My washing machine was grinding and shaking like Tina Turner, I was mentally ready to replace it. It’s maybe 7-8 yrs old. My DIY niece got on YouTube and repaired it with wine bottle corks! Her repair has held up several months. I agree YouTube has helpful info if you’re willing to spend time in the rabbit hole and get creative.
Our house came with an old stackable laundry set. The washer has rust on the edges of the lid. I am careful to touch the clothing to the rust. We have lived here for 7 years. There have been some issues with the washer, and I did get it repaired once, for about $400. My husband wanted to get a new set.
I work for a household goods retailer and I know it isn't just the cost of a washer. We would need a set of BOTH washer and dryer because they stack. We would need to pay sales tax on them. We would also need to pay at least $100 for delivery. There could be damage to the house during delivery, moving the machines through doorways.
We might need to pay for installation (small awkward space and we aren't young) and get new hoses.
The $400 repair seemed like a better deal to me. It's been working for four years since the repair. A little temperamental, a little rusty, but functional.
I bought a kitchen faucet from a plumbing company. They had an offer of kitchen faucet plus installation. It's one of the commercial looking ones, that reminded me of the faucet in a restaurant I worked at years ago, but smaller. They said all of the internal parts were metal, so it would last. It's been about 5 years, I think. The new faucet was life changing, and the old one was the cheapest faucet you can get, not fixable
I have had the same (used) TV for 12ish years? It used to belong to a friend of mine, and I always liked it because it had a white frame at a time when you still could only find black or silver. When it stopped working, he said I could have it, but if I couldn’t fix it then it would be my responsibility to get rid of it. My partner ordered a part for about $5 online and found a YouTube video explaining how to repair it (it was a known issue with this particular model of TV) - and bam! Still going strong all these years later. It recently seemed to randomly stop working with our sound bar, and we thought we’d finally have to buy a new one, but then it just as randomly started working again. Similarly, we recently thought we’d have to replace our 15-year-old Prius when ALL the lights were lighting up on the dashboard with no clear indication of why (we were told it was the catalytic converter, which seemed odd because we got a new one fairly recently), and it broke down on the freeway. Turns out it just needed a new battery (thanks to the random dude on Reddit who had posted about having the same issue with his Prius). So, in conclusion, YouTube, Reddit, and stubbornness are my tools of choice. One can only dream that someday we in the U.S. might have a right-to-repair law, or a law requiring electronics companies to provide software support for the life of the product!
As an aside, I have been using a company called Ridwell to recycle items that are not accepted in curbside recycling for a few years, and I highly recommend it! Of course, reducing how much we buy is best, but it’s hard to avoid buying certain things.
I like all the ways suggested to cook rice and use some of them. The rice cooker, however, cooks Japanese style rice so well I am not sure there is a good alternative. We did find out there may have been a reason it seemed not to work and it is still going strong these 20 + years later. So possibly not the kind of appliance that has planned obsolescence which I totally agree should be repairable!
Agree with a previous commenter. Don't buy a mechanical thing unless it is really necessary- unfortunately, I think that rice cookers fall directly in this category (as do Insta pots). Making rice is one of the easiest things I do while cooking. 1 cup rice, 2 cups water and a pinch of salt, bring to a boil - yes you have to watch it, but that is part of cooking. When it boils, put a lid on and put on the lowest heat possible on your stove and leave it alone for 15 min. Turns out perfect every time- no plug, nothing that can break.
Yes, we need to be able to fix shit!!! So far my only solution is... just... not buy shit. Like not even avoid cheap shit that's more likely to break. Just not buy anything. Can I do without that thing? What can I use instead of that thing I'm expected to buy? Realistically that doesn't always work. So I do my best to take care of the things I have and try to make do with without, and spend hours researching whatever the thing is I do have to buy, and it's all frustrating, but I hate spending money on future garbage, and I love farmland too much to keep contributing to the big hole in the ground at the dump. So. My ancient washing machine has maybe one more repair left... and my Rhymes With Tyson is ticking along... Orlando thank you for writing about this!!
You need to lobby politicians. France was the first country in the world to ban planned obsolescence. It can be punished with 2 year imprisonment and €300,000 fine and up to 5% of the annual average turnover. Products also have to have a sticker, like an energy efficiency rating, but one that shows how repairable the item is. It is slooowly being pushed in other countries too. In Australia, repair cafes, where people come with their broken items and are shown how to fix it - often by retired people who have those skills - occur in most cities and towns. But it takes collective social conscience and political push for it to happen.
I often buy items from a variety of places around the world - I refuse to support my countries manufacturing where it doesn't align with my ethical values (which are paying their workers a living wage, repairability, and sourcing environmentally responsible primary materials), and will go to manufacturers that do support these values, no matter where in the world they are. It takes a lot more research, but I want to live in a world where people are paid fairly, and the environment is valued.
No notes on the TV, but I agree it's frustrating to live in a culture where we can't fix things. I am one of the few people who still *gasps* takes her shoes to a cobbler. I like my shoes- they were leather and expensive and they're worn in. Why wouldn't I take them to the cobbler? I also repair clothing or get things altered, another thing people do as often. I hate that so many things are temporary.
