Why, why why!?

JAMIEDODGER

The hoover was a Dyson, with an ever lasting filter thing that only needed cleaning twice a year - or something like that- it just decided to blow up one day. Was going to cost £70 to fix but ended up buying another one (not a Dyson I might add!)

I do try to look after things - although admittedly the car could do with a bit of TLC. Has been overdue for a service, so this could probably have been avoided, although the car is now 5 years old and on 54,000 so I guess this may be around the time that wear and tear start to show on the parts I guess.

The TV, isn't essential, and I guess it is one of life's luxuries to have one in the bedroom. I can still use it, only the whole street can hear the damn thing. I only use it when I know my neighbours aren't in, as I don't want of those Asbo things served on me for being a nusinance neighbour!!! It may become essential to repair/replace soon, as the football season is starting soon. Although I like football and will watch most games, my OH is a massive footie fan and insists on watching every single game, so the 2nd tele is a godsend if I want to watch eastenders - and he gets banished to the bedroom!

Amie_007 wrote:

Does anyone know how to descale an iron - I've never done this before and wouldn't know where to start?!

try the old style board........they know EVERYTHING lol!!!!!!!!!!! if its a kettle that needs descaling....cut a lemon in half and squeeze the juice into an empty kettle and then cover just to over the element with cold water and boil.....then rinse.....works for me!!!!

Amie_007

lipidicman wrote:

Well, they do teach you to read (so RTFM)

I'm in training to be a man - they never read the manuals!

Murtle

Amie_007 wrote:

I'm in training to be a man - they never read the manuals!

but by the comments on here, they also know how to descale the iron, and fix the heater in the car, and remove the gunk from the washing machine!!

If'd you taken Home Economics, you'd have learnt how to descale an iron (at least I did) !! You can buy the packets of descaler, and if you read on the packet you'll find one suitable. Otherwise try vinegar, I've never used it, but it does remove limescale, one of those chemical reactions you learn in chemistry!! It's amazing the kind of the things that you can apply to everyday life but never knew you could from the *odd* things they taught us at school!!!

JAMIEDODGER

Murtle wrote:

but by the comments on here, they also know how to descale the iron, and fix the heater in the car, and remove the gunk from the washing machine!!!!!

just incase anyone got the wrong idea...i am female!

ffs

Everything you have mentioned that has broken down, with the exception of the fridge, should be fixable by a reasonably competant DIYer. How anyone can afford to run a car without doing most repairs and servicing themselves is a mystery to me (£80phr plus VAT at a main dealer!!!). The last time I fixed a Dyson the parts were admittedly expensive, but you can sell a working Dyson easily for reasonable money, so if you threw it away then that was rather a waste.

There are plenty of good Fix Your Own type books that you will find at a library, and now with the internet you will find an online Forum or email list that will help you with just about anything but especially cars. Even if you never intend to do any work yourself, you can post a question about a problem or symptom and (just like MSE) recieve lots of useful help and advice. For instance there areat least five options with a leaking radiator. Try a sealant, sometimes they actually work! Go to a scrap yard and get a used radiator, sometimes you can pay them to fit it too. Get the radiator reconditioned. Get a new radiator from an independent supplier. Get the main dealer to supply and fit a new radiator. Options costing approx £5, £40, £80, £150, £250 - obviously dependent on the car make and model.

By the way, the reason a radiator is likely to leak is because it has corroded, due to lack of anti freeze or old anti freeze, which quickly loses its anti corrosion properties. That's why you change the anti freeze as part of the service proceedure every couple of years. However, its not something you can see, so main dealers often 'forget' to do it.

Dammam

How old was your Dyson? Even if it was out of warranty, it may have been worth contacting them saying how disappointed you were that a top name machine could break down so quickly. They had some bad press not so long back, and may be willing to help out a little for the repair - tell them you're going to have to buy a cheaper brand and hope it's more reliable (if you haven't thrown iot out of course).
Washing machine filters, as stated, are usual at the front of the machine behind a panel at the bottom from my experience. Descaler, just buy it from the supermarket in a packet as it will have instructions :-) after that, you can try vinegar etc. Don't forget to descale your kettle at the same time - and the shower head if you have one.
Does the volume on your tv stick on the set, the remote control or both? What is the make and model of the tv?

roger56

TV sound on loud - is it controlled via remote control?
Try using the buttons on the TV itself. It may be that the remote buttons have gone faulty. The other possibility is the batteries in the remote are getting low. Try new batteries. Cann't guarantee these will solve the problem but maybe worth a try.

Descale iron:
Most hardware store / supermarkets will sell descaling products (the not so good money saving way). The cheapest (money saving) way is to fill the iron with half water, half vinegar, heat iron then leave an hour or so and then empty - the scale will drop out. Scale in the steam holes can be removed with a wooden toothpick. Us eclean water to swill the iron out afterwoods.
Do however check the iron instructions first.

You can descale the kettle the same way. Adding a wire ball in the kettle, this tends to attract most of the scale and is easily cleaned.

To avoid irons scaling in the first place, you can use de-ionised water (purified water) but OK that costs. Alternatively use water boiled in the kettle, most of the scale is left in the kettle where it is easier to rmove. However check your irons instructions first as some do not like purified water being used!! (see here for Tefal http://www.tefal.co.uk/tefal/services/faqs.asp?category_id=500&dept_id=510)

As with most things in life, these everyday items need a bit of TLC if they are going to keep working (bit like the partner/wifey/hubby really....!!!). If you don't fill the car rad, the engine overheats. Not only is that immediately inconvenient, but once done it's probably done further damage to the engine that will hit your pocket later.

I guess this sort of info is learned from the school of life, I think schools have enough on their plate teaching the basics these days.

Good luck.

idiot_3

As a very temporary fix for the rad on the car, pour an egg into it.

Dammam

idiot wrote:

As a very temporary fix for the rad on the car, pour an egg into it.

And beat it.


Sorry, couldn't resist.

ceegee

Amie...I'm afraid it's a part and parcel of life! I've listed elsewhere the things that have gone wrong for me this year and which have cost me my entire 12 years worth of savings, which weren't much in the first place!

You must look after your things properly or it will cost you more eventually. I make myself budget £10 per week for car repairs and services, tyres etc. It's a PITA but it's easier than having to find a lump sum of £300 or whatever out of the blue.

Budget for everything that might break down or need replacing, because you can be darned sure that it will!! :eek: :mad: