5 Home Appliances I Only Used After Moving to America

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  • čas přidán 24. 01. 2023
  • Thank you to Wondrium for sponsoring today's video! Signup for your FREE trial to Wondrium here: ow.ly/nXZh50MsPyz
    As I continue moving into my first American house, here are five home appliances I only used after moving to America.
    Subscribe to my channel: / @lostinthepond
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Komentáře • 3K

  • @auroraasleep
    @auroraasleep Před 9 měsíci +49

    Americans say "instant coffee" in a similar tone to how British folks say "bagged tea" and I'm standing by that.

  • @romigithepope
    @romigithepope Před rokem +1839

    This man bought an entire house just to give us more content.

  • @savanahbustle3361
    @savanahbustle3361 Před rokem +50

    I love that he’s praising the “dehumidifier “ for the very thing it’s actually used for…better air quality. ❤️

  • @HomerSlated
    @HomerSlated Před rokem +322

    As someone who was born and lived in the UK my whole life, having watched this video, I''m shocked and amazed to discover that I've actually been an American all along.

    • @GldnClaw
      @GldnClaw Před rokem

      Congratulations on your dual citizenship! Joe Biden has you pre-registered (and pre-voted) in the 2024 election.

    • @philoctetes_wordsworth
      @philoctetes_wordsworth Před 11 měsíci +10

      American from Southern California, living in texas, and whom participated in study abroad in Bourges, France 2 years: I was shocked to discover I am in fact French, and have been, all along.😂😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣💋💋🫶🏻🇺🇸🌸

    • @ToniInSussex
      @ToniInSussex Před 10 měsíci +6

      No way. No good Mexican restaurants here, and no Walmart. 😉

    • @user-jg7ms2iv1t
      @user-jg7ms2iv1t Před 9 měsíci

      @@ToniInSussex If ya cant go to walmart AND worry about gettin shot before you buy your gun it just aint america

    • @atheinasophiajade1044
      @atheinasophiajade1044 Před 8 měsíci +2

      My fridge has a hot water choice of temp and all. The single best upgrade ever,.

  • @blackstone777
    @blackstone777 Před rokem +560

    PRO TIP: when your wash is done, leave the lid OPEN to the washer. This will allow the washer to dry out so you won't have mildew and that funky mildew smell.

    • @5610winston
      @5610winston Před rokem +2

      Surprised your laundry machines aren't Speed Queens.

    • @ShortForMitchel
      @ShortForMitchel Před rokem +28

      I wish I could do that, but when I do, my cats climb in there and pee 😅

    • @5610winston
      @5610winston Před rokem +10

      @@ShortForMitchel prop the lid open a couple of inches.

    • @emilysicignano
      @emilysicignano Před rokem +13

      @@ShortForMitchel was literally going to comment that I can't leave the lid open bc of the cats haha

    • @radhiadeedou8286
      @radhiadeedou8286 Před rokem +7

      Mine is always open , by the time I remember to close it it's time to do another load of laundry

  • @angelofmyheart1967
    @angelofmyheart1967 Před rokem +620

    I find it funny that I stopped watching a History Channel video on the American revolution against the British to watch a video about a British man who became American. Lol

    • @mickyo7171
      @mickyo7171 Před rokem +48

      I am watching a video about appliances!?!? Laurence, THIS is how much I enjoy your videos.

    • @aaronpatterson2369
      @aaronpatterson2369 Před rokem +20

      Oh, the irony...

    • @angelofmyheart1967
      @angelofmyheart1967 Před rokem +9

      @@aaronpatterson2369 Exactly 👍

    • @Hopeapotheke
      @Hopeapotheke Před rokem +4

      😂😂😂

    • @ltbeefy9054
      @ltbeefy9054 Před rokem +14

      You mean the history Channel actually plays historical stuff?
      Pretty sure it's all reality TV now.

  • @bl7240
    @bl7240 Před 9 měsíci +15

    Why do I love this CZcamsr so much?! I can't believe how much I laugh at his mannerisms and jokes😂! And people say British humor is dry! Guess that got lost in the pond too!

  • @Emelia39
    @Emelia39 Před rokem +135

    I’m both American and Kiwi and while I think it’s good to air dry when you can to save energy, a dryer is sort of my no compromise appliance. NZ homes are already damp and uninsulated enough and I’d get sick from my clothes never being dry no matter how long I hung them up for. Not to mention, what having to dry them inside if you don’t have a yard does to your sinuses. Also there’s nothing nicer than having warm pajamas and sheets that just came out of the dryer and smell nice.

    • @karenvonbargen4472
      @karenvonbargen4472 Před rokem +7

      I air dry primarily but if clothes aren’t 100% dried I’ll toss them in the dryer. The cycle only goes very shortly and therefore costs waaaay less

    • @shrodingerschat2258
      @shrodingerschat2258 Před rokem +4

      We hang our clothes outside on the line during the warm months, but after they are dry we will still toss them in the dryer on low setting for 5 to 10 minutes. Not only does it fluff everything up nicely, but it also gets any bugs out of your clothes that might have landed on them while hanging out.

    • @Emelia39
      @Emelia39 Před rokem

      Yeah, I will put them out on the line for a bit and then dry when I can, I just try not to dry things inside like I’ve seen a lot of people do.

    • @Emelia39
      @Emelia39 Před rokem

      Yeah, I will put them out on the line for a bit and then dry when I can, I just try not to dry things inside like I’ve seen a lot of people do.

    • @radhiadeedou8286
      @radhiadeedou8286 Před rokem

      Why don't you hang them outside?

  • @ludovica8221
    @ludovica8221 Před rokem +788

    My mum got a tumble dryer in 1959 (UK- Electrolux I think). It was passed on to my brother 27 years later when he got married and it has given another 37 years of good service and is still going strong. I wish appliances were that robust today

    • @thecatatemyhomework
      @thecatatemyhomework Před rokem +122

      Today they are made intentionally to break down. It's called planned obsolescence.

    • @unowen9668
      @unowen9668 Před rokem +39

      Wow! I had a Kenmore (Sears) tumble dryer that went from 1985 to 2019 and thought that was good!!

    • @johnhelwig8745
      @johnhelwig8745 Před rokem +16

      My mon kept her old Kenmore running because it had a suds-saver. I wished I kept it instead of selling it with the house. (a suds-saver kept the soapy water for the next load).

    • @seana806
      @seana806 Před rokem +26

      I have a Whirlpool set from the early 60’s (same one from the one in Who’s Minding The Store with Jerry Lewis) and that thing is built like a absolute tank. Did a oil change on the transmission back in 2021 (yes, older top loading washers have a transmission though much simpler that a car transmission) and it has gears made out of cast iron. It amazes me how they used to make stuff back then but sadly people don’t want to spend that money since “it’s too expensive” or is “old technology”.

    • @JT1358
      @JT1358 Před rokem +8

      @@johnhelwig8745 Eww...

  • @markmears5260
    @markmears5260 Před rokem +585

    If you feel it takes a while for the water dispenser to fill you cup, you may need to replace the internal filter. You'll find it will flow much faster with a new filter and then slow as the filter is ready for a change. Since you just moved in, you may not know when the filter was last replaced but the digital display can track the changes for you.

    • @carladelagnomes
      @carladelagnomes Před rokem +40

      I thought the same thing while watching the slow fill.

    • @joshmnky
      @joshmnky Před rokem +13

      Thanks Hank Hill.

    • @lo1bo2
      @lo1bo2 Před rokem +39

      Yes, and read the filter directions to see how much water to run through the new one before drinking. The water may be a bit cloudy at first.

    • @MeppyMan
      @MeppyMan Před rokem +4

      Why does it need a filter?

    • @TheBlestmomof2
      @TheBlestmomof2 Před rokem +17

      You can actually remove the filter and the water will still run just fine.

  • @laner.845
    @laner.845 Před 4 měsíci +5

    Had to say I appreciate the oven joke, and the multiple sly callbacks. Very well written!

  • @rodneyking4183
    @rodneyking4183 Před 9 měsíci +6

    I don't think anyone would have noticed the dehumidifier being an air purifier. I couldn't tell. I love that you told us what happened but left it. I can't stop laughing. Putting "Definitely a humidifier" over it is the best. Too funny!

  • @fwizzybee42
    @fwizzybee42 Před rokem +119

    The top loading washer is great when you discover you dropped one sock in the way down to the washer and you can still drop it in while the cycle is running.

    • @privatelyprivate3285
      @privatelyprivate3285 Před rokem +6

      OMG YES

    • @ronblack7870
      @ronblack7870 Před rokem +6

      new ones lock the lid when you start the cycle

    • @homeFall1
      @homeFall1 Před rokem +12

      @@ronblack7870 right, but you can pause the cycle at least on the ones I have seen with the lock and then add something and continue the cycle

    • @mikespangler98
      @mikespangler98 Před rokem +7

      "new ones lock the lid when you start the cycle"
      Another "safety feature" to disable to get the machine to work properly. Sigh.

    • @neverstoplearning7214
      @neverstoplearning7214 Před rokem +1

      Don't overload it or you may loose said sock

  • @w49660
    @w49660 Před rokem +172

    We have that washer. To reduce mold, consider pulling the detergent tray out and leaving the top open when a load is finished, so that it can dry out completely.

    • @jesdadotcom
      @jesdadotcom Před rokem +2

      Thank you!

