Sunday, October 08, 2006

Broken Washing Machine Disposal Adventure

My wife and I had a problem earlier in the year and our washing machine began leaking. We checked all the connections and concluded that it was probably a cracked tub...it certainly wasn't worth fixing, it was an old washing machine we had bought from friends before they moved across the globe.

We were in a little bit of a transitional place of life, and so we were waiting to see what to do about buying a new one and used the laundry facilities at our apartment.

And then...before long, we were moving across the country, and we needed to get rid of that broken washing machine quick. So, my first thought was, I'd list it in the newspaper. The newspaper offered free ad listings and so we listed the washing machine as such: "Broken Washing Machine, great for parts. $25 obo."

No one called on the broken washing machine except the one lady who called my wife's cellphone saying "Why in the world would you try to sell a broken washing machine?"

It was worth a try.

Then I was struck with an inspiration! My friend Jon had talked about a thing called freecycling when he moved away a few months ago. Per Jon's instructions I logged on to yahoo and joined the yahoo freecycling group for the city that we live in.

Here's what happened on Thursday.
10:30 AM - I list the Leaky Washing Machine w/ full disclosure
2:30 PM - The listing appears on the local freecycle message board
3:30 PM - I get an e-mail from someone interested in the washing machine, I give them my address and tell them they can be the lucky "winners" if they can pick it up by 5 pm.
4:30 PM - The leaky washer is gone and I never have to see it again!

I love freecycling. I wish I would have known about it before my wife threw away my disposable treasures, but alas. In the past couple days I have now freecycled a hideous rocking alarm clock with a rose on it (it was an unreturnable wedding gift) and a victorian rose water pitcher (also an unreturnable wedding gift).

Related Tags: , , , ,

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey!!! I gave you those things for a wedding gift

Anonymous said...

Wasn't aware that there was a yahoo recycle group.

Wasp Jerky said...

I'm a big fan of freecycle.

puchi said...

I am about to pick up a broken washing machine on freecycle. I have been a Freecycler for about 2 years but a fully fledged Womble for as long as I can remember.
The metal drum will be my next garden incinerator, the plastic drum will become a planter for carrots on my allotment, the metal shell will be made into a cupbord for the garage and all other parts will be recycled ot used in some other way. Its a great way to keep things out of landfill and a real challenge to find new lives for what would usually be thrown out as rubbish.

Remember you're a Womble!

LammyBoy said...

If you ever get stuck give us a call... www.WEEEaway.co.uk

Shaun Mclain said...

This is nice washing machine information blog. Thanks for Sharing.

Anonymous said...

Excellent read, I just passed this into a colleague who was doing a little research on that. And he actually bought me lunch because I found it for him smile So let me rephrase that. go here

Mattie said...

Thanks!!
My machine is a modern day machine and its work better then many new version.