OMG I struggle with the shoe thing too. I feel bad throwing them away but it turns out for the health of your feet (I learned this the hard way) that you kinda need new shoes every so often bc they break down and aren't as supportive over time. And don't even get me started on how disposable socks are!
I had an Electrolux for years, the old turquoise model. Was wonderful. So, we moved into a new home with 5ghz Wi-Fi and our fairly new Roomba won’t work on anything but 2.4 ghz ~ have thought about trying to talk with Wi-Fi provider about this but don’t have the strength right now. There sits the Roomba wanting to vacuum these hardwood floors 🫤
You need to get a Kirby old refurbished vacuum. They are all metal behemoths that are still refurbished at the factory. My father bought one in the early 1950’s, not for my little 5’ 90 lb mother to clean the linoleum floors in their little house, but because he could spray paint the fence he was putting in with the vacuum. Yes this vacuum could grind knives, be used as a drill and even a hair dryer. You need one. Really, see if can fix the broken item by watching videos. I fixed by garage door today. R Stark
Great post. I had a "Tyson" as well. When I built my home 14 years ago I had a central vacuum installed. It is amazing. And I can get the vaccum parts cleaned, maintained, and repaired locally - 10 min from my house. Although it's never broken I did bring the carpet mechanism in for a look because it was making a weird noise and $30 later it was good as new! Highly recommend a central vac.
My mom used the vacuum she got as a wedding present until I was in college. My parents married in 1968 and I graduated high school in 1998.
When I got my own place she gave me her sewing machine (also a wedding gift) because she preferred her mother’s machine that she got for HER wedding in 1945.
This is SO frustrating. Stuff gets more and more expensive and doesn’t last. Every time I go to purchase something I read the reviews to find the “best” one, any every time I end up not wanting to buy anything because you find the reviews that say it broke in a year or two. It’s such a problem from so many angles!
I will say that so far I have been lucky with my vacuum; I have a Riccar upright that I splurged on for my first house. We have a local vacuum seller and repair person, and that tank has lasted me 18 years and counting. If something goes wonky, nice man fixes it and charges like $20. I know he will age out of the business soon and it will likely close like so many others in our disposable culture.
My washing machine was grinding and shaking like Tina Turner, I was mentally ready to replace it. It’s maybe 7-8 yrs old. My DIY niece got on YouTube and repaired it with wine bottle corks! Her repair has held up several months. I agree YouTube has helpful info if you’re willing to spend time in the rabbit hole and get creative.
Our house came with an old stackable laundry set. The washer has rust on the edges of the lid. I am careful to touch the clothing to the rust. We have lived here for 7 years. There have been some issues with the washer, and I did get it repaired once, for about $400. My husband wanted to get a new set.
I work for a household goods retailer and I know it isn't just the cost of a washer. We would need a set of BOTH washer and dryer because they stack. We would need to pay sales tax on them. We would also need to pay at least $100 for delivery. There could be damage to the house during delivery, moving the machines through doorways.
We might need to pay for installation (small awkward space and we aren't young) and get new hoses.
The $400 repair seemed like a better deal to me. It's been working for four years since the repair. A little temperamental, a little rusty, but functional.
I bought a kitchen faucet from a plumbing company. They had an offer of kitchen faucet plus installation. It's one of the commercial looking ones, that reminded me of the faucet in a restaurant I worked at years ago, but smaller. They said all of the internal parts were metal, so it would last. It's been about 5 years, I think. The new faucet was life changing, and the old one was the cheapest faucet you can get, not fixable
I have had the same (used) TV for 12ish years? It used to belong to a friend of mine, and I always liked it because it had a white frame at a time when you still could only find black or silver. When it stopped working, he said I could have it, but if I couldn’t fix it then it would be my responsibility to get rid of it. My partner ordered a part for about $5 online and found a YouTube video explaining how to repair it (it was a known issue with this particular model of TV) - and bam! Still going strong all these years later. It recently seemed to randomly stop working with our sound bar, and we thought we’d finally have to buy a new one, but then it just as randomly started working again. Similarly, we recently thought we’d have to replace our 15-year-old Prius when ALL the lights were lighting up on the dashboard with no clear indication of why (we were told it was the catalytic converter, which seemed odd because we got a new one fairly recently), and it broke down on the freeway. Turns out it just needed a new battery (thanks to the random dude on Reddit who had posted about having the same issue with his Prius). So, in conclusion, YouTube, Reddit, and stubbornness are my tools of choice. One can only dream that someday we in the U.S. might have a right-to-repair law, or a law requiring electronics companies to provide software support for the life of the product!
As an aside, I have been using a company called Ridwell to recycle items that are not accepted in curbside recycling for a few years, and I highly recommend it! Of course, reducing how much we buy is best, but it’s hard to avoid buying certain things.
You have a station wagon? Please tell me it has wood paneling on the side!