    • @zaddy83
      @zaddy83 Před rokem +5

      Leave the door cracked open as well

    • @christineperez7562
      @christineperez7562 Před rokem +3

      I think his wife knows.

    • @Starry_Night_Sky7455
      @Starry_Night_Sky7455 Před rokem +6

      Aha so that is why I should leave the top open. I used to have a front load. They don't wash as well as a top load and have some annoying issues. So I got a top load. Much easier.

    • @jeannerountree952
      @jeannerountree952 Před rokem +2

      I do that with my front loader. This machine comes with my apartment and unfortunately it has some molding issues where the detergent tray goes in. You have to pull out the tray and then look in to where it goes. That’s where all the mold and mildew will start. So when you come to my apartment, the machine doors open and the tray is out and sitting in the machine.

  • @incredingo
    @incredingo Před rokem +31

    as an australian who lived in wisconsin the strangest thing i found was central heating. i'd never known that before

    • @urheehoo
      @urheehoo Před rokem +10

      to be fair it's wisconsin so goodness knows it's needed lmao

    • @deborahbarry8458
      @deborahbarry8458 Před 11 měsíci +2

      And it wasn’t needed in Australia

    • @PhantomQueenOne
      @PhantomQueenOne Před 9 měsíci +4

      As a former Wisconsinite whose father was a custom home builder. My mother _refused_ to have a wood burning stove/fireplace in the house catering messiness. My father built the last one we lived in with a fireplace over my mother's objection in spite of the storms that would take the power out for over a week in the winter. In the other house I froze my ass off, in the last house at least the living room/kitchen was warm. I've lived in houses with only a wood burning stove for heat, and I hated it. But I would like it as a backup if the power goes out.

    • @charlesbrown4483
      @charlesbrown4483 Před 8 měsíci +1

      Is central cooling common in Australian homes?

    • @teeanahera8949
      @teeanahera8949 Před 5 měsíci +2

      @@charlesbrown4483yes central ducted air conditioning is common but so is central heating despite what is said above. The thing is it depends where you live. In a country about the size of the mainland US there a range of different climates. Go north up the coast and you don’t need any heating. You do need air con. Inland you do need heating as it gets cold at night in Winter. In the south you need both as you go from freezing temps to extreme heat.

  • @ScrapKing73
    @ScrapKing73 Před rokem +21

    Fun fact. Many (most?) North American hotel rooms have coffee makers. A hotel coffee maker can be a great way to make ramen (if you’re in a room without a kitchenette).

    • @benmac940
      @benmac940 Před rokem

      Do people still use that sort of coffee maker over there. Very rarely even see those where I am these days

    • @ScrapKing73
      @ScrapKing73 Před rokem

      @@benmac940 You mean as opposed to Keurig (or similar)? Honestly, I'm not sure! I don't drink coffee myself, and don't have my finger on the pulse of the coffee market! :) But I do still see them in hotel rooms, and in offices (where they want to make big communal pots of coffee).

    • @benmac940
      @benmac940 Před rokem

      @Steven Hurdle I mean like nespresso machines which use a pod, or mini espresso machines that automatically grind the beans

    • @lizsays3324
      @lizsays3324 Před rokem +1

      I always use mine to make tea or hot chocolate.

    • @urheehoo
      @urheehoo Před rokem

      @@benmac940 omg.....not everyone can afford an espresso machine and whole bean coffee to grind in it lksdjf

  • @3rdworldgarage450
    @3rdworldgarage450 Před rokem +454

    You may want to have your dryer's duct work cleaned. That blue staining inside of the drum usually happens when it gets plugged up with lint and can lead to a fire. Normally it would be a pure white color. This also may be why it takes so long to dry. At my house, my loads dry in about 30 minutes. I usually clean my duct work every 1 to 2 years and also disassemble the dryer at that time and clean out any lint that may be stuck inside to reduce the risk of a house fire.

    • @marklar7551
      @marklar7551 Před rokem +92

      Or it's blue from your load of jeans....but for sure clean your duct occasionally

    • @lesliemccormick6527
      @lesliemccormick6527 Před rokem +57

      Yes!! My neighbour neglected her dryer and it burst into flames one night. On the up side, her laundry DID dry very quickly at that point.

    • @fwizzybee42
      @fwizzybee42 Před rokem +23

      Recently our dryer in our apartment started to have a burning smell. Called out maintenance and apparently there was a bird nest in the exterior of the vent and causing backup of lint. Birds relocated and vent cleaned we are back to functioning. Always good to keep any eye on these things!

    • @KevinBenecke
      @KevinBenecke Před rokem +15

      You can get some of the lint out of the hose or pipe in between cleanings by setting the dryer to the air dry setting and turn it on empty. Then gently using a stick, tap on the hose and/or pipe while it is running. This often dislodges a lot of the accumulated lint and then blows it outside. Just make sure to go outside or to wherever the vent is and remove any of the lint that got caught on the louvers or the flap if you have the air vent that blows down.

    • @seanlavoie2
      @seanlavoie2 Před rokem +12

      That’s good advice anyway (especially for an older house), but I’ve never heard blue staining having anything to do with plugged up lint pipes.

  • @joshuapeterson6072
    @joshuapeterson6072 Před rokem +52

    Lawrence, considering many Americans grew up on these labor saving devices, it's refreshing to see you pointing out their specialness.

    • @melanierhianna
      @melanierhianna Před rokem +4

      They aren't that special. I'm actually flabberghasted he's never seen these things.... (I live in the UK)

    • @Thurgosh_OG
      @Thurgosh_OG Před rokem

      @@melanierhianna Me too. My gran had a top loader in her 150 year old house (quite a new build for the UK) 50-60 years ago.

    • @smittysmeee
      @smittysmeee Před 9 měsíci

      @@melanierhianna He didn't say he'd "never seen them" or that no one person ever used them in the UK, he said they're aren't as common in the UK as they are in the US and that he personally did not use them until he moved to the US. Can you read the title of the video?
      He made that point several times in the video. It's as if he knew certain people would be "flabbergasted" by their own imaginations 🙃

  • @josephbloggs6455
    @josephbloggs6455 Před rokem +143

    In regards to dehumidifiers, I had spent most of my life in London wondering why people didn't just open the window to let the moisture out. Swiftly found out once I moved to the Midlands lol.

    • @ComotoseOnAnime
      @ComotoseOnAnime Před rokem

      Speaking as someone from the South, that's a bit like opening the hatch to your submerged submarine to let the water out lmao. Pretty much anything south of the 40th parallel and not in the American dust bowl that is the quad of Nevada, Utah, Arizona and new Mexico, is going to have the swamp ass inducing combination of high heat and high humidity and the further south and east you go the worse it gets. Eventually you're going to hit the swampland that is the majority of the gulf coast and you might as well call that swimming on land, because 100% humidity is common from late spring to late summer and temperatures over 100 F (38C) are also common from July to early September.
      There's a reason we use air conditioners and have pool/slip-n-slide parties, the continental US is where some of the hottest temperatures on earth were recorded and our humidity can be as bad as a rainforest in south America.

    • @lorinichols9996
      @lorinichols9996 Před rokem +30

      In the US, they are a basement thing to prevent mold and mildew.

    • @clarissascidmore210
      @clarissascidmore210 Před 11 měsíci +17

      Its humid outside too? It gets to be like 99% humidity where it feels like the air outside is liquid. We empty our dehumidifier several times a day on the most humid days and it collects literally gallons of water.

    • @DanielCoffey67
      @DanielCoffey67 Před 11 měsíci +14

      And if you try that trick on the west coast of Scotland you'll soon realize it was a (very) bad idea. Scotland's national export after Single Malts are Midges, Midge Repellant, Midge bite cream and Midges.

    • @ComotoseOnAnime
      @ComotoseOnAnime Před 11 měsíci +4

      @@DanielCoffey67 In the South it's Mosquitoes and Ticks, bug repellent and keeping the verge trimmed is paramount in the South.

  • @mutteringcrone1210
    @mutteringcrone1210 Před rokem +64

    An appliance you won't be familiar with in Illinios is the swamp cooler. Commonly used in the very dry West, places like Idaho and New Mexico, the swamp cooler is an Air Conditioner that works by adding humidity to the interior of the house. Inexpensive and massively effective. Too bad it doesn't work in the humid Mid-West.

    • @jeremynv89523
      @jeremynv89523 Před rokem +6

      They also save a ton of money on your electric bill.

    • @johnqpublic5350
      @johnqpublic5350 Před rokem +1

      Why wouldn’t it work in the Midwest?

    • @jeremynv89523
      @jeremynv89523 Před rokem +15

      @johnqpublic5350 thanks for asking.
      Swamp coolers work through evaporation. Picture yourself next to a waterfall. In a dry climate, that cold mist from that waterfall would cool you off because the water droplets evaporate quickly off the skin.
      But the Midwest is humid. It's much more difficult for the water droplets from a waterfall to evaporate because the Midwestern air is already saturated with moisture.

    • @johnqpublic5350
      @johnqpublic5350 Před rokem +4

      @@jeremynv89523 thanks. That makes sense to this Wisconsin resident.

    • @billelkins994
      @billelkins994 Před 9 měsíci +5

      Badly named device. It will not cool a swamp.

