Appliances for the rest of us.

[8 Bit WWBG]

We have been looking for a new fridge, and I think these manufacturers forget that not everyone has an enormous kitchen!  For the space we have available, we have only found one nice fridge (french doors, bottom freezer).  Pretty much everything else is the same style as what we already have (top freezer, wire shelves).

Anyone else have this kind of problem?

[TheHaitian]

Nope and our builder left enough space for a standard size fridge in our kitchen so that helped; every brand had standard size fridges.

I assumed every kitchen left or had enough space for a standard size kitchen.

The new "chef" fridges are just enormous, I would need 4-6 kids to need to use that much space on a regular.

[zibazinski]

I worry that the one we have is not a normal size bcuz it fits just right in the cabinetry plus is covered up by cabinetry. I like hiding the appliances look. Even our microwave is hidden!!

[Shooby]

Life is easier if you have standard size space, thats' for sure. We just got a new Kenmore freezer on the bottom fridge. Very nice. Getting a new stove delivered on Monday.

[zibazinski]

I know. DH misses and wants a huge sub zero. Seriously? I have in the frig 2 kinds of milk, some fruit, carrots, his meds, and some ginger ale. If I had 5 kids, I could see it.

[TheHaitian]

Jul 3, 2015 8:14:14 GMT -5 Shooby said:

Life is easier if you have standard size space, thats' for sure.

Indeed! I am glad we listened to our builder on that one and got everything standard size, made it much easier to shop for appliances.

[teen persuasion]

When we replaced our fridge a few years ago, I was not looking for a side by side or French door style.  The side freezer section is too narrow to store things like a big turkey, a tray of something I'm freezing individually before bagging up, etc.  I also deliberately looked for a fridge w/o an ice maker - takes up too much real estate, prone to breaking, etc.  A few ice cube trays are fine.  My average freezer-on-top fridge is perfect for our family of up to 7 (college kids slowly flying the nest), is much more energy efficient than fancier ones with trendy bells and whistles, has nice adjustable glass shelves.

Of course, how much fridge you need is individual.  My retired parents have a good size side by side (jam packed full) in the kitchen, an overflow fridge in the garage (not empty by any stretch of the imagination), and a full chest freezer down the basement.  Since mom does wedding cakes on the side, I can see the need for additional space when she has an order, but this is situation normal for her.  

[lurkyloo]

We just dropped 2K+ on a fridge about a year before we moved--expensive because we needed a counter depth.  We loved it, it was awesome.  I friggin hate the (also counter depth) model in the new house.  Doesn't have the water/ice dispenser, you have to close the left door before the right one, it doesn't close properly most of the time and then it starts alarming at you that you failed to close it properly    Actually, I hate pretty much all the appliances in the new house.  The washer has a start button that's possessed, it and the dishwasher get confused and mad if you start them and then need to open and add something more, the top shelf in the dishwasher slowly rolls out if the door is open whether you want it out or not; the dryer takes at least three cycles to get clothes dry; the stove is electric and driving me batty.   I guess the microwave doesn't suck?

I miss my old fridge, washer and dishwasher    We brought the dryer (gas) and will replace the stove with a gas one once we get a gas plumber out to plumb in the connections for both.  Can't quite justify junking functional appliances...but I really wish I'd overruled DH when he decided we should leave the fridge in California.

[Peace77]

Jul 3, 2015 8:53:42 GMT -5 lurkyloo said:

We just dropped 2K+ on a fridge about a year before we moved--expensive because we needed a counter depth.  We loved it, it was awesome.  I friggin hate the (also counter depth) model in the new house.  Doesn't have the water/ice dispenser, you have to close the left door before the right one, it doesn't close properly most of the time and then it starts alarming at you that you failed to close it properly    Actually, I hate pretty much all the appliances in the new house.  The washer has a start button that's possessed, it and the dishwasher get confused and mad if you start them and then need to open and add something more, the top shelf in the dishwasher slowly rolls out if the door is open whether you want it out or not; the dryer takes at least three cycles to get clothes dry; the stove is electric and driving me batty.   I guess the microwave doesn't suck?

