My friend's Kenmore washer is finally nearing the end of the road. Mechanically, it is fine, but it is rusting out on both the cap, and the lid. Naturally, this is playing hell with the clothes, especially whites. By the model number, which begins with 110., it is a Whirlpool. I was trying to look for replacement parts, but the model number does not come up on any of the appliance parts sites. I did see one cap which looks like the proper one for $70 US, but I cannot tell for sure. Anyway, with a new cap and lid, it will probably be close on $200 to fix, if I count my labour for free. The machine is probably 20 years old, so I cannot say it hasn't earned its keep. I'd be wondering if anything else wasn't on the verge of going by this time as well. I have a friend who works at the local Sears, which has a warehouse attached. Already got one screaming deal on a $400 vacuum cleaner for $60 (the power head was missing, but her old one worked perfectly with it), and I have him hunting for a good "scratch and dent" bargain, but barring that, which company makes the best washer right now? After going to appliance 411, it's amazing how many appliances are just rebadged units from other companies. Naturally, I am on a budget. I figure $500 is enough to spend on a washer, and if I can find something a bit cheaper that will last, so much the better. I have seen some front load washers going for $3000! BTW, my friend at Sears tells me about the stuff they throw away there. It's enough to make you weep, i.e. dozens of perfectly good sewing machines were tossed one day, just because they were dead stock (a couple of years old, but with NO use on them). I also got a decent deal on a 6.5 Craftsman self propelled mower last summer, which had been demo'ed during some promotion or other. Got a $500 mower for $350. He's a good guy to know. I guess all the rides I gave him to school and back paid off!
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