  • @shrodingerschat2258
    @shrodingerschat2258 Před rokem +194

    Dehumidifiers are more commonly needed in homes with basements. The cooler damp air in basements is a breeding ground for mold and mildew, so having one is a good idea for health reasons alone. Plus you get fewer spiders as well!
    ....Oh, and now that you have a home with a basement, you might want to have it tested for radon if you haven't already. Radon is actually an odorless gas that occurs naturally in the soil, and if your basement has a lot of cracks in the floor or isn't properly waterproofed, the gas can accumulate under the basement slab and find its way in through those cracks or even the porous concrete walls. Radon has been associated with lung cancer, so it's definitely not something you want in your house.

    • @stephgreen3070
      @stephgreen3070 Před rokem +15

      Yea to the radon testing! It is the second largest cause of lung cancer in the US next to smoking. My husband is a contractor and he just did some continuing education on the matter. He was pretty astounded at how many regulations there are in new construction to prevent radon gas permeating the basement/slab of new homes. Also, the upper Midwest is a hot spot for radon gas, though it is found all over the world.

    • @fionagregory9147
      @fionagregory9147 Před rokem +2

      Mould*

    • @shrodingerschat2258
      @shrodingerschat2258 Před rokem +14

      @@fionagregory9147 I'm American, I spell it mold....
      ....however moulding is the word for fancy wood trim around doors and windows.

    • @Arkansya
      @Arkansya Před rokem

      radon only exists in granitic ground as it's created from uranium which exists only in granitic undegrounds.

    • @mastod0n1
      @mastod0n1 Před rokem +6

      ​@@Arkansya your comment almost comes across as downplaying the risk of radon. Look up a heat map of areas at statistically significant risk of radon exposure and it covers almost half of the contiguous US. Every house I've lived in and the two houses my parents have lived in after I moved out all had radon detectors.

  • @evakatrinaa
    @evakatrinaa Před rokem +255

    After having lived in a lot of places, I realised there's something unique about North American dryers.
    They dry the clothes.
    I mean, when you take them out of the dryer, they're just dry.
    Not "cupboard dry" (which tbf sounds quaint, very Upstairs, Downstairs, like Rose is going to press them for you).
    Dry.
    The towels aren't damp. They're fluffy and dry. You can just fold them and put them away.
    It's magical.

    • @gillianrimmer7733
      @gillianrimmer7733 Před rokem +9

      That's what mine does in England.

    • @Thurgosh_OG
      @Thurgosh_OG Před rokem +11

      @@gillianrimmer7733 And mine does the same in Scotland. Where the tumble dryer is located does not change it's function, to dry clothes.

    • @gillianrimmer7733
      @gillianrimmer7733 Před rokem +10

      @@Thurgosh_OG I know, anyone would think it's normal for clothes to come out damp - which is not the case.
      I would suggest getting a plumber in if your dryer doesn't leave your washing bone dry.

    • @1DwtEaUn
      @1DwtEaUn Před rokem +9

      @@gillianrimmer7733 I think some of the ventless / efficiency type dryers default to a less dry setting to save energy. There is typically a way to save a preference so it goes to the dry or more dry by default instead of having to select that each load.

    • @jessesleight9631
      @jessesleight9631 Před rokem +17

      @@gillianrimmer7733 Plumbers dont...fix dryers that I'm aware of. Its not a water and pipe thing.
      Unless I'm completely wrong, them fixing a dryer makes little sense.

  • @ioan1934
    @ioan1934 Před rokem +3

    HI LAWRENCE
    DEBRA HERE FROM SOUTH WALES
    I drink a lot of coffee from various machines, including the new pod machines, and I don't know many people who drink tea.
    We had a fridge that dispensed ice cold water around 30 odd years ago here in the UK. It had a large water cannister in the fridge door.
    My mother had a top loading washing machine when she first got married in the 1960s not new to me
    You can get large load tumble driers in the UK we are not that behind the times.
    You have lived outside of the UK for so long now you have forgotten what it is like over here.

  • @OldManMontgomery
    @OldManMontgomery Před 8 měsíci +4

    Laurence, I salute your ability to move with the moment; "...and cat..." is marvelous.

  • @Junzar56
    @Junzar56 Před rokem +54

    We had to use a dehumidifier in Minnesota during the summer, and a humidifier during the winter.

    • @ultraderek
      @ultraderek Před rokem +4

      I hope you save all that dehumidifier water for that humidifier, playa!

    • @BeautifulAngelBlossom
      @BeautifulAngelBlossom Před rokem +4

      dehumidfier are good for basments too

    • @agkittyhook2257
      @agkittyhook2257 Před rokem +4

      Minnesotan here too ... I use both as well. The humidifier in winter is especially important in Minnesota., IMO.

    • @Merle1987
      @Merle1987 Před rokem +1

      @@ultraderek best comment, reminds me of the Dad from Friday.

    • @margareteraab3899
      @margareteraab3899 Před rokem +5

      Same here in Michigan. Couldn't live without er either one.

  • @glazdarklee1683
    @glazdarklee1683 Před rokem +150

    I only encountered a dehumidifier when I moved from the Pacific Northwest to Virginia. It made summers more bearable. Ironically, this is also when I first encountered a humidifier, which made winters more bearable. Now that you are a homeowner, there's a chance that the basement will serve as both.

    • @dw3403
      @dw3403 Před rokem +6

      I still live in the PNW and owned a brick house that was built in 41 with a half basement. I had to put a dehumidifier in the basement because at times I could smell the musty basement when i would get home. Otherwise the rest of the house was fine. It took care of the odor. Otherwise I had never needed one before.

    • @brolinofvandar
      @brolinofvandar Před rokem +5

      While I was in the Navy, my ship (USS Forrestal CV-59) went into the yards at Philly in 83. Expecting my family, I got assigned family housing, and surprisingly got one of the best places I ever lived. Four bedroom townhouse, central air, my own driveway and carport, etc. And, something I'd never seen before and haven't seen since. A whole house dehumidifier, just as built in as the central AC.
      However, I never did get to see how it works. Unfortunately, this was also when my marriage broke up. So I had the place for a few weeks, then had to give it up because my family didn't join me. Still, it remains the only place I've ever seen such a thing as a whole house dehumidifier.
      Around 8-10 years, I went the opposite direction at work. I was operating a calibration lab, which had to maintain temp and humidity within certain specs. We were located in, basically, office space, and it had never been designed for such controls. We managed the temperature for the most part, by closing off the windows and adding more AC supplies. But, low humidity was an issue in the winter. Got through one period with a fan blowing across a tray of water, just trying to get the humidity up a couple of points. Eventually persuaded management to buy an actual humidifier, which did the job.
      Ironically, you said the unit you displayed for the dehumidifier segment was actually an air purifier, and we just got one today that my girlfriend ordered and I just initially setup this evening. Ours is smaller than your unit, though, and it's got a black case instead of white. It also has something it calls a "mood light" and a place to put scented oils or something like that. Never used one before.

    • @steveurbach3093
      @steveurbach3093 Před rokem +1

      @@brolinofvandar Another Forrestal crewman (72-73) here. dehumidifiers are used when you don't want to cool at the same time. Basically the are an A/C, but the heat is just dumped back in the same room. My first WESPAC cruise, the yards put in a bigger A/C in the radar room. The watch bailed a pail of water every hour because the drain was wrong.

    • @privateinfo1711
      @privateinfo1711 Před rokem +2

      I live in east Tennessee. A dehumidifier lowers my electric bill and makes the house more comfortable in the summers.

    • @qdllc
      @qdllc Před rokem

      They are also easier to NOT have if you don't have carpeting in the home. Carpets are moisture sinks, and if you don't run the AC or heat all the time, moisture builds up.

  • @Sally4th_
    @Sally4th_ Před rokem +3

    Lawrence you need to come back for a visit - dehumidifiers are becoming a lot more common. Not so much for hot weather but they're a god-send for keeping on top of condensation when it's cold and you don't want to open windows.

  • @mrst7831
    @mrst7831 Před rokem +13

    I remember visiting England for the first time and was not prepared for the culture shock!! I stayed with friends in Leeds and was amazed at the names of things and their tiny appliances. They laughed when I asked where their basement was, and they said they didn't have one. So, where do you keep your furnace and laundry facilities? The doors lock from the inside with a key and you're trapped if they go out to work!!

    • @deborahbarry8458
      @deborahbarry8458 Před 11 měsíci +3

      Gasp, what a fire hazard!

    • @clarissascidmore210
      @clarissascidmore210 Před 11 měsíci +3

      ​@deborahbarry8458 seriously! I can't remember which fire it was (the Great Chicago fire, maybe) but I believe in the US, there were laws about this passed when people burned alive because they couldn't get out of factories fast enough or were locked in.

    • @AgnesC1111
      @AgnesC1111 Před 9 měsíci +2

      Shirtwaist factory fire they locked the workers in.

    • @stevepreskitt283
      @stevepreskitt283 Před 8 měsíci +3

      Lack of basements isn't just a UK thing - down here in Florida it's extremely rare to see homes with basements because the water table is so high. If you had a basement here, you'd constantly have the pump running because you'd be in ankle-deep water all the time.

    • @Hannah_Becton
      @Hannah_Becton Před 7 měsíci +1

      +1 for the Alabama Gulf Coast for lack of basements. We’re well above sea level where I’m at, but between hurricanes and how much rain we get in a normal year, the flooding would be unreal. We just have dedicated laundry rooms. In every house I’ve lived in, they’ve been right off the kitchen and usually close to a back door.

