To replace all the white goods in anticipation of them all going wrong...

[karategirl]

My husband and I bought the cheapest fridge/freezer and washing machine we could find when we moved into our last place 6 1/2 years ago. They're still working, but the fridge/freezer is on its last legs, and the load capacity of the washing machine is very small. We got a chest freezer off of freecycle a couple of years ago, which works but is pretty grotty - the seal is going, it's constantly frozen up etc.

Baby is due in July, and I think we ought to replace the washing machine because we're planning to use cloth nappies, so a bigger load capacity would be really useful. We could also do with a tumble dryer, and have found myself putting a new fridge/freezer and chest freezer in my online basket, because I'm convinced they're going to completely pack up soon.

I can't bring myself to press buy! Is it completely ridiculous to buy all this stuff now (when we've still bought virtually no baby stuff)? It's just over £1,000 for all four appliances, which seems like pretty good value (and we can afford) but it just seems stupidly over the top when the things we have still work!

Personally I'd never replace anything while it still works.

It depends on how quickly you can replace the items if/ when they do pack up. Some white goods go on for a ridiculous length of time and others not so it’s hard to predict.

If it would be two weeks for a new washing machine then no brainier, get it. If it can be delivered and installed in a day or two then wait and see.

Oh, and re the freezer why not just replace the seal? That will probably stop it from frosting up.

Like BlueLady - I don't understand the concept of replacing things that still work. I mean, potentially if you now need a bigger drum (although would you actually? Do people wash cloth nappies in with other clothes? Genuine question - I used disposables), but the other things I'd wait until you needed to replace them.
Presumably you are on, or about to start maternity leave, money is generally tight for people on maternity leave so it seems odd to be spending money on things you don't need to replace.

You're right. It's madness to replace working appliances.

Get a new seal for the chest freezer.

What do you mean by the fridge being on its last legs? Unless it's stopping keeping things cold (its only requirement), it's fine.

"we've still bought virtually no baby stuff"

Please be an adult and prioritise.

I tend to agree with the others that replacing stuff that's still working is a bit ridiculous. My caveat would be that if you have hundreds of pounds fo food in the chest freezer, and you can't replace it easily then signs it is failing might be good cause to replace and I found a large drum washing machine and a tumble dryer made laundry much easier when my twins arrived, though I would have managed with a smaller drum.

I do think the investment in a larger washing machine was some of the best money I spent in preparation for children though, so I think you should totally ignore major's patronising:
"we've still bought virtually no baby stuff"
Please be an adult and prioritise.

There isn't much baby stuff you actually really need, and decent white goods will make your life better for a lot longer than much of the stuff many people end up buying for a baby.

I can see why the peace of mind of newer (and potentially more reliable) white goods appeals and if you can afford it, then why not? I’d urge you to Freecycle/donate to charity your existing goods rather than scrap them.

With cloth nappies we just did extra loads of just nappies, we didn’t add the nappies to loads of other stuff. No bigger drum needed.

@majorPentatonic Who pissed in your cornflakes?! No need to be patronising - it's not like I've said it's a choice between appliances and baby stuff (it's not - we can afford both) or that I'm considering blowing a fortune on a designer handbag. I'm considering replacing things which are approaching the end of their life whilst I still have a full time salary, in case they stop working whilst I'm on maternity pay.

@MatildaTheCat Thanks, I hadn't considered that I could buy a separate seal - I'll look into that, and hopefully it'll solve the problem.

@Backforgood We'd do separate loads for clothes and nappies, but could add things like towels/bedding/other hot wash items into the nappy load, so I thought it'd be useful to have a bit more capacity and the option to do fewer loads.

In terms of the issues with the fridge/freezer, it's not as cold as it used to be, has huge condensation issues and stuff just doesn't keep fresh for as long as I'd like.

@BikeRunSki Don't worry - I certainly wouldn't scrap them whilst still working (even if a little dodgy). We had huge benefit from Freecycle when we were less well off than we now are - it's definitely our turn to help someone who's starting out. Incidentally, with cloth nappies, how did you find the extra laundry? People have told me I'm mad for considering them because I'll already have loads extra to do with baby clothes, bedding, general fabrics-with-sick-on washing. But from an environmental perspective, the thought of all of those disposables we would end up creating is horrendous. Did you find it to be a huge extra chore? And which brand did you go for? Thanks.

I would definitely replace the washing machine, get one that's more energy efficient, and have Economy 7 put in.
Old appliances can be recycled. Its not like they go to landfill.

Freecycle sounds like a good idea. I can see the value of having an efficient washing machine before baby comes. I didn't have a washing machine with my first two and managed washable nappies, not my favourite job but perfectly possible. Washable nappies with a washing machine isn't hard, I mean what do you have to do? Put them in the machine, add some powder and press a button/turn a dial. Then you take them out, throw them in the tumble dryer or hang them out to dry. It really isn't a big deal.