I miss my old fridge, washer and dishwasher    We brought the dryer (gas) and will replace the stove with a gas one once we get a gas plumber out to plumb in the connections for both.  Can't quite justify junking functional appliances...but I really wish I'd overruled DH when he decided we should leave the fridge in California.

If your dryer is taking that long, the exhaust pipe may be clogged with lint or a bird's nest or both.  Take the lint trap out, wash it in warm water and vacuum out the lint from the hole.  Also vacuum where the pipe attaches to the dryer and where the pipe comes out of your house.  When the trap is dry, put it back.

There is a kit to make it easier sold at:  shop.Flylady.net
Don't put if off, a lint clog is a fire hazard.

[Malarky]

When I designed my kitchen, I accommodated my current fridge which I love.  It never occurred to me that it would be so hard to replace this awesomely designed fridge a few years down the road.   Fridge on top, freezer on bottom.

Currently, when you swing the fridge door open, it blocks access to the pantry cupboards and the closet that is directly across from them.  It allows for one to take items from the fridge and put them on the adjacent counter, which is intentionally and conveniently located between the sink and fridge and right above the dishwasher.   Any fridge with double doors would require that the door be shut before being able to access the counter.  

The freezer also has a door that swings to the left and has three drawers that I can easily access with the door out of the way.   They are solid, deep useful drawers.

In looking for a replacement I have discovered that most fridges have double doors.  Or if the do have a single door that would work, the freezer drawers are wire basket crap.  I haven't been able to find anything even close to the same.  And of course, Samsung no longer offers anything like it.  

[Bonny]

Yeah one of the things that really tweaked me about our AZ house kitchen remodel was after telling the kitchen designer that we wanted a "standard" refridgerator space that she designed a cabinet too fit the shorter existing fridge. Our kitchen in that house is really big, probably 500+ sq.ft. with a center island that is the size of grand piano. Yeah, we wanted a tiny fridge for that space.  Since the request wasn't in writing we wound up splitting the cost of having the upper cabinet cut down and replacing the doors.

Didn't make that mistake again with this kitchen!

[Tiny]

Jul 3, 2015 8:04:35 GMT -5 8 Bit WWBG said:

We have been looking for a new fridge, and I think these manufacturers forget that not everyone has an enormous kitchen!  For the space we have available, we have only found one nice fridge (french doors, bottom freezer).  Pretty much everything else is the same style as what we already have (top freezer, wire shelves).

Anyone else have this kind of problem?

Yes.  My kitchen is big - if it was the 1940's. It's tiny by today's standards.    I had to remove the cabinets over the fridge 'alcove' to get a traditional sized fridge into the space. Otherwise I would have had to go with the smallest fridge they made - and that was 18 years ago.

I need a new fridge. I'm not really looking forward to wandering past all the display fridges that WON"T fit in my kitchen - nor am I looking forward to having a pushy salesman - trying to get me to buy X model - after I repeat the dimensions I need and saying "it won't fit!". I do kind of like the idea of having only a couple of choices. It means I won't have to spend a lot of time/thought on 'picking out the perfect fridge'.

[Tiny]

Jul 3, 2015 8:40:02 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Jul 3, 2015 8:14:14 GMT -5 Shooby said:

Life is easier if you have standard size space, thats' for sure.

Indeed! I am glad we listened to our builder on that one and got everything standard size, made it much easier to shop for appliances.

Hate to tell you this... but over time - "standard size" changes - sometimes a lot. On the plus side it's usually takes a decade or two for this kind of change to happen.

[Tiny]

Jul 3, 2015 9:16:07 GMT -5 Peace77 said:

Jul 3, 2015 8:53:42 GMT -5 lurkyloo said:

We just dropped 2K+ on a fridge about a year before we moved--expensive because we needed a counter depth.  We loved it, it was awesome.  I friggin hate the (also counter depth) model in the new house.  Doesn't have the water/ice dispenser, you have to close the left door before the right one, it doesn't close properly most of the time and then it starts alarming at you that you failed to close it properly    Actually, I hate pretty much all the appliances in the new house.  The washer has a start button that's possessed, it and the dishwasher get confused and mad if you start them and then need to open and add something more, the top shelf in the dishwasher slowly rolls out if the door is open whether you want it out or not; the dryer takes at least three cycles to get clothes dry; the stove is electric and driving me batty.   I guess the microwave doesn't suck?