  • @lilitharam44
    @lilitharam44 Před rokem +16

    So who's the handsome fella coming down the stairs in the first few seconds and do you have more than one? Our kitties would LOVE to have stairs to run up and down all day and night! Congrats on your new home, it's lovely. I know it's extremely belated, but Welcome to the U.S.! We're happy you're here! Love from Memphis!

  • @MarshallLoveday
    @MarshallLoveday Před rokem +159

    Laurence, don't forget to change out the filter on the fridge water dispenser every couple of years. They usually keep the common sizes in stock at your local big-box home improvement store. It's also something that you can probably do yourself with a few simple tools. There should also be a shut-off valve for the water line behind the fridge as well.

    • @NotKev2017
      @NotKev2017 Před rokem +26

      My refrigerator tells me when it needs changed. And it's more that every couple of years. More like twice a year.

    • @evalynnchristiansen9430
      @evalynnchristiansen9430 Před rokem +17

      I'm an old woman and change my water and air filters in the fridge twice a year. Mine don't require tools -- they're inside the fridge and just need a shove in.

    • @abcd1239me
      @abcd1239me Před rokem +4

      the fridge will tell you ever six months to change it. We have the same fridge but in slate color. We just changed the filter in it today, however with alot of models the water and ice will stop working if you do not change it every six months, GE keeps working.

    • @nans969
      @nans969 Před rokem +5

      2xs a year more likely. But, I can taste it when it needs changing.

    • @FR-tb7xh
      @FR-tb7xh Před rokem +8

      NEVER use an in-door water or ice dispenser, period! Time and again, people mistakenly think what comes out of the fridge must be better or safer, when the opposite is true. The entire piping system gets fouled with bacteria in a matter of weeks and contaminates everything downstream in the fridge hoses. It’s worse than a fish tank! You just don’t see it, because it’s behind all the ‘user serviceable’ parts. Instead, always opt for the municipally tested and treated water that comes from your tap. If you’re concerned, at most put a filter on the faucet.

  • @DougPowell01
    @DougPowell01 Před rokem +5

    With your laundry in the basement, you have an opportunity. A laundry chute!
    I love laundry chutes, my favorite was at my aunt's house. One of the bottom drawers in the kitchen had a false bottom that would hinge down when the drawer was closed. When the drawer is open, the bottom panel is closed. Put you dirty laundry in the drawer, close it, and your laundry falls into the basement, into a laundry basket, strategically positioned below. 🙂

    • @ScubaFanatic60
      @ScubaFanatic60 Před 8 měsíci

      We had one in my childhood home. Amazing the things we sent down that chute, just to see if it would fit! Aw, good times😂

  • @user-rx3us4md8o
    @user-rx3us4md8o Před 11 dny

    One appliance that is more common in Europe that I've picked up and use pretty much everyday is the electric tea kettle. So much nicer than boiling water on the stove or sticking my mug in the microwave. I do actually own a coffee maker for guests but it usually only gets used a few times a year. I am a tea drinker myself.

  • @bradleyjeansonne8768
    @bradleyjeansonne8768 Před rokem +135

    As an American who loves living in Paris, the tumble dryer is one of the few things that I actually miss. I've lived in rental apartments in Paris for 5 years, and a washing machine is standard, but a dryer is not. Hanging my clothes to dry on a rack, or bringing them to a local launderette in a pinch, is something I've gotten used to. But the convenience of a 30-minute dryer cycle (or a combination machine) is something I will immediately add when I stop renting and buy my own house and appliances.

    • @evercuriousmichelle
      @evercuriousmichelle Před rokem +12

      Yes. Stiff, rigid towels are the worst! I don't mind air drying most of my clothes but the towels was hard to adjust to when I was abroad. That said, it was made up for by the heated towel racks which I think are amazing inventions!

    • @privatelyprivate3285
      @privatelyprivate3285 Před rokem +8

      As someone who hates shrunken clothes and hang-drys plenty by choice, I STILL agree with you - especially for sheets, towels, socks, and, especially, pet hair removal. No dryer is especially rough with kids!

    • @lelandunruh7896
      @lelandunruh7896 Před rokem +8

      I've spent a fair amount of time in Europe (and married a Swiss woman three years ago so will spend more) and a dryer is always near the top of my list of things I miss. And even when people have a dryer (as my mother-in-law does) they still usually hang their clothes or have a condenser dryer which will get your clothes dry sometime next week! If we ever move to Europe we'll spend the extra cash.

    • @enlilw-l2
      @enlilw-l2 Před rokem +2

      Why don't you just buy one instead of moving somewhere else ?
      When you rent an apartment in France, you have to bring your own unless it is furnished.

    • @bradleyjeansonne8768
      @bradleyjeansonne8768 Před rokem +13

      @@privatelyprivate3285 Also when I had a cat, she became obsessed with the dryer-fresh laundry. To the point where the dryer cycle chime had her meowing at me to empty the warm clothes on the couch so she could jump into the pile. By the time I was folding the last few socks, the cat was guarding it like a dragon's hoard.

  • @mwhe3111
    @mwhe3111 Před rokem +34

    Laurence, I am so happy about your new citizenship and your new home. I love hearing about you and wife. 🎉

  • @LudvigIndestrucable
    @LudvigIndestrucable Před rokem +5

    My parents still have a dehumidifier from the 70s, so they have a long history in the UK, air purifiers though, only became popular post pandemic

  • @Pip8448
    @Pip8448 Před rokem +3

    As someone who lives in the northwest of the USA:
    We use dehumidifiers in the Fall before it gets too cold to pull the water out of basements, garages, and other places that can get condensation because the the temperature difference between a warm home and the cold weather outside.
    It's important that it gets done before it becomes cold, otherwise the condensation becomes invisible ice on your walls or possessions causing unknown damage or a damp moldy doom when it gets warm enough again.

  • @Balthorium
    @Balthorium Před rokem +7

    My English friend came over and she was amazed at the garbage disposal.

    • @funnypranker34
      @funnypranker34 Před rokem

      Don’t forget the staple of American homes, a food disposer under the kitchen sink where you can scrape food into the sink flip a switch and away it goes. It’s really hard on pipes because you can clog pipes that way but it works good

    • @bordersw1239
      @bordersw1239 Před rokem

      Most houses in the U.K have the food waste collected by the council weekly - gets turned in to fertiliser or used to create electricity via bio methane.

    • @alansmithee8831
      @alansmithee8831 Před rokem

      @@bordersw1239 I supplied a work colleague with excess pears in autumn for their pigs, before slaughter, as it gives a taste to the meat. They pointed out it was OK as they were not from the human food chain, but they could not have food waste, like in WW2, as animals for meat and human food must be separated here in UK.
      In Spain, at a town festival, where my girlfriend's parents lived, they used the almond roots to make a flavourful smoky charcoal taste go into the hog barbecue, which seemed a very good way of recycling.
      As for food waste, whatever happened to the good old fashioned compost heap? On second thoughts, my friends in Texas would not keep any left over anything, as the heat made it a health hazard.

  • @dlm4708
    @dlm4708 Před rokem +21

    As a former housecleaner, go through the whole fridge water dispenser assembly with a q-tip or longer cotton swab. You'll be amazed (and disgusted) that it slimes quickly. Slime molds are common in Florida and other places, but they especially occur wherever there is condensation. Restaurants here get bad marks on health inspections if we don't dump all the ice in certain bins (like at a bar) and clean the ice maker frequently. Homes also get slime molds but few ever think to inspect their fridge water dispenser. Clean it with a bit of diluted bleach and rinse well. Depending on model, I used a spritzer bottle to get more in the assembly.

  • @scottbaase4042
    @scottbaase4042 Před rokem +1

    Your kitchen appliances being baby blue and matching is just the best.

  • @flibber123
    @flibber123 Před rokem

    That was the smoothest integrated ad I've ever seen on CZcams. It was almost over before I caught on it was an ad.

  • @bhhenry
    @bhhenry Před rokem +43

    Try changing the water filter in the refrigerator, to make it flow quicker.

    • @jayburris6252
      @jayburris6252 Před rokem +5

      Or the faucet to fridge could not be turned on all the way.

    • @Alberto-wu1mj
      @Alberto-wu1mj Před rokem

      Changing the filter makes a big difference.

    • @causticchameleon7861
      @causticchameleon7861 Před rokem

      Just make sure, once you change the filter, to stand back a bit with the first cup. The water will shoot out a lot faster than you expect and you should toss that first cup after a filter change.

  • @eronnorris6683
    @eronnorris6683 Před rokem +92

    You may be able to turn the pressure up on the water supply line going to the refrigerator. And make sure to change the filter regularly

    • @tonyatippetts2316
      @tonyatippetts2316 Před rokem +10

      It might be a low pressure line, and the filters get plugged.

    • @LeCharles007
      @LeCharles007 Před rokem

      That sounds like a great way to flood your house.

    • @eronnorris6683
      @eronnorris6683 Před rokem

      @@LeCharles007 depends on where it's set. Considering how slow it is, it may barely be turned on. The maximum pressure allowed is important, and you don't need to have it that high, but it shouldn't take that long to fill a glass.

    • @truracer20
      @truracer20 Před rokem

      @@eronnorris6683 I would love to know how a homeowner can raise their water pressure? The ice maker supply line is intended for full line pressure, there is no regulator just a valve that is intended to be fully open or fully closed. The line is only 5/32 inch ID so that limits flow significantly vs the 3/8 inch ID lines connecting most faucets. Filter clogging or just new super compact, super purifying cartridges will reduce flow. On super cheap installations the use a valve that pierces a copper supply pipe, the pierced hole is never as big around as the ID of the supply tubing going to the ice maker. The smallest orifice is what determines flow. Often the installer won't tighten the piercing screw far enough and only pokes a tiny hole.

