-loading, big-brand one. One which will behave itself this time round. One which won’t rust, hopefully. But that, I find, is an impossibility. With all that water gushing in, beating about and draining out, not to mention the moisture in the air and the buckets of water my help flings at it in the name of cleaning the wash area, no washing machine stands a chance. Oh, and add to that the rusted water pipes in some buildings and one could well end up with rust stains on their clothes.

If you use a stand to install the machine on, would the rust be slower to come? It will attack the stand first, but will the machine slip? However, those in the business have mixed opinions on whether a stand should be used or not. Machines that come with a zinc coating and are closed at the bottom are expected to last longer than machines that are not. The coating is not available for the smaller models and then the price difference is about ₹7,000. Both the treated and untreated variety give warranties for the manufacturing (2 years) and the motor (10 years) but there’s no warranty on the cabinet or the drum, though. There are warranties that the part that needs replacement will be available for the next ten years, but there’s no saying how long it will take to arrive. (In such cases, some companies provide a temporary replacement machine.) Then there’s the matter of the rat mesh. The rodents can gnaw at the wires so when the machine is being installed, you have the option of getting the bottom sealed off for an extra charge. There are de-scaling products that can be used to guard against rust, mould and other deposits. That appliances) are designed for obsolescence is a common allegation.

Naturally, it’s disheartening to have to take so many precautions for any machine that should make life easier. Expect the worst and prepare as best as you can, for an extra fees, of course. Extended warranties, annual maintenance contracts are additional options but more on that later.

Front-loading washing machines and their makers are the stuff of class action lawsuits. The names include Electrolux, Whirlpool, Sears, Kenmore and LG. They aren’t cleaning clothes but dirtying them, say the plaintiffs. The companies, according to reports, respond saying that these problems occur when consumers don’t use their machines in the right manner: Keep it well aired, leave the door open if there are no small children and pets in your home, use detergent made for front-loading machines, use a cleaning solution periodically to keep the washing machine clean.

There’s no fill it, shut it, forget it, to borrow an old advertising slogan. There’s no getting away from this word of caution: Caveat Emptor (Buyer Beware).

COMMENT NOW