I miss my old fridge, washer and dishwasher    We brought the dryer (gas) and will replace the stove with a gas one once we get a gas plumber out to plumb in the connections for both.  Can't quite justify junking functional appliances...but I really wish I'd overruled DH when he decided we should leave the fridge in California.

If your dryer is taking that long, the exhaust pipe may be clogged with lint or a bird's nest or both.  Take the lint trap out, wash it in warm water and vacuum out the lint from the hole.  Also vacuum where the pipe attaches to the dryer and where the pipe comes out of your house.  When the trap is dry, put it back.

There is a kit to make it easier sold at:  shop.Flylady.net
Don't put if off, a lint clog is a fire hazard.

That many dryer cycles could mean the washer isn't pulling enough water out of the laod of clothes as well.    I have a fancy smancy energy efficient washer (which I like more than my old washer - but wouldn't buy it again)  and I have a chart to help me figure out which 'wash' setting to use for my clothes for the best results.   So, washer cycles don't spin 'fast' and leave a lot of water in the clothes.... it's good for lightweight delicate type loads - not so good for towels or jeans.      

If you are choosing the right washer setting - it could be that the washer isn't working properly - it's not draining properly or not spinning properly.  Very wet clothes take a VERY long time to dry.

My old fashion washer (with an agitator) stopped draining properly - the water would drain out but not fast enough?  so after the final spin you could hand wring water out of some of the clothes.      It wasn't worth fixing so I bought a new machine.  Which I like well enough... I'd just get the 'front loader' type washer next time. 

[Deleted]

Jul 3, 2015 11:00:28 GMT -5 Tiny said:

Jul 3, 2015 8:40:02 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Indeed! I am glad we listened to our builder on that one and got everything standard size, made it much easier to shop for appliances.

Hate to tell you this... but over time - "standard size" changes - sometimes a lot. On the plus side it's usually takes a decade or two for this kind of change to happen.

  When it came time to replace our "standard" drop-in stove, we discovered that the standard had shifted.  We found only one, a GE SpaceSaver, that would fit the space.  It was expensive ($750 or $950, depending on whether you wanted self-cleaning) for nothing special.  It came only in two colors--white or black oven/white cooktop.  Because of insulation, the oven inside was actually smaller than the one we were replacing.  The house was built in 1980, and we replaced the stove in 2006 or 2007.  So stainless was already "in."

My daughter had the same problem, but just cut out the bottom cabinet and did a slide-in.  It's ok, but it doesn't look as good as the drop-in did.  It was less expensive, and she got to choose the color and features she wanted.  Her house was built in 1976.

[bean29]

Jul 3, 2015 11:08:03 GMT -5 Tiny said:

Jul 3, 2015 9:16:07 GMT -5 Peace77 said:

If your dryer is taking that long, the exhaust pipe may be clogged with lint or a bird's nest or both.  Take the lint trap out, wash it in warm water and vacuum out the lint from the hole.  Also vacuum where the pipe attaches to the dryer and where the pipe comes out of your house.  When the trap is dry, put it back.

There is a kit to make it easier sold at:  shop.Flylady.net
Don't put if off, a lint clog is a fire hazard.

That many dryer cycles could mean the washer isn't pulling enough water out of the laod of clothes as well.    I have a fancy smancy energy efficient washer (which I like more than my old washer - but wouldn't buy it again)  and I have a chart to help me figure out which 'wash' setting to use for my clothes for the best results.   So, washer cycles don't spin 'fast' and leave a lot of water in the clothes.... it's good for lightweight delicate type loads - not so good for towels or jeans.      

If you are choosing the right washer setting - it could be that the washer isn't working properly - it's not draining properly or not spinning properly.  Very wet clothes take a VERY long time to dry.

My old fashion washer (with an agitator) stopped draining properly - the water would drain out but not fast enough?  so after the final spin you could hand wring water out of some of the clothes.      It wasn't worth fixing so I bought a new machine.  Which I like well enough... I'd just get the 'front loader' type washer next time. 