    • @eronnorris6683
      @eronnorris6683 Před rokem

      @@truracer20 the valve might not be fully open.

  • @atheinasophiajade1044
    @atheinasophiajade1044 Před 8 měsíci

    Seeing you timidly interact with what is obviously you're Wise Equipment is just so cute.😅

  • @andrewchristiansen8311

    "Definitely a dehumidifier" gave a belly laugh.
    Recently injured from work. I needed that today. Thanks

  • @kevincrosby1760
    @kevincrosby1760 Před rokem +8

    Lawrence:
    If you really want your mind blown, go check out some of those bus-sized Motor Homes. They also have dishwashers, washer/dryers, ice/water dispensers, central heating/air, etc. All the comforts of home, while sitting in a parking lot in the middle of nowhere or driving 70 MPH down the freeway.

    • @Thrillhou
      @Thrillhou Před rokem

      Other way of looking at it:
      "It requires an entire bus to contain the appliances that are considered normal for a reasonable quality of life."
      That's wild to think about.

    • @kevincrosby1760
      @kevincrosby1760 Před rokem +2

      @@Thrillhou The wife and I were actually looking into pricing on some of those as part of our possible retirement plans.
      Upon further review, it appears that for what one of those rolling palaces would cost, I could purchase a new 1-ton truck, a nice 5th-wheel trailer, and have about $150k left over to spend at the laundromat...
      On a positive note, the wife is currently employed as a transit bus driver, and I'm an ex-truck driver. Either way, at least we wouldn't be "one of those people" who drives 40 MPH on the freeway and panics at the thought of having to back up the rig.

  • @jansmith3613
    @jansmith3613 Před rokem +12

    As an American of a certain age, as a child our washing machine was a top loader in the kitchen. This was back in the 1960's. It was rare to have front loading washers; something only the wealthy or commercial laundries had. Drying was done on a clothesline. At that time, in the culture of the area I lived in, having a tumble dryer was seen as being a bit lazy. Newer homes usually had smaller kitchens and so the laundry moved to the basements, cellars, and sometimes the back porches. The wealthier homes started incorporating true laundry rooms that were usually adjacent to the kitchen.

    • @renastone9355
      @renastone9355 Před 4 měsíci +1

      Yes, I grew up in the San Fernando Valley (it's part of the city of Los Angeles) and we had a suburban house, built in '54 that had a separate laundry room with a deep sink, room for a big washer (top loading) and dryer, and a big broom closet. As an adult, I've usually bought older houses - Craftsman, and even older, and have never had a set up as convenient as the one my mother did. (I now have a house built in '51 that started out with a washer/dryer in the garage, but before we moved in a den was added on which has both a bathroom and a small laundry room attached - the only appliances that fit in the laundry room are not only top loading, but stacked....) :(

  • @matthew1194668
    @matthew1194668 Před rokem

    That was really adorable watching him try to close that dryer

  • @Trauma284
    @Trauma284 Před rokem

    That integration piece was absolutely seamless. I didn't even realize I was watching a sponsorship.

  • @lorelei9393
    @lorelei9393 Před rokem +54

    My parents' house was built in 1956 with washer in the kitchen. Some of the neighbors have moved theirs but ours is still there. Also, Mom always told me to leave it open for a couple of hours after using to let it dry before closing the lid. I just leave mine open. No pets or small children. But I did always check the dryer for the cats when I had those

    • @privatelyprivate3285
      @privatelyprivate3285 Před rokem +2

      Ours were originally there too and were subsequently moved to the garage. NOT recommended and really wish they’d chosen the now too-trouble$some-to-upgrade finished basement instead 🙁

    • @christineperez7562
      @christineperez7562 Před rokem +2

      I can imagine a cat would love a front loader to sit in.

    • @diannt9583
      @diannt9583 Před rokem +2

      Yes, I almost dried a cat in a front loader. When I was adding clothing he climbed in. Fortunately I decided to wash a second load and then planned to add the wet stuff from that load to the dryer before running it. He walked out. ACKKKK!

    • @8BitNaptime
      @8BitNaptime Před rokem

      Yes! I grew up in a late '40s house and indeed the washer/dryer and laundry sink are still to this day in a room directly attached to the kitchen. The laundry next to kitchen thing is more of an apartment/small condo thing these days.

    • @privatelyprivate3285
      @privatelyprivate3285 Před rokem +1

      @@diannt9583 omg!

  • @angowT
    @angowT Před rokem +19

    Dehumidifier sales are up in the UK right now because heating the house to keep the damp at bay is more than a dehumidifier. Great for drying washing.

  • @JKNat9004
    @JKNat9004 Před 3 měsíci +1

    Instant coffee is fine if you're camping or to keep at a friend's house if the friend isn't a coffee drinker.

  • @alexmerrin9634
    @alexmerrin9634 Před 8 měsíci

    Greatest comedy gifts from Britain: Monty Python, Douglas Adams, Young Ones, and now this guy.

  • @BrandEver117
    @BrandEver117 Před rokem +73

    Another thing about dryers is apparently in the UK they mostly use ventless (or condensing) dryers, which work by basically having a built-in dehumidifier that either collects the water in a tray or goes to a drain, whereas here we almost exclusively use vented dryers which just blast heat into the clothes and vent the moisture outside.

    • @Thurgosh_OG
      @Thurgosh_OG Před rokem +3

      No we mainly use the dryers with the rear hose that either goes onto a hole in the wall or out a nearby window. Condensers are more common in flats, I'm told.

    • @thysonsacclaim
      @thysonsacclaim Před rokem +1

      @@Thurgosh_OG I think "mainly" is probably the wrong word, but yes condenser units do not really exist in the US. I've never seen one in 40 years.
      They are available though, mainly through Amazon and I expect they might get more common as globalization increases and more people opt to live in smaller homes.

    • @EXROBOWIDOW
      @EXROBOWIDOW Před rokem +1

      There's also the question of how the dryer deals with the lint. With a vented dryer, some of the lint accumulates outside. I think ventless dryers are getting more common in the U.S.

    • @michaelplunkett8059
      @michaelplunkett8059 Před rokem +2

      @@EXROBOWIDOW Only for those who want a really slow drying cycle.

    • @fwizzybee42
      @fwizzybee42 Před rokem +5

      I’ve had a ventless in a US apartment and indeed it was slow AF. I think they are attractive to older apartment buildings that want to add an in-unit but don’t have vents, or just in giving flexibility that the dryer doesn’t have to be near an exterior wall.

  • @The_Lone_Aesir
    @The_Lone_Aesir Před rokem +28

    Coming soon a video about how hardware stores are different in America vs Britain, and other locations you only get interested in once you buy a house.

    • @Jessica_P_Fields
      @Jessica_P_Fields Před rokem +1

      So true!!! I spent more time at Lowe's during my first week of home ownership than I had in the previous 5 years prior.

    • @mariashaffer-gordon3561
      @mariashaffer-gordon3561 Před rokem +1

      @@Jessica_P_Fields Oh yes! When my husband and I moved into our second home, we discovered that we still needed things from a hardware store that we didn't already have, so we still spent more time in a hardware store. Things have slowed down with home #3, but we live a little more than a mile from a Home Depot just in case.

    • @Jessica_P_Fields
      @Jessica_P_Fields Před rokem +2

      @@mariashaffer-gordon3561 I'm lucky that Lowe's is less than 2 miles away, and Home Depot is less than 5 miles away. It makes my life so much easier! Between the two, I can just about get anything done in the house quickly and easily. People underestimate the value of having a hardware store really close by.

  • @Birdbike719
    @Birdbike719 Před rokem +73

    I just love your home. Older homes have so much more appeal and charm that the modern day ones. Back when artistry and creativity were still driving forces in architecture.

    • @kagome122885
      @kagome122885 Před rokem +6

      Older houses are built better than modern ones

    • @williamk4356
      @williamk4356 Před rokem

      Ok boomer

    • @kaneo1
      @kaneo1 Před rokem +6

      Not necessarily. I've a 50s tract house. It was built fast, with quality secondary. Nothing has actually broken yet, but the _really should fix_ list is making me nervous.

    • @elirien4264
      @elirien4264 Před rokem +1

      Current design, including homes, is so boring...it's all purely functional. I hate it.

    • @radhiadeedou8286
      @radhiadeedou8286 Před rokem +1

      @@kaneo1 it's kinda funny what qualifies as an old house for Americans

  • @annemariefleming
    @annemariefleming Před rokem +1

    I live in Hastings, UK, and I have had a dehumidifier for years,. likewise a coffee-maker. Having a loathing for cold water and ice I just use a basic fridge-freezer...a small one to match my appetite. Being a "senior" and basically lazy, I send out my laundry, lol! And I pay CZcams to not play endless ads on my channel I tend not to watch channels that force them on me...which are usually channels based outside UK.

  • @barbaracarol485
    @barbaracarol485 Před rokem +6

    Laurance I think you need to remove that cabinet next to the refrigerator, so you can center it. It'll make a great video watching you do do it.

