You know that old saying "they don't make 'em like they used to". Well that holds true for household appliances in general and washing machines specifically. I think back to years ago when I bought a Kenmore washer and dryer set that was still going strong eleven years later when I sold them and moved out of state. Eleven years later and I'm on my second dryer and third washer.

As if I needed validation of my low opinion of washing machine manufacturers, when I called a repairman to fix my old washer he took one look at it and said buy a new one. The cost to repair my old one was $75 less than the price of new.

And I guess that explains why the Maytag repairman is so lonely. It's cheaper to buy new than have a repair done.

But there are some ways you can stretch out the life of a washer and that's just what this article will tell you.

The most important thing you can do to extend the life of your washer is to simply rinse it once a month. Set it on the highest water level with the hottest water and the longest running time. We tend to think that washers are clean because of all the soap and water we run through them. One trip to the lauder mat brings home the reality of just how nasty these things can get. By rinsing your machine once a month you get rid of scum, soap residue and prevent mold any of which can gum up the works and shorten washer life.

Don't overload your washer. For starters your clothes won't get clean. The actual cleaning is done at the bottom of the basket where the agitator is. If you overload your machine the clothes on top will never make it to the bottom. Overloading also places undue strain on the drive belt and motor.

If your washer likes to go for a stroll all by itself it is probably not sitting level with the ground. If you have one use a carpenter's level and lay it across the top of the machine and make sure the bubble is in the center. If it isn't, you can adjust the "feet" of the machine by twisting them up or down. Also if you have a slick or shiny surface you may want to get a mat to place under the machine to keep it from slipping.

These are just a few things you can do to stretch out the life of your washing machine and save a couple of bucks.