Around thirty-five years ago, my mom and I had a three-story townhome. One very wet spring, after a record amount of rain fell, some of our special keepsakes were ruined. The basement flooded claiming our Michigan home’s contents and almost everything we had that was being stored on that level.
I can clearly remember that day like it was yesterday and how crazy it was as the water rose all the way up to my knee level. I had never seen first-hand how flooding could destroy a lifetime of treasures in a matter of minutes. That was disheartening. We salvaged what we could and had to throw out the rest.
Thankfully, our townhouse cooperative had insurance on all of the units. They even went a step further and decided to work with a public adjuster so the adjusters would assist all of us homeowners in managing the uncertainty of how we were going to recover from the flood damage.
They leveled the playing field with the insurance company by thoroughly evaluating our cooperatives’ policy and creating a claims strategy that met each one of our unique needs. They came into our townhome and thoroughly documented the damaged and destroyed property. Then, they prepared and presented a detailed claim to our insurance company and negotiated it on our behalf.
But what I really want to talk about is what happened after the flood occurred and how I grew up in a sense after that experience. I lost many old toys and stuffed animals that probably needed to go anyway, thus teaching me a lesson in how to let go, accept, and make room for something different—time for a change.
Because of the flood in our basement, our washer and dryer were totaled, and we needed to replace these appliances. My mom went to the local Sears scratch and dent store in Livonia, Michigan, and bought us a brand-new Whirlpool washer and dryer circa 1988. That is when I started to do my own laundry, growing up a little more in my responsibilities.
And guess what? That thirty-six-year-old appliance has been washing my clothes since then and continues to run to this day! In fact, I took over that Whirlpool washing machine when I got married, and my mom downsized her appliances. That washer took on:
- The rough handling of my ex-husband
- The washing and care for my babies’ clothes
- The washing of my little boys’ messy clothes
- The washing of my teenagers’ clothes (They started doing it by themselves just like their mama did!)
- The use of hard, well water for the last two years
That beautiful, tough old washer is still in use, and when the day comes when we need to retire her, it will be a sad one, for sure. But then again, I am still learning how to let go and let the Universe do the changing without trying so hard to fight it.
My son said to me recently, “Nostalgia is my biggest opp,”. Meaning that what he holds dear, that holds some sentimental value, is his nemesis; the thing that brings him down. He has a soft heart like his mama, which sometimes could be viewed as negative should we get stuck emotionally in a nostalgic state.
Best kitchen appliances brand
So, does my old Whirlpool make the list of best kitchen appliance brands? Let’s find out. We’ll probably recognize most of them. According to many sources across the web, below are some of the most reliable appliance brands on the market to date:
- Bosch Appliances
- Whirlpool Appliances
- KitchenAid Appliances (a subsidiary of Whirlpool Corporation that has carved a niche for itself in this market)
- GE Appliances
- Frigidaire Appliances
- LG Appliances
- Samsung Appliances
- Miele
- Hotpoint
- Maytag Appliances
As suspected, my faithful Whirlpool made the list – of course, it did. It has earned its place among some of the giants in the industry, establishing a reputation for durability and consistent performance. However, remembering its steadfast reliability always brings a smile to my face. Across various online reviews, many users endorse Whirlpool, echoing the longevity and robustness I’ve personally experienced over the years.
Why do old appliances last longer?
Reflecting even further, it’s impressive how appliances have evolved from the late 80s to today. Contemporary models boast energy efficiency, smart technology, and stylish designs, features our old Whirlpool couldn’t dream of having. Yet, it’s a distinct testament to the quality of its make that it has lasted through several decades of use.
When discussing nostalgia in the realm of appliances with my kids, I often find myself sharing stories about how things used to be. They laugh at my tales of life before the latest gadgets, where a simple, reliable machine like our Whirlpool could become such an integral part of the household.
When the day arrives when we eventually have to say goodbye to our resilient old machine, it would be like losing a small piece of our family history. Yet, the big brands today assure us that we have plenty of reliable options, from Bosch’s precision engineering to Samsung’s cutting-edge smart features.
From USA Today, “In addition to broad economic factors that affect all durable goods, appliance lifespans are shorter for a few specific reasons. The first is that production of individual components is frequently outsourced to the least-expensive third-party manufacturers. Additionally, both finished products and their components are designed to weigh less, so that they’re less expensive for manufacturers to ship. Finally, tolerances are tighter, fits are closer, and electronic controls have taken the place of mechanical ones—in other words, more plastic and less metal,”.
What to do when basement floods
In conclusion, from my experience, the first thing to do when a basement floods is to call the flood restoration specialists, hire a public adjuster, salvage what you can, make sure the restoration company dries everything properly, get a new Whirlpool appliance and run that sucker as long as you can. Other than that, remember to embrace these challenges with resilience and an open heart, recognizing each hurdle as an opportunity for growth and change.