  • @Melissa0774
    @Melissa0774 Před rokem +34

    The way they have the laundry machines in the kitchen in the U.K is interesting to me because I grew up in the U.S, but I had something weirdly similar. The apartment where I grew up had a TINY kitchen with absolutely NO countertops or extra space for something like a table, at all. So we had to use our washer and dryer as counters and that was the only food prep space there was at all. My parents got two square shaped pieces of wood and covered them with vinyl peel and stick floor tiles, to use as covers for the laundry machines to help keep them clean and make a better work surface. The washer was a top loader, though, so we had to move the cover out of the way to use it. Most of the time we ended up leaving the wood cover off of the washer and just working directly on top of it. But the one on top of the dryer stayed there all the time and made it function much more like a countertop. I was always having to clean food and crud out of the washing machine lid before using it. Looking back now, it amazes me that I actually did as much cooking as I did in that kitchen and that the landlord was allowed to rent an apartment like that in the 90's and 2000's. Now I live in a huge house with more than enough counter space, because I have not one, but TWO full kitchens. It's my grandmother's old house and my dad built a second kitchen in the basement with appliances and cabinets he got discounted when he worked at Lowes Home Improvement Center. So I went straight from one extreme to the other. I can't imagine I was ever ok with chopping vegetables or rolling out cookie dough on top of a washing machine now, (especially a running washing machine, which I often did.)

  • @PJay-wy5fx
    @PJay-wy5fx Před 8 měsíci

    I love how this video is also a breakdown of the differences between Britain and the European continent.
    My take on the dehumidifiers is that Americans tend to build their houses of what is little more than a lattice framework covered by cardboard and plaster.
    All these materials absorb moisture.
    A brick house, provided it's built properly of course, is much less vulnerable to these environmental factors and won't require any of these air conditioning (in the broadest sense of the word) support appliances until more extreme conditions occur that calls for such an intervention.

  • @76tennboy
    @76tennboy Před rokem

    Well, done! I was over halfway through the ad without realizing it was an ad and by that point, I was committed 😂

  • @marxmaiale9981
    @marxmaiale9981 Před rokem +19

    If you have an area that gets a musty smell, use a dehumidifier in that area. This is most common in the basement, concrete is semi-permable and will release water vapor from the ground.

  • @hanaj
    @hanaj Před rokem +27

    I don’t know why the UK doesn’t use dehumidifiers in their bathrooms. A lot of my UK friends talk about damp and mold in the bathrooms because there is no fan. I think it would help a lot

    • @alansmithee8831
      @alansmithee8831 Před rokem +2

      Hana J. There is one on the landing, near me now, for that reason, but the UK does not have electric sockets in bathrooms, which I assume puts people off.

    • @dawnmichelle4403
      @dawnmichelle4403 Před rokem +9

      @@alansmithee8831 how do people dry and style their hair with no electric outlets in the bathroom?

    • @privatelyprivate3285
      @privatelyprivate3285 Před rokem +2

      Is that right? So not even a basic fan? Between the shower and toilet, fans should be standard, man!

    • @alansmithee8831
      @alansmithee8831 Před rokem +5

      @@dawnmichelle4403 You move to the bedroom, where it is not all steamy and probably more comfortable and warmer.

    • @alansmithee8831
      @alansmithee8831 Před rokem +2

      @@privatelyprivate3285 You can have hard wired fans, with separate fused switch, but more common to open the window.

  • @HogwartsGoth
    @HogwartsGoth Před rokem

    The UK here, until 15 years ago when I moved into my new flat I had a top-loader.
    Back in the 80s I even remember my nan having a top-loader.

  • @missharry5727
    @missharry5727 Před rokem +13

    When I was at university and also in our first house all washing machines were top-loaders and the best ones were twin-tubs, so you could be washing a second load of stuff while spinning the first. The main problem with a top-loading spin drier was that it tended to gallop across the floor. Combined washer-driers are popular in tiny English kitchens like mine, though do not underestimate sun and wind power of the dear old washing line on a fine breezy day at no extra cost!

    • @Ammut6
      @Ammut6 Před rokem +1

      Love a good line dry line of clothes! Brings back childhood memories.

  • @johnhelwig8745
    @johnhelwig8745 Před rokem +53

    Fun stuff exploring your new surroundings. Dehumidifiers are more common in the U.S. because more homes have basements, and basements tend to get damp and musty during the hot summer months. They usually are found in a below ground area of a house. Laurence, for the house of your size, a 40-50 pint dehumidifier size would work best for your basement. On the flip side, Laurence, I bet you have a humidifier attached to your forced air furnace. The humidifier adds moisture to the air when the furnace is running, helping to relieve the dry air during the winter months. In the UK, many homes have boilers and their radiators tend to moisten the air.

    • @privatelyprivate3285
      @privatelyprivate3285 Před rokem +7

      This ^, plus the USA contains MANY different (and extreme) climates, some that get so disgustingly humid that it damages crucial home components. I live in one that gets the lovely combo of VERY hot/humid summers + unpredictable extreme cold snapped winters; we have both appliances

    • @nicholasharvey1232
      @nicholasharvey1232 Před rokem +3

      Basements are not common in my part of the country. Heck, I can't remember ever visiting a home that had one. They might be more common in Tornado Alley though, where they can serve as shelters.

    • @lorimiller623
      @lorimiller623 Před rokem +11

      @@nicholasharvey1232 They're not common on high water tables or close to fault lines. Here in the Midwest, they're not only a tornado shelter but a cool space in the summer, a laundry room, and a place for storage.

    • @evelgreytarot8401
      @evelgreytarot8401 Před rokem +3

      @@lorimiller623 where I'm from the water table is at 6 inches. You wouldn't have a basement, you'd have an indoor pool

    • @nicholasharvey1232
      @nicholasharvey1232 Před rokem

      @@lorimiller623 Yeah I didn't think about this, I do live near a coastline so the water table is probably too close to ground level for a basement to be viable. You probably won't find a single home with a basement in, say, New Orleans (which is not far from where I live, I must add)

  • @ginger1549
    @ginger1549 Před rokem +83

    I lived in London in a very old stone house (it had holes in the stone where it had been straiffed in WW2) and I was very very very glad to come home to the USA and living back in the 20th century. I am above all an American - and I like my large house with it's large convenient appliances, thank you. Here in the USA we have large garden tubs(why is it called a garden tub when it is in the bathroom?) large walk in closets, king size beds, king size pantries to hold our king size bags of food.

    • @anthonyg4671
      @anthonyg4671 Před rokem +18

      i would rather stay in the uk in the 21st century lol.

    • @WyattRyeSway
      @WyattRyeSway Před rokem +7

      I never heard it called a garden tub. 🤔. Maybe I haven’t been around enough or something. 🤷🏻‍♂️

    • @ae2948
      @ae2948 Před rokem +11

      This American wants to know - Whats a garden tub ?

    • @dawnmichelle4403
      @dawnmichelle4403 Před rokem +8

      Garden tub? Is that a Rubbermaid container to store your gardening tools?
      American, BTW.

    • @alexs5744
      @alexs5744 Před rokem +8

      Uhh what’s a garden tub? I’m American and I don’t know what’s a garden tub.

  • @mirandawarner6866
    @mirandawarner6866 Před rokem

    If you get tired of making coffee in your coffee unit, you can make a lovely pot of tea. Instead of ground coffee, put 4 family sized tea bags in the basket and brew as usual for a 12 cup pot of hot beverage.

  • @DieselHaven
    @DieselHaven Před 8 měsíci

    That was the most seamless ad I've ever seen

  • @MsFitz134
    @MsFitz134 Před rokem +14

    Living in the deserts of the west I didn't know a dehumidifier was a thing until I was an adult. On the contrary we had a humidifier pumping steam into the room, especially during the winter.
    Having the laundry in or near the kitchen makes sense in the context of an older home, from back in the day where the laundry was done in a big washtub in the kitchen. But given the constant state of chaos of my laundry room, I don't think I could make the adjustment to having it in the kitchen. Combining the two most procrastinated and most perpetual household chores into one small space would be the death of me.

    • @timmmahhhh
      @timmmahhhh Před rokem

      Midwesterner here, I fell out of my chair when I saw the misting pipes at outdoor seating areas in Arizona. But as dry as it is there I guess it makes sense.

    • @luisvelasco316
      @luisvelasco316 Před rokem

      I had a friend, in my youth in the Chicago suburbs, whose kitchen held both a dishwasher and washing machine which were each on wheels and had to be hooked up to the kitchen sink.

    • @mariashaffer-gordon3561
      @mariashaffer-gordon3561 Před rokem

      I love that last sentence! I can really relate to it.

  • @jamiesuejeffery
    @jamiesuejeffery Před rokem +5

    Dehumidifiers: I lived in Ohio for 4 years and we had to have one. But I grew up in the desert mountain west of The United States and am currently living in Reno, Nevada, in the Sierra Nevada Great Basin, which is a desert. I currently have 2 HUMIDIFIERS running in my house to make it moist enough to be livable.

  • @badsawww
    @badsawww Před 9 měsíci +1

    Nothing like being an American kid going to live abroad and you realize things like endless high pressure hot water, washers, and dryers are a serious luxury.

  • @bmw121
    @bmw121 Před rokem

    The mix of British and Midwest twang as you said "Washateria" was perfect.

  • @magsstewart5488
    @magsstewart5488 Před rokem +6

    Lol, mom’s dehumidifier was the size of a 70’s console tv. And she had 2

  • @terpman
    @terpman Před rokem +23

    Just had a fridge delivered a couple hours ago that not only dispenses ice and cool water, but it also dispenses up to 10oz of hot water at a time. You can set the temperature of the water anywhere from 90F to 185F.