Can you check the temperature of the fridge? If it isn't cold enough to keep food safe then it is a good idea to replace it.

Hope all goes well with baby.

Is your washing machine one where it uses the right amount of water to the weight of the clothes in it? If not then that might be worth considering because it not only saves water but it saves time and money.

A fridge is supposed to be between 3 and 5 degrees and freezer -18 to - 21 degrees so if they are still at those temperatures then I wouldn't worry about them until they pack up.

Economy 7 costs more in the daytime than traditional rates. Ensure you are saving enough on the night usage to pay for the day extra. Normally only recommended if you have storage heaters.

Sounds like extreme nesting to me! But, as long as you consider where your old one goes to (charity, recycled etc) and you can afford it then that's entirely your choice.

Why not put the money aside for these things now? Or just buy the most pressing item and keep the rest of the money aside? Seems silly to spend all that at once on things that might keep going for months/years, when you don't know what else might happen. Your boiler could go, your car could go, all sorts of unexpected expenses.

Just put the money from your full time salary in the bank for when they do break.
Your logic is bizarre.
Also you don’t need a bigger drum.

I have no idea about replacing your white goods but I use cloth nappies and just a heads up depending on the type you use some can only be washed at 40. I use pocketfold ones and I'm onto my second DD in them. The inner liners can be washed at 60 but the outers only 40 or they stop being waterproof. I don't put anything else in with them I wash the nappies on their own. You will do so so so many loads of washing a bigger drum wouldn't hurt but I wouldn't replace a working machine. You can get a new one next day if it does break.

Personally I think don’t. But ..... if one comes up in the sale with a good guarantee - get it and put the other in the garage for double loads etc.

My washing machine and fridge freezer did 15 years and packed up at the same time. I managed to get a fridge freezer in the sale (Samsung) with 10 years guarantee and the same with a washing machine. Most things only have a 1 year guarantee and the extended warrantes I think are a waste of money. The fridge freezer was frosting up weekly and fridge heating up etc - but we’ve bunged it in the garage in case of an emergency. Chest freezer - buy a new seal and you’re away.

If you can get all the white goods for £1000, are you still not buying the cheapest? My washing machine alone cost about £500.

I found cloth nappies quite disgusting in terms of the smell if they were left long and certainly didn't want other things in with them - although I'd thought I would. In the end a smaller drum and sticking nappies through each night worked best for me, even when I had two in cloth a small drum was sufficient for that.

However, I would vote for an efficient machine in any circumstance. There is nothing wrong with replacing old machines for more efficient ones, particularly if you plan to recycle anything working. No need to pearl clutch about it.

ao.com will get you replacements within 24 hours when they do finally do break down so there's no need to anticipate.

I would get a thermometer to check the fridge and freezer though, and agree that espares will flog you a new freezer seal (and show you a video explaining how to fix it) for perhaps 30 quid.
www.espares.co.uk/advice/careandmaintenance/how-to-replace-a-freezer-door-seal

If you can afford it then go for it. If it will put you mind at ease and you can pay it forward on free cycle after benefiting in the past yourself then all the better. I probably couldn’t face replacing broken white goods in the very early newborn stages.

Cloth nappies - Love them!
You will get into a routine and you will find yourself wondering why anyone ever uses disposables. Dd never had any nappy rash, unless she had been in a disposable for some reason (eg weekend away).
Have you got cloth wipes too? Something like cheeky wipes are great and even for poo I often only needed to use one wipe. Then roll it up in the nappy and put it in the nappy bin ready to wash.
I was late to the party with cloth wipes but the difference was unreal. I actually got an extra set of a different style of wipes for hands and faces because I found them so good. Probably saved a fortune, but it was the warm fuzzy feeling I got that was even better!
I always think councils should offer interest free loans for new parents to purchase a set, repaying about £10/month (which would definitely be cheaper than disposables.)

Whatever you choose to do, if you decide to replace if you speak to the retailer, including online ones you may be able to get s discount for buying three things at once. When my first child came my washing machine and tumble dryer broke and I chose Bosch and still gave them 12 years later. I got a large drum and it is fantastic. Good luck whatever you choose

As someone who washed nappies by hand every day, I can assure you that you won't want to put anything else in with them! I can still smell those nappies 40 years on.

I’ve bought appliances from ao.com and they’ve always delivered really quickly. The fact that you’re being paid now is irrelevant unless you’re shit at budgeting. I’d save the money and wait for them to pack in.

As someone else has said, put money in the bank for when they do break. Maybe the exception would be to replace the washing machine with one with more capacity.