While a traditional washer uses gravity as an ally, the new horizontal-axis washing machine must be reinforced to accommodate what is essentially a “dryer filled with water.” This means that the new washers have more parts and are heavier than the old fashioned machines. Most of the new washers will use a “tumbler” system where the laundry load rotates as it does in a clothes dryer. There are some other facts that would-be consumers should be aware of (and that the government conveniently fails to disclose). This discovery leads to some very down-to-earth questions like: Can children open that front door while the machine is running? Will water go all over the floor if they do open it? If I find a lone sock after the machine has started, can I open the door to throw it in? Many would-be customers are also freaked out by the front-loading (as opposed to top-loading) design. Why don’t the consumers like these new “efficient” washing machines that are so strongly endorsed by the federal government and by environmentalists? Well, for starters the washing machine that is advertised to “save” consumers so much money will cost about $241 more than an old-style washing machine. This fact should raise a red flag that something is definitely amiss. They make up less than 10 percent of the new washer sales. If these new “efficient” washing machines are so wonderful, why does the federal government need to outlaw the primitive, costly, and inefficient old washing machines? If these new washing machines are so fantastic, shouldn’t they be selling like hotcakes at your local department or appliance store? Yes, they should. Unfortunately, there is a very serious disconnect here. This translates into lower water, gas, and electric utility bills. They use 25 percent less water and 40 percent less energy. Those “efficient” environmental washing machines are available right now. For you see, the government washing machine will not only “save” you money, it will also be good for the environment.įor those of you who can’t wait until 2004 to save both money and the environment, there is good news. 1 However, you shouldn’t complain or be angry that your freedom of choice is being taken away.

Three years later the required level of efficiency improvement will rise to 35 percent.

Stores will be able to sell only the government-mandated washing machines, which are 22 percent more “efficient” than the archaic washers of today. On that date you will no longer be able to buy a washing machine that works, like the one you currently use.

(See my “The Federally Mandated Toilet Still Doesn’t Work,” November 2001.) On January 1, 2004, the federal government will move into your laundry room as well. Working toilets were outlawed in 1992 in favor of the environmentally friendly government toilets. Our home is becoming less and less our castle as the government moves in.

New washing machine