    • @catgirl6803
      @catgirl6803 Před rokem +7

      My new fridge has a pitcher inside of it that refills automatically. So I don't have to wait for the slow pouring water. There's also a little infuser basket thingy for lemon or for making iced tea.

    • @terpman
      @terpman Před rokem +6

      @@catgirl6803 The stuff they have nowadays! Crazy, isn't it?

    • @catgirl6803
      @catgirl6803 Před rokem +8

      @@terpman well I am not happy with the lack of advancements with laundry.

    • @Kriss_L
      @Kriss_L Před rokem +4

      My parents had a fridge like that, and it cost thousands of dollars when they had to replace it. About the same time we bought a basic fridge (with a freezer on top) for about $600. I have no problem with water from the tap, and ice trays.

    • @hewhohasnoidentity4377
      @hewhohasnoidentity4377 Před rokem +2

      @@catgirl6803I agree. This is 2023 America!
      We should have one machine that you fill with unsorted laundry and within an hour they are cleaned, dried, sorted and folded. Even the socks should be paired up. There should already be high end devices capable of buttoning, ironing and placing hangers.
      We not only put man on the moon but broadcast it live to the world 50 years ago! How can we not automate such tasks???

  • @stevenbeall9637
    @stevenbeall9637 Před rokem +1

    Many people don't know that there is a EZ fix for the slow water issue with refrigerators. The standard water line kit that people typically use doesn't allow enough water to flow becuase that little tee valve that always comes with the fridge and people also buy is undersized. Companies like Shark Bite make a connection kit that's easy to install and delivers water through the line much faster. I can fill a 16oz glass in less than 10 seconds with my fridge now, when before it was so slow I stopped using it.

  • @shektube
    @shektube Před rokem +1

    Another thing I've noticed is that American homes have electrical outlets or sockets in the bathrooms. We don't have them in the UK, as that's an electrical hazard.

  • @FoodiesLikeUs
    @FoodiesLikeUs Před rokem +32

    Hi Lawrence! During the winter time, the ceiling fans have a switch that reverses the direction of the spinning of the blades. Since cold air sinks and hot air rises, you reverse the direction of the fan, the hot air is pushed down and the cold air flips up. make heating more efficient. I saw a video where you used a remote, it probably has a button where you reverse the direction of the ceiling fan. AND since you have central air, it doesn't have to work as hard to heat or cool in your home. Congratulations! (also, check to see if your power company can rate your monthly payment based on average payment..... much easier on the budget because you know how much you will pay month to month. you build a credit during the winter and use that credit during the summer, but your payments remain the same). :-)

    • @luisvelasco316
      @luisvelasco316 Před rokem +1

      I agree that Laurence should know about the switch on ceiling fans but the switch should be set to blow down in the summer to give a direct cooling draft, and up in the winter to move heated air off the ceiling, down the walls, without a direct draft on the room's occupants. This is especially useful in a room with high or cathedral ceilings. Also, running a ceiling fan (or any fan for that matter) in the summer when there are no occupants in the room does nothing but add a small amount of heat to the room due to the motor running.

    • @sandersson2813
      @sandersson2813 Před rokem

      ha ha ha ha ha. That is NONSENSE. fans simply move the air around.

    • @evelgreytarot8401
      @evelgreytarot8401 Před rokem +1

      @@luisvelasco316 you are correct. I don't think most people flip their switch though. It's such a bother to get up there. If I had a remote I might.

    • @SCGMLB
      @SCGMLB Před rokem

      Many electric utilities will not offer an average payment plan to customers until they have been at that property for at least one year. They need an idea of the customer’s usage during all months to determine how much the bill should be. Once a balanced billing plan is started, they do make corrections periodically based on actual meter readings but many utilities want at least one year of usage to base their first bill upon.

    • @christineperez7562
      @christineperez7562 Před rokem

      He already had a lesson on this in one of his videos.

  • @lindabriggs5118
    @lindabriggs5118 Před rokem +5

    I actually have looked into buying one of those hybrid units. Since I a single woman I don't need a big washer and a dryer in my small home. And in the summer, call me old fashioned, I happen to enjoy hanging linen, towels and clothing on a line outside. They smell terrific here in the Appalachian's mountains after drying outdoors. Mainly, it's because, when I was young, we never had a dryer so all our clothes and such got hung outside to dry. Plus it helps the environment. And nothing beats the smell of clean, sun-dried sheets to sleep on.

    • @enlilw-l2
      @enlilw-l2 Před rokem +1

      I hate dry hanged laundry, everything becomes like cardboard even with softener. My skin goes red instantly with towels like that ! I guess it's a question of habits.

    • @mdx7460
      @mdx7460 Před rokem +2

      We love it when we finally get some sun to hang our clothes out in the uk. It’s not old fashioned, why waste electricity when you have a free dryer outside? Don’t get me wrong, if I’m too busy I will just lash them into the dryer.. but it’s definitely a better option to hang them out. And the smell is so much better!

    • @TickleMeElmo55
      @TickleMeElmo55 Před rokem

      @@mdx7460 >It’s not old fashioned,
      If other things are considered "old fashioned" then so can hang drying.

    • @enlilw-l2
      @enlilw-l2 Před rokem

      @Nicky L I was talking about towels that were hanged outside. I never do this.
      Oh yes I had spiky balls but I don't use them anymore. It makes noises and smells odd.

    • @dbseamz
      @dbseamz Před rokem +1

      @@enlilw-l2 I've had the same problem, but the biggest reason I can't hang out my laundry is my pollen allergies. Anything that's been outside would have to go right back into the washer for me.

  • @billberg1264
    @billberg1264 Před 8 měsíci +1

    Basements are great. Not just for the extra room for laundry stuff. But also as a place to go during tornados.

  • @annehersey9895
    @annehersey9895 Před rokem

    Lawrence, with the ice/water feature on your new beautiful fridge, there is one thing you MUST do! You MUST change the regularly. If you don''t, the water and ice will have a weird taste and smell that I find horrible but it may not others as much as it does me but if you do start noticing the ice and water tasting different, then change the filter.

  • @madz2876
    @madz2876 Před rokem +16

    Dehumidifiers are a must in Hawaii especially if you live on the wet windward side. I lived in Haiku for a while and the mold was insane! Lost all sorts of items to mold and even had it grow in some camera lenses. I now own a humidity controlled locker for my camera gear to protect it.

  • @desertrose0027
    @desertrose0027 Před rokem +35

    The water dispenser can be cool, but we prefer getting a fridge without one. For one thing they tend to malfunction more frequently than other parts of the fridge. For another the dispenser takes up too much room in the freezer. Also I actually prefer the front loaders. I think they are gentler on my clothes and clean them better. But ours are in the basement, not the kitchen.

    • @Augrills
      @Augrills Před rokem +4

      What do you mean they malfunction more than regular fridges? It’s a plastic tube that goes from the water line, through the back of the fridge, to the water dispenser/ice making unit. It’s a very easy circuit to follow and the only malfunction I’ve ever seen with one is the plastic tube busts and it’s 10-20 bucks to replace. A whole ice making unit is like 50 bucks for my fridge and most problems you have out of them can be fixed mechanically without spending a dime. Like just stick your hand inside it and jiggle the parts around and that fixes it 9 times out of 10.

    • @desertrose0027
      @desertrose0027 Před rokem +6

      @@Augrills we have just heard of issues that's all. The bigger problem, IMO, is the amount of space the ice maker takes up.

    • @Augrills
      @Augrills Před rokem +4

      @@desertrose0027 I guess mileage varies for everyone, but I’ve never had an issue with them personally and only had to replace a line for my papaw. Which I just need a new line and two tiny worm gear clamps that came with it. You do lose a shelf or two, but I’d rather have ice. Different strokes

    • @desertrose0027
      @desertrose0027 Před rokem +3

      @@Augrills all the ones we looked at had a huge ice maker taking up a lot of one of the doors. Meanwhile we rarely add ice, so it was an easy choice. But, yup, everyone's needs are different.

    • @freethebirds3578
      @freethebirds3578 Před rokem +1

      I wouldn't get a fridge with a water dispenser because I loathe tap water. Actually, it was wonderful where I grew up because we had a well. But I have never lived anywhere that had drinkable tap water.

  • @keithcarr5665
    @keithcarr5665 Před 9 měsíci

    I remember as a kid we had a washing machine but we had clothes racks clotheslines so you would hang them up either inside or outside depending on the weather in the smell of the sheets was always something to remember

  • @Jeff_Lichtman
    @Jeff_Lichtman Před rokem +8

    I like the color coordination between the coffee maker and the microwave oven (that *is* a microwave, right?).
    It looks like your fridge is still set to 33F. That's too cold. It uses more energy than necessary to keep your food fresh, and you run the risk of freezing any food that's in a cold spot.
    Top loading washers are cheaper to buy than front-loaders, but they use more water and energy. I live in drought-prone California, so I use a front-loader.

  • @suewiseley2724
    @suewiseley2724 Před rokem +5

    I've noticed when looking at house for sale in the UK, they have small, countertop high refrigerators. evidently they enjoy going to the grocery store all the time.

