LiveMy Illegal Washer Dryer I never knew there was a way to have a washer and dryer in an apartment without a washer/dryer hook-up.Then in February 2008, I discovered portable washer/dryer combos and started doing research to find out which is the best. Normally, I’d pay top-dollar for an appliance, but I knew having the washer/dryer would be breaking my lease. If the landlord found out, I’d have to get rid of it immediately and lose my investment.I looked on Craigslist and voila, found a used combo washer/dryer that normally sells for $1400 on sale for $350,The relevant specifications for the Malber WD1000 Washer and Dryer Combo were as follows:- 23.5" wide x 33.5" high x 21" deep- Works on a standard 110 volt power, so no special wiring needed- No venting required...advance design traps the moisture, condenses it into water and sends it down the drain- Fully portable with wheels on the bottomMy laundromat days were over!!For $125, I hired movers from Craigslist who carried the heavy machine (stoned) down four flights from the seller’s Village apartment and then back up four flights to my Upper East Side kitchen.

All this occurred in the middle of the night when my neighbors would be asleep to ensure successful smuggling.Cleveland Clinic Weight Loss CenterMy Malber washer/dryer works like so: You plug the machine into a power outlet, attach the washer tube to a faucet, and then run a drain tube into a sink or bathtub. Kitchen Curtain Fabric By The YardIt took me a while -- and at least 10 small kitchen floods -- to figure out the best way to hook everything up, and my dog barked at the machine for three hours nonstop as it washed and dried its first load.Cool Comforter Sets QueenBut finally I could do laundry in my own apartment.The small combination appliance worked just as well as a normal washer and dryer, but took twice as long. The wash cycle ran 50 minutes (and required a running faucet -- I used the one in my bathroom -- that entire time) and the dryer about an hour-and-a-half.

I settled into a routine of one white, one light, and one dark laundry load per week. Only my large blankets and comforter had to be taken to the laundromat, as they couldn't fit in the Malber.I loved my illegal washer/dryer until the Great Christmas Eve Disaster of 2009.That day, I’d decided to replace the kitchen tiles that had been damaged after a year of the appliance spinning and moving with each wash cycle.I wheeled the machine to the other side of the kitchen, fixed the tiles (they’re the self-stick kind, so the job was easy), and felt victorious. But when I went to wheel the washer/dryer back to its place, one of the wheels broke off. The heavy machine nearly toppled to the ground with me and my dog under it.I held on with all my might and used a cake pan to stabilize the contraption for a few minutes.  I ran downstairs to my new neighbor, and she came up and helped me tip the machine so I could screw the wheel back in. It was completely broken.My next plan was to unscrew the other three wheels.

But they were so bent that I couldn’t get them unscrewed.My neighbor suggested I call the pet supply store across the street and ask to speak to a strong delivery guy named Jay. I explained the job -- he’d need to bring another guy with him to tip this beast over and hack off the wheels -- and he was unfazed. He and a friend came over in a few seconds.The men were so sweet and calm and didn't look twice at my water-soaked kitchen, dirty shorts and tee, or barking dog in a strange way. They tipped the washer/dryer over and used pliers to straighten the remaining wheels so they could be unscrewed. I tested the appliance when it was right-side up. I happily forked out $60.So what did I get for Christmas? A completely destroyed kitchen with water everywhere, broken tiles (the new ones and most of my old ones) -- and a working washer/dryer. I mopped and replaced more tiles a few days later, and all was right with the world.Until I noticed a black, goopy substance oozing out of the cracks in my kitchen tiles.

Upon further inspection, I discovered tons of water. I could only assume that now that the machine wasn’t on wheels, moisture had accumulated or there was a mysterious leak. I started to imagine the floor rotting and caving in on my neighbor who'd helped me earlier.Luckily, I had a leak under my sink that I could blame.I called the management company and explained there was water damage on my kitchen floor and also a leak under my sink. Technically, I wasn't lying… If someone wanted to put those two items together, well, that was fine with me.When the plumber came to inspect the leak, I did my best to hide the washer/dryer by moving it into the living room, throwing a black and white blanket over it, and trying to make it look like a ridiculously large end table. Trust me, I wasn't fooling anyone.It was literally the 300-pound leaking elephant in the room.The dog distracted the plumber by barking so much that he didn’t notice my odd living room décor. My washer/dryer now rests inside a shallow rubber tub that I bought online and hasn’t given me a problem since.