I like all the ways suggested to cook rice and use some of them. The rice cooker, however, cooks Japanese style rice so well I am not sure there is a good alternative. We did find out there may have been a reason it seemed not to work and it is still going strong these 20 + years later. So possibly not the kind of appliance that has planned obsolescence which I totally agree should be repairable!
Agree with a previous commenter. Don't buy a mechanical thing unless it is really necessary- unfortunately, I think that rice cookers fall directly in this category (as do Insta pots). Making rice is one of the easiest things I do while cooking. 1 cup rice, 2 cups water and a pinch of salt, bring to a boil - yes you have to watch it, but that is part of cooking. When it boils, put a lid on and put on the lowest heat possible on your stove and leave it alone for 15 min. Turns out perfect every time- no plug, nothing that can break.
Yes, we need to be able to fix shit!!! So far my only solution is... just... not buy shit. Like not even avoid cheap shit that's more likely to break. Just not buy anything. Can I do without that thing? What can I use instead of that thing I'm expected to buy? Realistically that doesn't always work. So I do my best to take care of the things I have and try to make do with without, and spend hours researching whatever the thing is I do have to buy, and it's all frustrating, but I hate spending money on future garbage, and I love farmland too much to keep contributing to the big hole in the ground at the dump. So. My ancient washing machine has maybe one more repair left... and my Rhymes With Tyson is ticking along... Orlando thank you for writing about this!!
-Heidi (hickchic)
We have the same issue here. Get one of these going: https://campaigns.consumer.org.nz/right-to-repair. Who is the U.S. version of ours?
You need to lobby politicians. France was the first country in the world to ban planned obsolescence. It can be punished with 2 year imprisonment and €300,000 fine and up to 5% of the annual average turnover. Products also have to have a sticker, like an energy efficiency rating, but one that shows how repairable the item is. It is slooowly being pushed in other countries too. In Australia, repair cafes, where people come with their broken items and are shown how to fix it - often by retired people who have those skills - occur in most cities and towns. But it takes collective social conscience and political push for it to happen.
I often buy items from a variety of places around the world - I refuse to support my countries manufacturing where it doesn't align with my ethical values (which are paying their workers a living wage, repairability, and sourcing environmentally responsible primary materials), and will go to manufacturers that do support these values, no matter where in the world they are. It takes a lot more research, but I want to live in a world where people are paid fairly, and the environment is valued.
I agree with everything you and others are saying about planned obsolescence.
Also just wanted to say that I cook my rice in the oven, as well as my polenta and it works beautifully.
No notes on the TV, but I agree it's frustrating to live in a culture where we can't fix things. I am one of the few people who still *gasps* takes her shoes to a cobbler. I like my shoes- they were leather and expensive and they're worn in. Why wouldn't I take them to the cobbler? I also repair clothing or get things altered, another thing people do as often. I hate that so many things are temporary.
OMG I struggle with the shoe thing too. I feel bad throwing them away but it turns out for the health of your feet (I learned this the hard way) that you kinda need new shoes every so often bc they break down and aren't as supportive over time. And don't even get me started on how disposable socks are!
I had an Electrolux for years, the old turquoise model. Was wonderful. So, we moved into a new home with 5ghz Wi-Fi and our fairly new Roomba won’t work on anything but 2.4 ghz ~ have thought about trying to talk with Wi-Fi provider about this but don’t have the strength right now. There sits the Roomba wanting to vacuum these hardwood floors 🫤
You need to get a Kirby old refurbished vacuum. They are all metal behemoths that are still refurbished at the factory. My father bought one in the early 1950’s, not for my little 5’ 90 lb mother to clean the linoleum floors in their little house, but because he could spray paint the fence he was putting in with the vacuum. Yes this vacuum could grind knives, be used as a drill and even a hair dryer. You need one. Really, see if can fix the broken item by watching videos. I fixed by garage door today. R Stark
Great post. I had a "Tyson" as well. When I built my home 14 years ago I had a central vacuum installed. It is amazing. And I can get the vaccum parts cleaned, maintained, and repaired locally - 10 min from my house. Although it's never broken I did bring the carpet mechanism in for a look because it was making a weird noise and $30 later it was good as new! Highly recommend a central vac.
It drives me crazy.
My mom used the vacuum she got as a wedding present until I was in college. My parents married in 1968 and I graduated high school in 1998.
When I got my own place she gave me her sewing machine (also a wedding gift) because she preferred her mother’s machine that she got for HER wedding in 1945.
This is SO frustrating. Stuff gets more and more expensive and doesn’t last. Every time I go to purchase something I read the reviews to find the “best” one, any every time I end up not wanting to buy anything because you find the reviews that say it broke in a year or two. It’s such a problem from so many angles!
I will say that so far I have been lucky with my vacuum; I have a Riccar upright that I splurged on for my first house. We have a local vacuum seller and repair person, and that tank has lasted me 18 years and counting. If something goes wonky, nice man fixes it and charges like $20. I know he will age out of the business soon and it will likely close like so many others in our disposable culture.