    • @alansmithee8831
      @alansmithee8831 Před rokem

      @Sue Wiseley. See video on CZcams about why Tesco failed in US. Habits are different. It is not unusual to shop for what you need that day to save costs these days in UK. No storage, no waste. Eat the ready prepared meal as is or if a hot meal, put it in the microwave. There is a trial near me for delivery robots for "just in time" internet shopping. No need to spend on fuel to get to the shop. I heard radio broadcasts where they were talking seriously about domestic fridges knowing what they stocked and ordering automatically, but also via the smart meter, being turned off and on at peak times to save the requirement for energy consumption. I hear they are wanting to stop gas cookers in US. Sounds like the same ideas over there?

    • @samanthab1923
      @samanthab1923 Před rokem +1

      I kid my twenty something son that he shops like a European. Drives me crazy having to go to the store more than twice a week.

  • @johnstone9396
    @johnstone9396 Před rokem +1

    I don’t know why but I find this channel absolutely fascinating

    • @JKNat9004
      @JKNat9004 Před 3 měsíci

      For me it's his accent and dry humor combined.

  • @jackieknits61
    @jackieknits61 Před rokem +1

    So American here who grew up with most of these magical appliances. On the fridge with ice and water dispenser, they are very prone to failure ( resulting in puddles allover and repair bills), I am happier without them. I grew up on coffee. I didn't learn to brew a proper cup of tea or coffee until I was an adult. And we still have a coffee maker even though we haven't used it in over a year. Maybe next year. The dehumidifier is a relatively new thing. And very useful here in the Midwest. Top loading laundry machines and clothes dryers have been there all of my life. But I am finding that a clothes line is quite useful and much easier on my clothes. I hate shopping for clothes so I find myself using the clothesline much more often. Keeps the gas bill lower too. I understand that large parts of the industrial world don't find clothes dryers necessary. I find it makes me think of how I choose my appliances. I don't have to have all the mod cons, but rather only the one I want. Like the roomba and a cold room in the basement.

  • @sabalomglitz6478
    @sabalomglitz6478 Před rokem +4

    Don't like humidity, try the Desert Southwest.

  • @telecasterbear
    @telecasterbear Před rokem +7

    Make sure the dryer is vented well to outside the house, and the vent duct is clean.

    • @johnfritz1164
      @johnfritz1164 Před rokem +3

      One of the first things I did after buying my house was having all the air ducts cleaned and then the dryer vent. They pulled more lint out of the dryer vent tubing than they did dust out of all the air ducts. Very scary.

  • @VIDSTORAGE
    @VIDSTORAGE Před rokem +6

    Frontload Washers in the US were popular in the 50s and the 60s but leaking issues were a problem and sales went down but they are selling much better now and the top loaders that were built back then would last with very little trouble for decades ..

  • @daveretash9153
    @daveretash9153 Před 3 měsíci

    I heard encouragement to learn and the peace that can be found outside paying attention to the local birds. Very helpful video; thank you.

  • @tomfrazier1103
    @tomfrazier1103 Před rokem +3

    As a kid I only saw dehumidifiers in sick rooms. On moving to Hawaii I saw them in libraries and in the A/V room where I worked in College. Never got into the coffee habit. Had an ice habit since small kid days. Now a connoisseur of aluminum ice cube trays, that used to come with refrigerators. Never used a front loader. As a kid we had to Jack our 35 y/o model to work. As an impecunious clotheshorse, I got into line dying & ironing myself.

  • @minimusmax
    @minimusmax Před rokem +3

    Loved the subtle "us brits prefer tea and us Americans prefer coffee", you said "us" twice because you're one of us now too :P

  • @vickicarreno8932
    @vickicarreno8932 Před 8 měsíci

    Been Following Your Channel For Awhile, Born In America….. Am Loving Your Outlook On Life Here In America!

  • @carriehesketh3555
    @carriehesketh3555 Před 7 měsíci

    One thing about the ice/water dispenser…it’s filtered water that you get, and the water used to make ice is filtered as well…unlike the tap water.

  • @thepenultimateninja5797
    @thepenultimateninja5797 Před rokem +15

    Top loading washing machines used to be reasonably common in the UK, at least where I lived.
    When we moved house in about 1980, the new house had a conservatory that doubled as a laundry room. There was a top loading washing machine, and also a mangle.
    The conservatory was crap, so we tore it down, and we had to replace the washing machine with a front loader so it could go in the kitchen.
    I remember a lot of my friends had laundry rooms at the side of their house between the kitchen and the back garden, and a lot of them had top loading machines.
    When I moved to the US, I was surprised that they were so common here, because in my mind they were somewhat old fashioned.
    I now see that they are actually better in a number of ways, and that front loaders are really just a compromise to save space
    I think the decline in popularity of top loaders in the UK is just a result of ever shrinking homes, houses being converted into flats etc.

    • @travcollier
      @travcollier Před rokem +4

      I've.had both top and front load machines... I find that the front loading ones tend to be significantly better for less than huge loads. They also tend to be a lot more efficient, but that could be down to not having experience with a fancy new top loader.

    • @janetpendlebury6808
      @janetpendlebury6808 Před rokem +4

      Front loaders are not just a compromise, I still use one even though I now live in Australia, they are way more practicable with the water restrictions we are often experience. And I find as an older person, it is easier to get the laundry out of a front loader. And they do not tie the clothes into knots as some top loaders do.

    • @seana806
      @seana806 Před rokem +2

      Many early automatic washers in the late 1930’s were front loading and a few companies came up with top loading machines but had to stop the development since the US got involved in WWII. A few companies such as Bendix continued the production of the front loading machines such as the ones built before WWII but updated a little, but in a way became quote on quote “obsolete” once GM Frigidaire and Whirlpool came out with their top loading machines since they spun faster (GM Frigidaire made a machine that spun at 1140 rpm in 1947) and rinsed better since many early front loaders struggled with rinsing. Another reason why top loaders gained popularity is they had better ergonomics in terms of how everything was laid out, you didn’t need to stoop down to load and unload the machine along with having to bolt the machine down to a concrete floor since many of those early front loaders didn’t have a suspension system on them hence why they needed to be bolted down to the floor, also spun at a meager 200 to 300 rpm leaving clothes quite wet when they were done.

    • @Phiyedough
      @Phiyedough Před rokem +3

      My first machine in 1981 was a twintub and I would be happy to go back to one now as they were so much quicker. My modern Samsung takes well over 2 hours to do a wash so half the morning has gone before I can hang stuff out.

    • @thepenultimateninja5797
      @thepenultimateninja5797 Před rokem +2

      @@Phiyedough Two hours? That's crazy. My top loader takes about half an hour.

  • @jamiegdubois
    @jamiegdubois Před rokem +6

    As an ex-pat living in the UK (so basically the reverse of you) I just wanted to take a moment to say how much I’ve enjoyed watching your channel. I only discovered you a few days ago when one of your videos popped up in my recommendations but I’ve been slowly binging your content. (I’m now realising how much I miss the water and ice dispenser on the fridge at my parents home back in the US…it was so handy)

    • @Thurgosh_OG
      @Thurgosh_OG Před rokem +1

      You can get those dispenser fridges over here too.

    • @jamiegdubois
      @jamiegdubois Před rokem +1

      @@Thurgosh_OG I know (I have a friend who has one) but you don’t see them as much. Plus, I rent my place so I can’t change out appliances like refrigerators.

    • @garryferrington811
      @garryferrington811 Před rokem

      What did you do with your guns? Did you make some money on them?

  • @robinmattingly3745
    @robinmattingly3745 Před rokem

    We just bought a house that's 98 years old and quite great shape. I love birds and would recommend looking up the scissor tail flycatcher. It's quite a neet bird to watch.

  • @NailHeavenAshford
    @NailHeavenAshford Před rokem +1

    I’m in the U.K. I don’t have a dehumidifier. My ex husband has one and a large air conditioning unit.
    I have a coffee maker, I have a fridge with two doors at the top, two drawers under, ice maker, cold water dispenser.
    Lots of people have laundry rooms now. I’d never have a top loader. I don’t like them. My parents had one in the 1970’s. Old hat. I have a large front loader as I had a big family. I also have a large tumble dryer. I had a huge kitchen and had room to stand them alone but those appliances are just seen as old fashioned here. I’m moving and having a laundry room, pantry etc. That won’t make me buy a top loader. I’m bringing my lovely front loader with me. I just prefer it. I’ve seen plenty of people with coffee makers and large American fridges. Coffee is drunk a lot here. You need to come back and meet the general public and not just rely on what you read.

  • @ABlackwood55
    @ABlackwood55 Před rokem +18

    Others have said it, but you should change the filter on your Refrigerator. Depending on the model they are usually $40-$50 dollars and you are supposed to change them (depending on brand) every 6 months or so.

    • @billbutler2452
      @billbutler2452 Před rokem +3

      Go on line, there are several vendors for generic filters, water and HVA/C, usually a 2 or 3 pack for the price of a retail brand name single filter, with easy instructions on how to find the right model filter for whatever fridge you have. for instance, I have an LG fridge, french type doors on the top 2/3, lower 1/3 is the freezer as a drawer, not doors, and the filter is in the fridge top left corner, all in all pretty simple, punch this in to their form and it gives you the right model filters and it's mailed to your front door.

    • @kamX-rz4uy
      @kamX-rz4uy Před rokem

      @@billbutler2452 I have an LG fridge too and it's amazing how much they charge for air and water filters. So much cheaper elsewhere for filters just as good.