Also, my energy efficient front loader is not to be packed to capacity. If you overload jeans they spin too hard and come out with creases, if you overload towels they come out sopping wet. Make sure you leave a little space at the top when you load your machine.

Go on Amazon and order yourself a lint eater to clean your dryer vent. Works really well.

[CCL]

Jul 3, 2015 11:31:13 GMT -5 bean29 said:

Jul 3, 2015 11:08:03 GMT -5 Tiny said:

That many dryer cycles could mean the washer isn't pulling enough water out of the laod of clothes as well.    I have a fancy smancy energy efficient washer (which I like more than my old washer - but wouldn't buy it again)  and I have a chart to help me figure out which 'wash' setting to use for my clothes for the best results.   So, washer cycles don't spin 'fast' and leave a lot of water in the clothes.... it's good for lightweight delicate type loads - not so good for towels or jeans.      

If you are choosing the right washer setting - it could be that the washer isn't working properly - it's not draining properly or not spinning properly.  Very wet clothes take a VERY long time to dry.

My old fashion washer (with an agitator) stopped draining properly - the water would drain out but not fast enough?  so after the final spin you could hand wring water out of some of the clothes.      It wasn't worth fixing so I bought a new machine.  Which I like well enough... I'd just get the 'front loader' type washer next time. 

Also, my energy efficient front loader is not to be packed to capacity. If you overload jeans they spin too hard and come out with creases, if you overload towels they come out sopping wet. Make sure you leave a little space at the top when you load your machine.

Go on Amazon and order yourself a lint eater to clean your dryer vent. Works really well.

Or use a leaf blower.

[emma1420]

Fridges are just odd.  I've been looking for a new one and I'd like either one with French doors or with a bottom freezer, and I'm struggling to find one under 25 cubic feet.  I don't need or want a fridge that big.  My kitchen by 2015 standards is small and so a large fridge would overwhelm the space, not to mention I'm not interested in spending extra money on electricity for a fridge I won't fill up.   I've found one fridge that fits my criteria, but it's $500 more expensive than the one that is larger.   It's bizarre.

[Shooby]

Jul 3, 2015 11:00:28 GMT -5 Tiny said:

Jul 3, 2015 8:40:02 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Indeed! I am glad we listened to our builder on that one and got everything standard size, made it much easier to shop for appliances.

Hate to tell you this... but over time - "standard size" changes - sometimes a lot. On the plus side it's usually takes a decade or two for this kind of change to happen.

30 inch stoves have been around for a long time.  So, yeah standards change but it is far easier to run with the herd if you don't want to make it too difficult. But, yes, the last home I lived in , we remodeled and I put in a 36 inch professional gas range.   So, I see more and more of those. People seem to want bigger refrigerators now too.

[lurkyloo]

Jul 3, 2015 9:16:07 GMT -5 Peace77 said:

Jul 3, 2015 8:53:42 GMT -5 lurkyloo said:

We just dropped 2K+ on a fridge about a year before we moved--expensive because we needed a counter depth.  We loved it, it was awesome.  I friggin hate the (also counter depth) model in the new house.  Doesn't have the water/ice dispenser, you have to close the left door before the right one, it doesn't close properly most of the time and then it starts alarming at you that you failed to close it properly    Actually, I hate pretty much all the appliances in the new house.  The washer has a start button that's possessed, it and the dishwasher get confused and mad if you start them and then need to open and add something more, the top shelf in the dishwasher slowly rolls out if the door is open whether you want it out or not; the dryer takes at least three cycles to get clothes dry; the stove is electric and driving me batty.   I guess the microwave doesn't suck?

I miss my old fridge, washer and dishwasher    We brought the dryer (gas) and will replace the stove with a gas one once we get a gas plumber out to plumb in the connections for both.  Can't quite justify junking functional appliances...but I really wish I'd overruled DH when he decided we should leave the fridge in California.

If your dryer is taking that long, the exhaust pipe may be clogged with lint or a bird's nest or both.  Take the lint trap out, wash it in warm water and vacuum out the lint from the hole.  Also vacuum where the pipe attaches to the dryer and where the pipe comes out of your house.  When the trap is dry, put it back.

There is a kit to make it easier sold at:  shop.Flylady.net
Don't put if off, a lint clog is a fire hazard.

