Top-loading washer in D’s apartment reduced a new set of queen sheets to shreds. D wants to ask landlord to replace washer (I think she’s out of luck on reimbursement on cost of sheets.), but he hasn’t yet addressed the problem she notified him of last week of creatures scurrying in the ceiling. Short of moving when the lease ends this summer, does she have any options?
If the landlord does not replace the washer… She should use a laundromat with good front loaders while looking for another place to rent. This would me a more practical solution.
She can ask. But agree with Bunsen on using a laundromat if she thinks her rental unit washer might ruin her clothes. She might be able to negotiate a new washer when she renegotiates her lease. One of mine had a bad dryer but was willing to sign another year lease with a new dryer. Can’t help with the critters if they are using the attic it can take awhile to figure out where they are getting in and block the entrance point. We have a unit that is prone to that in the attic space and in twenty years my H has never located the entrance point.
if the washing machine is old yes I would ask for it to be replaced. getting money for the sheets I would say is a no go.
She should review her lease and see what it says about the washer/dryer. My S is in a rental that has a washer and dryer but the lease says that the owners are not responsible for the maintenance or replacement of the machines. In his case the previous tenants left the machines as the management company doesn’t normally include appliances in the units. They went in with the understanding that the machines would not be replaced.
In your D’s case has she asked for the machine to be repaired. I’m still using a agitator top loader in my house and it doesn’t shred sheets. It seems like that would tell me that the washer might need a repair.
Not worth the hassle or likely strained relationship w/ the landlord for the sheets. Save for bigger issues. If she wants to leave, it is likely landlord will simply find a reason to keep some of the damage deposit anyway. If she wants to stay, ask at lease renewal – providing it is not outlined otherwise in the lease.
She should meet him in person, and show him the sheets. Not in a confrontational…“you must pay for this” kinda way…she should use them as a visual aid for diplomacy. “I think something is seriously wrong with the washer, because this is what happened” Show the sheets. “Could you please look into it?” Also, she could record the scurrying noises on her phone and play it for him.
The key…is to give him some evidence, some solid factual data to work with…while being matter of fact and expressing optimism that she expects a solution will be found.
Sometimes it’s hard for landlords to sort the overly sensitive folks who will never be pleased…from the folks who are trying to report a legitimate problem.
She should try to communicate in a friendly way…and show proof of her concerns.
The squeaky wheel does get the grease…but just make sure you’re squeaking in a way that isn’t overly confrontational or angry.
Are the sheets the first thing she washed there? Has it shredded anything else?
Also if she doesn’t report it to the landlord they don’t know there is a problem.
@Consolation she moved in to this apartment last summer. I hope this was not the first time she washed sheets!
So far sheets are the only things that have shredded, although it has happened to two different sets (most recently brand-new ones). I suggested if he doesn’t replace machine (no idea how old it is) when she talks to him using @MaryGJ’s method, she should look for a laundromat and limit home wash to small loads on gentle with everything in mesh lingerie bags. A hassle, but just for the three months remaining on her lease.
She plans a move to a house with two friends so had already decided she is not likely to renew (hasn’t told landlord yet). One of her top criteria when apartment hunting was an in-unit w/d, sigh.
I tis bizarre that only sheets would be symptomatic. As I assume other clothing would be washed with great regularity, I would look to the sheets as the problem.
If this is a top loader with an agitator, larger, thin items like sheets can get wrapped around the agitator… if one part catches something at the bottom of the agitator, you bet the sheets will be shredded when the washer starts to spin! If the pillowcases made of the same fabric do not get shredded, this would be is the explanation.
RealSimple seems to agree with my theory:
https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/clothing-care/simple-solutions-laundry-troubles
Wow–have never had shredded sheets and we have ancient washer and ancient bedding. If the sheets are brand new, maybe she can get refund from store?
I agree that if its the first time this happened in a year, it might be hard to blame the washer, unless as @BunsenBurner said, something got stuck under the agitator. Where did she buy the sheets? Maybe there is some warranty and they can get the sheet replaced. Its possible she should have set the spin cycle on something slower, if the machine has those settings.
crossposted