The Washing Machine’s Grinding Noise
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A peculiar thing happened yesterday: the washing machine came on and started making a grinding noise. The appliance technician arrived as scheduled and installed the new parts in the morning. It took him about two hours.
Then, a few hours later, I decided to try to wash a small load of laundry on the delicate setting. Everything seemed to go fine. I was relieved.
I put the laundry in the dryer and went about my day. After a while, I was sitting here when I heard an odd noise. I got up to investigate. The washing machine had come on by itself and was making a grinding sound.
Do I have a rogue washing machine? How peculiar. I couldn’t get the washer to turn off. Finally, I did this, and that, and this thing or the other, and the laundry room was suddenly silent.
I hesitantly decided to try doing more laundry to see what would happen. But after the cycle ended, it kept spinning and spinning until I turned it off. Is this my imagination, or is something strange happening with this washer?
The technician said that it would take 4-5 loads for the washer to settle into the new parts. Or something to that end. Could that be it? He is coming in the morning to check it out.
Simple Human Trash Can:
The sun is shining, but there are still patches of snow in my front yard, which faces north. The temperature just hasn’t risen high enough for long enough to melt it all.
I haven’t gone farther than the end of my porch, where I can lean over, lift the trash can lid, and deposit my trash bags.
45 Liter/12 Gallon Trash Can
I love my Simple Human trash can! This is the Amazon link, but I found mine at Home Goods years ago.
The Simplehuman trash can is a sturdy bin with a foot pedal connected to a metal linkage. When you step on the pedal, that linkage lifts the lid smoothly and evenly, without you having to touch anything.
When you lift your foot, the lid doesn’t slam shut—it glides down slowly thanks to a built-in damper that controls the motion and keeps things quiet.
Inside, there’s a removable inner bucket that holds the trash liner. This makes taking out the trash cleaner and less awkward. My Simplehuman trash can is designed so the liner fits neatly and stays hidden at the back, with no bag edges peeking over the rim.
When you take out the trash bag, reach into the back as shown above and remove a new liner. When there are no more trash liners in the back, you just order new ones.
The brushed stainless steel resists fingerprints, dents, and wear, so it stays tidy even with daily use. Everything is weighted and balanced, so it doesn’t tip when you step on the pedal.
Liner Size
The size called for the packet of trash can liners for my model is “M.” I ordered them from Amazon.
Breaking a Tooth:
Last night, I was eating popcorn when, suddenly, half a tooth on the left side of my mouth was missing. I must have swallowed it. It is the last upper tooth, so way back there. And it is layered now with sharp edges.
Thankfully, it doesn’t hurt.
I’ve been eating mostly on that side because food tends to get under the bridge on the other. Now I won’t have any choice, I suppose.
I will need to see the dentist about this, probably before my teeth cleaning at the end of the month. But there is still snow and possibly ice out there, and then there is the knee problem. So I don’t think I’ll be attempting to walk down the porch steps for a bit.
I spent a good bit of money on dental visits and procedures in 2025.
Knee Pain Update:
Much of the pain in my left knee has eased a bit, but my right knee is now causing more pain. I suppose this is because I was walking warily, putting most of my weight on my right knee.
So today I have knee braces on both knees.
I’ve ordered knee compression sleeves for both knees, which should arrive tomorrow.
Today, Kendra is having MRIs on her knees at noon. I hope she gets good news. She has a Baker’s cyst behind one knee.
What I’m Currently Watching:
“His & Hers” is on Netflix.
In the sweltering heat of Atlanta, Anna (Thompson) lives in haunted reclusion, fading away from her friends and career as a news anchor.
But when she overhears talk about a murder in Dahlonega, the sleepy north Georgia town where she grew up, Anna is snapped back to life. She pounces on the case and searches for answers.
Detective Jack Harper (Bernthal) is strangely suspicious of her involvement, and he chases her into the crosshairs of his own investigation.
What I’m Reading:
I’m almost finished with this book, so I’ll choose another from the small stack of books on my dresser.
The Last Books I’ve Read and Reviewed:
Raising Hare: A Memoir (2025) by Chloe Dalton chronicles the author’s experience rescuing a newborn leveret abandoned in the English countryside during a COVID-19 lockdown.
Empire of AI: (2025) by Karen Hao provides a critical, in-depth look at the rapid rise of generative AI, arguing that companies like OpenAI act as modern, colonial-style empires.
