sara ~ Yes, wattage. Yes, converted into KWh so the hour comparison would be comprehendable. Yes, I *can* iron a regular man's shirt quicker [5 mins] but those workshirts were heavy, heavy 100% cotton and simply took longer to iron smooth. Usage time was actually computed (like the meter, which didn't exist back then) to actual time pulling electricity, which when one is ironing is from start to finish, not just per piece. The problem with saying a dryer uses 'X' amount KWh is that dryers vary considerably both in electrical efficiency and in which temperature setting is used. Frankly, my thought at the end of my experiment was that laundry should be done in whatever way is most efficient *and* comfortable for the do-er, and the weekly amounts of electricity used were so minimal as to make little difference. After all, just standing in front of an open refrigerator for a minute can cause some models to consume as much or more electricity to re-cool than would be used in drying one load of lightweight wash in an electric dryer. We do have a tendency to forget that our electric usage bill is a cumulative bill, and not solely the result of one appliance's usage. I have always considered that the time spent doing [whatever] is of value. Personal comparative value. Thus, if my time is to be spent hanging up clothes on a drying line OR watching TV, the higher value would be to hang clothes. But if my time is to be spent hanging clothes on a drying line/ironing OR cleaning the bathroom, then my personal value system puts the higher value on cleaning the bath while the machine wuffs the clothes. This doesn't mean that any one activity actually is of more or lesser true value, but that I place a comparative value on various activities so that when I have 4 hours for housework, I use the time as efficiently as possible. But to be honest, even now, when I have far more time available for household activities, I'd rather clean the commode than hang up clothes. YVMV (Your values may vary)

I love rugs and own almost two dozen: wool, silk, synthetic. Some have been with us for over thirty years. NO RUG will look good without being cleaned periodically, no matter if it's wool, cotton, or any type of synthetic. These discussions have come up before and people have vigorously defended how their kitchen Oriental wool rugs 'don't get dirty ever', 'I vacuum regularly and they're fine.' No, they don't SHOW dirt easily, that's why people made patterned rugs in the first place. But stick your nose in the pile, or even think about what's on your shoes, dust blown around by HVAC, grease and steam drifting around that didn't get captured by your expensive range hood (which doesn't usually capture exhaust from small appliances and wall ovens with broilers) - then multipy that times every day for "x" number of years. It's comparable to not taking a bath or shower for a couple of months (a cast on one leg will do that, LOL). You can faithfully clean yourself with a sinkful of soap-and-water and a washcloth every day, but I guarantee you when you finally get in that bathtub, you will realize you were just superficially clean; not really, truly clean! Rugs in the kitchen - I have two - are exactly the same thing. If you want them clean, you must be able to wash them. If they are handmade and small enough, you could do this yourself, except that wool rugs take a long time to dry and weigh a lot when wet. If you're going to pay to have it done once a year - and that's stretching it, I wash my kitchen rugs at least 4x a year - you pay a pro anywhere from $60-150 bucks each, depending on size, and wait a week to get them back. My preference is to use bath runners. They have a latex backing that won't slip around and should be safe for your flooring (you can try a small inexpensive size for a couple of weeks to check it out for certain). They come in a wide array of colors and are washable. I prefer to air-dry rather than use the dryer, it only takes a few hours in the sun. They don't last forever, but for $50 they will take enormous greasy stain abuse, be comfortable underfoot, come out of the washing machine spotless (you wouldn't believe some of the stuff I've dropped on them) and last 4-6 years, which is a pretty good deal. I have two runners, one in front of the sink and one in front of the stove. You can see them in this photo: I've linked to JCPenney's website, which I like to use because: 1) they run sales all the time, and 2) often have free shipping, which is even better. If you don't like it, send it back or drop it off for free at any JCPenney store - I do this all the time, especially when I accidentally order the wrong color of something. But any store that carries bedding should have similar items, although I usually find that the Net gives me a much wider choice than in-store shopping. Here is a link that might be useful: Bath rugs

Buehl, please do! I was just trying to save something of use. I'd been checking the GW all night, turned my back for 15 minutes to watch the Health Care vote, and whammo! all the posts were gone. I kept refreshing, thinking, "This can't be!"

BWAA! I didn't post the last little adventure in glitchen dancing. After the fridge episode, which was fixed quite successfully, we install the oven. Big panic day - it was a Friday, and we were moving in on Sat, so lots of activity at the house as everyone tried hard to get things finished for us. Stove gets installed. I look over and say "don't tell me". Cabinet guy looks at me with a scared look on his face and says cautiously... "what?". So I walk over to the drawers that are 90 degrees to the oven (we decided to write off the corner in favour of big drawers), and... they won't open!! Yes, we left a filler, but it wasn't enough... So they had to take out that bank of drawers and rebuild them - with the countertop installed, of course. I seriously think my KD totally ignored my appliance specs. So we move in with the drawers that are to take the kitchen utensils, pots and pans, and baking sheets, not there. So we ate out for a couple of weeks then went on vacation :) Things are pretty much done now (although when we came back from vacation on Sunday the final set of drawer fronts were on, however they've taken two cabinet doors off that have been on for weeks and I have NO clue why) and I was able to unpack the final two kitchen boxes last night. That felt good! Just some minor tweaking left - door alignment, decorative piece over vent hood, a shelf missing etc. Then it turns over to me to pick pendants, light for eat in area, and cushion fabric for banquette, to really get the place finished. Pretty things I just couldn't deal with when I was up to my earballs in the structural stuff, plus I wanted to see the finished product before choosing some of these elements. Aren't you glad you asked? :) Dianalo, you are definitely doing the right thing by being present. Even if you don't catch problems, if they know they'll see you at some point they may wait to confirm things, or suggest better/different ways to do things. You'll probably find you don't have to be there a lot. Good to hear things are going well for you, Florantha and hellonasty (did your appliances go in smoother than mine??) - I've been away from this site for a couple of weeks while on vacation, so feel soooo far behind! Allie, yes, we need our kitchens before school!!