Already cleaned it all out.  The 3+ times to dry clothes is actually better than the previous where it would run for about 20 min and then think it was finished.   

ETA:  My default setting on the washer is "towels" since I have no idea what the difference is between all the settings.  The clothes don't seem excessively wet when I take them out?  I've mostly gone to the timed dry option and set it for the max which is 80 min or so, I think small loads dry in a single cycle and larger ones take two or slightly more.

[Malarky]

I would think that the sensor that detects moisture/dryness is at fault.  Because sometimes it would take forever, and sometimes my clothes would be ready to combust when I opened the door.  

Of course, I had the same issue and paid someone $200 to tell me it's fine.  

I said fuck it and bought a new washer and dryer.  

Now it takes less than a week to dry my towels.  

I hate modern appliances.  I wish I had never "upgraded." 

[taz157]

We did have an issue with our dryer when we bought our house almost 2 years ago.  The dryer would take FOREVER to dry.  We finally cleaned out the dryer vent and there was ten tons of lint, etc in it.  Based on the cleanliness of the prior owner, it was no surprise.  The dryer dried much better after that. 

We did end up buying a new dryer 3 months ago and have regrets.

FWIW, we bought a her washer and dryer because we kinda wanted everything the prior owners had gone and we weren't a fan of either appliance anyway.  Also, we changed the setup of our laundry closet and the old ones weren't stackable.

[8 Bit WWBG]

Perhaps the "standards" have changed.  My house isn't that old -- its from the early 90s.  But that was 20+ years ago, and things have grown.  There ARE fridges I can choose, they are all just builders grade, freezer on top styles.  I suppose its my fault in the end because I should be able to remodel my kitchen to suit the new standards!

[Shooby]

OK, just got a new Kenmore gas range. And, that power burner is super freaking hot. So, far it seems like a really good stove.

[alabamagal]

I prefer basic appliances

When I went to buy a clothes washer there was one model with about 20 different settings. What would happen if I washed my towels on the jeans setting?

I bought one with 3 settings.

[Wisconsin Beth]

Jul 3, 2015 10:58:24 GMT -5 Tiny said:

Jul 3, 2015 8:04:35 GMT -5 8 Bit WWBG said:

We have been looking for a new fridge, and I think these manufacturers forget that not everyone has an enormous kitchen!  For the space we have available, we have only found one nice fridge (french doors, bottom freezer).  Pretty much everything else is the same style as what we already have (top freezer, wire shelves).

Anyone else have this kind of problem?

Yes.  My kitchen is big - if it was the 1940's. It's tiny by today's standards.    I had to remove the cabinets over the fridge 'alcove' to get a traditional sized fridge into the space. Otherwise I would have had to go with the smallest fridge they made - and that was 18 years ago.

I need a new fridge. I'm not really looking forward to wandering past all the display fridges that WON"T fit in my kitchen - nor am I looking forward to having a pushy salesman - trying to get me to buy X model - after I repeat the dimensions I need and saying "it won't fit!". I do kind of like the idea of having only a couple of choices. It means I won't have to spend a lot of time/thought on 'picking out the perfect fridge'.

Our fridge died last fall.  We took the door measurements because we have odd sized front and side doors.  So pretty much every discussion started with "our door is X inches wide.  What will fit though it."  Every time they showed us a bigger fridge "will it fit in the door?"  The sales person got it after the 2nd time I questioned it. 

My advice - if it's not in stock, move on.  I fell for a wonderful LG fridge.  I swear they SMARTLY utilized every single centimeter of space in it.  It was on backorder.  3 weeks.  2+ weeks out, we got a call saying 3-4 more weeks.    Which put us at around Thanksgiving week.  We have 2 young children, my H eats a lot of veggies and we we'd borrowed an ancient dorm fridge from my sister.  Hell no.  We ended up with a Samsung that's very similar to the LG but was able to be delivered in 3 days. 

[NastyWoman]

Just replaced my fridge. I have a tiny kitchen (and that might do it too much credit) in an older home.  When I went shopping I had a choice of 1 fridge that would fit.  Available in black, white, and stainless steel (which I despise). So, that one in white it was