Theo of Golden (2023) by Allen Levi is a novel about a mysterious, older man who moves to a small Georgia town and begins anonymously purchasing 92 pencil portraits from a local coffee shop.
***
Now I am ready for a snack and a cup of coffee that I have most mornings. I tend to work best in the morning hours, so I write before I have my caffeine or check the news.
That’s crazy about your washing machine! I think you’re right… they just don’t make things the way they used to. My machine is old, probably 20 years, and it’s had a few problems over the years, but they were easy to fix and it’s still going strong. (Knock on wood, lol!). I always wanted a newer, fancier one, but I think I’ll stick with what I have. I’m sorry about your tooth! Take good care to try to keep your mouth as clean as possible, until you feel safe enough to go to your dentist. I hope Kendra is ok too. Knee issues aren’t fun, and she’s so busy. You be careful with your knees too. I didn’t see the name of the shoe you are watching.
I meant show
I have the same trash can bought it a few years ago from Target. Yesterday I had my permanent crown put on my tooth, part of my tooth came off when I was eating pizza, it didn’t hurt at all, the dentist said that was because of there being no decay. Hope your washing machine is OK, mine is a Maytag over 20 years old. I hope it still has a lot of life left in it, they don’t make things the way they used to. Hope everything is good with your daughter.
Kendra said she wouldn’t know anything about her MRIs for about a week. Nothing is made as well-made as it used to be. They just keep using more inferior stuff.
So sorry about the tooth…we have lost more now than I wish…and some are crowned. Hubby has to have a crown replaced at end of month…$1600. Sigh. Always something…
Yeah, that’s about what mine was back in July, I think.
Brenda, it sounds like your repaired washer is possessed! 😉.
I wish I could say most of the snow and ice are gone from here! It has warmed up a bit but the melt is slow going. Because I have this left knee replaced I’m not going anywhere until I know it’s not solid ice out there! No falling for me please.
I have those same knee braces you’re getting. I have lots of knee braces. They’re good for a while but that neoprene gets to be too much for me. I’m trying my best not to have to have my left knee replaced this year. I just want some time off. Knee replacement takes time to heal from. I’m just feeling like I’m about normal again from the left knee. My Dr said it takes 18 months to fully heal. I’m not there yet.
I hope that sun you’re having is coming my way. Today it’s cloudy and a bit of rain is falling. I’ll be so glad for Spring!
Give those kitties a pat for me and you have a good afternoon.
I will pet the kitties and tell them it’s from Tessa.
Sorry you are having these issues. In October I lost a bracelet only to find it in the sofa when the washer repair man left. The washer made a metal clinking noise and he did find a dime. The noise stopped but since then unless I hit start very quickly after I hit power I get an off balance code and I have to start over. So frustrating but at least it works. Got a new dishwasher and it won’t drain. Hope you get your medical issues cleared up quickly. We have 7” of ice that is like cement with no warm temperatures in sight. Be safe all.
It seems to me that the “smarter” they make appliances and cars, the faster things go awry with them.
If a tooth is broken then bacteria can cause infection in the root. Better call soon rather than later because you can avoid antibiotics and a bad infection.
I will call as soon as the snow/ice is gone and I feel I can go out.
Appliances are not made the way they used to be. Repairs to them also don’t seem to be what they used to be. Neither are the retailers that we have to buy them from. I tried for 11 months to get the extended warranty on a washer I bought from Lowe’s to pay out. The washer has a known, widespread problem that many other buyers have posted about online. None of the known repairs have fixed the problem. The staff at Lowe’s, the warranty company, and the appliance repair reps treated me like a little dog. The warranty finally paid out but I’m still nursing the washer along because when I started to look for a new one I found that the other retailers near me seem to be not much better than Lowe’s. I will NEVER buy from Lowe’s again. It was awful. I tried a locally owned appliance shop in the next county but they didn’t really treat me any better in fact it was worse. I found out they were one of the awful repair reps that the warranty company sent to look at washer. They did nothing to try and fix the problem. They pretty much treated me like a little dog too.
What happened to “the customer is always right?” I wonder?
Between the flickering Christmas lights and the washer going on by itself, it sounds ghostly! lol. Seriously, though, if this sort of stuff continues happening, maybe get an electrician to check things out.
I’d forgotten about the Christmas tree lights! I’ve just got weird things going on around here.