I'd guess I used to spend about $1,200 per year at the laundromat, so despite it all (the original cost of the machine and movers, $80 for initial repairs, $60 for the wheel issue, and $32 for the rubber tub), I still come out ahead. Money wasn't an issue, though. It was being at the laundromat with annoying people. Laundry takes longer now, but I get to hang out at home while doing it.So I guess the whole thing wasn't a wash.Related posts: Why your high-effiency washing-machine smells like cat pee Hands off my laundry!! Can you get bed bugs or lice from a communal laundry room? Inside Story: Confessions of a preconstruction buyer See all Inside Stories here. I'd like to replace the water hoses on my stacked washer/dryer set - the purchase records for the set show that they are 6 years old, and as far as I know the hoses have never been replaced. They are in a narrow closet that's only about 8 - 10" wider than the washer/dryer itself. If I took the folding door off, I think I could squeeze beside the set to reach the back and replace the hoses, but I still need to slide it out from the wall to gain access to the recessed hose box.

It's in a small narrow bathroom, so there's not a whole lot of working space in the room itself. Since I didn't see the installation of the units, I have no idea how to slide them away from the wall, I don't know if they joined the set outside the closet and slid them in as a unit, or if they stacked them inside the closet. I see how I could pry up the front of the set to place it on a furniture slider or a very low dolly, but I don't see how to get the back to slide. The back of the set is only about 2" from the wall, so I couldn't tip it back very far to slide anything beneath it. The washer is a front loader, and the washer/dryer set weighs about 350 lbs. Is there some sort of specialized dolly that can jack up the whole set to move it away from the wall? Is there some other trick to moving the set? Even if I wanted to split the set and remove the dryer to lighten the load on the washer or to make it easier to reach the hose box, I'd still have to get behind the unit to disconnect the dryer gas line and power cord.

Any tips/techniques for this, or should I hire an appliance repair person (or team) to do it? Furniture movers are glides that slip under the feet of furniture or appliances to allow then to slide. The hard plastic slides on rugs and the fuzzy covers slide on hard floors. You can slip a pair of these under the front of your unit and, if you can, under the back legs as well. If not, tilt the unit slightly forward and pull. This is best done with two people. These stackables are usually placed one at a time, but the upper unit clips into the lower fairly firmly. There is often a screw connection. If there is not room to get behind to disconnect the upper, better to pull them out as a unit. Almost always the lines (water, power, gas, vent) are long enough to get the unit free of the closet and to then reach behind it, but check as you go, using a mirror if need be. Someone like a repairman who frequently has to move stuff like this would probably have an "Air Dolly" or "Air Sled".

These use air pressure to lift and move heavy objects like stoves, washer/dryers, fridges, etc. The linked product can hold 800lbs. Unfortunately they are expensive so it's probably not something you would acquire for a one-time move, though you might see if you can rent or borrow one. I went to Home Depot, they told me to spray something like windex or some soapy water near the feet of the bottom and kind of wiggle until the set slides. I can tell you it works with a little bit of effort to get it started. First, remove the door on the washer. Usually a Phillips screw driver (+ end) or socket and ratchet. Once the door is off, you will have better leverage at lifting the stacked units. Be sure not to grab the drum portion of the washer when lifting and pulling forward. There is also the rubber seal, so be gentle of that. If you have the furniture glides, lift the front end of the stacked units and slide in the glides under each leg. If not, my method will work because I just pulled out my set yesterday.

The installers did not insert the drain tube correctly and I had a flood. I have the largest Samsung units that were available and have about 1/2 inch on either side. So, I know this will work for you. Once you are finished, secure the dryer vent, secure the drain tube so that it will not come out. Make sure that there are no leaks from the water connecting points/valves. Slide it all back into place. I just thought of a way that I'd try. Get some sliders, or make some cardboard pads by folding over 4"x4" pieces for each of the front corners. Buy a furniture jack (see example below) to lift up one front corner at a time and slide the slider under it. Repeat for other front corner. Work a large rope behind the washing machine below the water valves. You and someone else pull on the each end of the rope to pull both units forward while slightly tilting them forward. Once you gain access to a back corner, put glider under it too. If you don't want to buy the furniture jack, try lifting corners using a crowbar.

Just put 3/8" plywood scrap below bottom of crowbar to prevent marring floor. Requirements: moderate strength and an 8" diameter waist line. You don't need anything except elbow grease. Pull at a slight angle to start 'walking' it forward, mere inch(es) at a time. Each consecutive pull is on the opposite side; keep cocking it back and forth, walking it out (think: Itz Bitz Spider). The trouble is if the feet start to dig into the floor, then you'll need someone's help. If it feels or sounds like it's scratching the floor, get something under the front feet that it can ride on. I say 'walking' however the feet never leave the floor, unless it hits a snag in the flooring. Then you'll have to lift, bump, or otherwise convince it to cooperate, after having ascertained which foot is giving you grief. The feet could be age-glued-in-place. It may be easier to break that seal by giving it a push or pull from behind. Rent an appliance dolly from UHaul and have someone else there for an extra set of hands.