The DRSNews
October 2003

In this issue:

1) ‘Motivating’ Lazy Retractable Cords
2) Winterize Your Washer for Cold Storage – Fast!
3) A Dryer Lint Filter’s Enemy #2: Fabric Softener Sheets

1) Do you get as ‘bugged’ as I do by those cords that are supposed to retract back into their reels, but don’t? If so, here’s a simple trick that I’ve used for many years, and the results can be dramatic.

Wax it! Pull the cord all the way out, clean it well – our homebrew window cleaner, or isopropyl alcohol, works well – and wipe dry. Then grab your car wax and apply a liberal coat of it. Let dry, wipe it down, and I think you’ll be surprised at the difference.

Most any good auto wax will do, and this should also help with that retracting air hose in the garage. I recently used it on a 30 foot trouble light cord reel, and that’s what reminded me that you might find this handy.

2) If you’ve been with us for a while, you’ll remember when we discussed all the uses for that handiest of tools, the 5 gallon wet-vac.

Here’s one use I had forgotten, but need to use ASAP with a couple of vintage washers in our garage before we get too many more frosty nights. Basically it’s done in 2 steps:

First connect ‘Clyde’ (the camel – anyone else remember that song?… never mind – I’m gettin’ old!) to the washer drain hose and run it for about 30 seconds or until you no longer hear or feel water moving through the hose. That removes residual water from the pump, tank, and sump.

Then hold the vac hose up to the fill valve inlets – where the fill hoses attach to the washer – and run it briefly. Pull the fill valve assembly out of the back of washer – usually one or 2 screws – and remove the small hose that exits the valve’s other side.

Briefly vac both this hose and the spud it connected to, reassemble, and you’re done! Now you won’t lay awake nights wondering if that plastic valve and pump are cracking in the cold, and you won’t be unpleasantly surprised when you try to use the machine in the Spring.

PS - All you guys in semi-tropical climates can ignore this tip. But if you send me directions to your house, I’ll be happy to come down and show you personally how this is done. It may take a few days though, so I’ll need room and board. I should be able to get down there by late January or early February <grin>.

3) Here’s a problem that used to be a ‘biggie’ with the older GM Frigidaire dryers that used fine Dacron lint screens, and I seem to be seeing it again these days so I thought I’d warn you about it.

If you use dryer fabric softener sheets, be careful to use only one sheet per load (or two). The chemical used in these sheets can clog lint filters, and even a partial clog can really lengthen drying time.

And, as we’ve talked about before, any restriction in the air handling system will shorten the life of your dryer’s heating element.

If you hold your lint filter up to a light and can see that it’s not clear, or if water doesn’t easily pass through it, yours has this problem. Just scrub it with a brush under very hot tap water to clean it. This residue can be really tough. I lightly scrub metal screens with a small brass brush. Plastic ones can be carefully scrubbed with an old toothbrush or other plastic-bristled brush.  

While the softener sheets are handy, my recommendation is generally that you use liquid softener in the washer instead.  

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Well, that’s about it for this issue.

Thanks for allowing me into your inbox again this month. I hope you benefit from this little project half as much as I enjoy writing it for you.  Thanks for all your encouragement - I really appreciate it!

May the Lord richly bless you & yours, and may He continue to have Mercy on America.

Sincerely,
Dave Harnish
Dave’s Repair Service
New Albany, PA
drs@sosbbs.com
 

‘Thy Word is true FROM THE BEGINNING [Genesis1:1]: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth forever.’ - Psalm 119:160