Q&A | Four quick ones!
Sometimes I get Q&A submissions that require a whole post (like the one about patience), but today I've got a few quick ones.
You mentioned LED twinkle lights in a Thankful Thursday post. Can you show us a photo and tell us which ones you have?
-Karen
Sure! Zoe had a string of them last year, and then when we needed to decorate our Cookie Monster tree last year, we bought a second string.
If you are curious about the Cookie Monster tree, here's the whole story.
Anyway! You wanted links to the lights:
Here's the starter pack we have.
And then the extension pack is here.
We got the starter pack back in 2018 and that string is still going strong. So, that's a pretty big thumbs up for the longevity of the lights.
May I ask how and where you store your sewing machine when it’s not in use? I keep thinking about wanting to get one someday, but I’m not sure how bulky they are and if they typically come with some kind of storage box/vinyl cover or bag for them. If it takes up a lot of space, then it may be a no-go for me. I just keep remembering back to my mom’s old sewing machine back in the day and it was HUGE with a giant plastic box that it was stored in . . . !
-Dori
I just keep it on a shelf in our lower-level office room.
It's not super convenient to have it there, but I don't really have a good place to keep it out all the time. Plus, since I mend only occasionally, it doesn't make a lot of sense to have it sitting out all the time.
So, it goes in the closet, on top of my sewing box and I just grab it when I need to use it.
I really enjoy your bread recipes - they all turn out great! Your French bread is SO easy! And now that I finally have a stand mixer, I'm digging into them even more.
I found your recipe for potato bread, and you mention that you might try it with whole wheat. Did you ever try that out? I know I can just swap it out for about half of the flour, but wondered if you liked the flavor.
Also, I can't figure out if I should make sandwich bread with all-purpose or bread flour. How do you decide which to use? (other than following the recipe, that is).
-Heather
I'm so glad my bread recipes are working well for you. Yay!
I've made potato bread with a 50/50 mix of white and whole wheat flour and that works just fine. Give a try and see what you think!
Bread flour has a high gluten content, so it makes breads a little chewier. This is awesome for things like pizza crust or French bread, but not as good for things like cinnamon bread or egg bread.
So, when I want something to be chewy, I reach for bread flour, but otherwise, I use all-purpose.
And for all non-yeast baking, I use all-purpose flour.
I was wondering if you can do an update on how you like your Miele vacuum?
Also, wondering your thoughts on this: My 10 year old Dyson needs a new hose, so I bought it. The reviews on the new Dyson hose (not a knock off) say that it only lasts a year. So, would your replace the hose every year for $40-$50 each time or do you eventually just buy a new vacuum? This is a frugal issue I struggle with and very much would like your opinion.
-K
(Poor K, this question has been sitting in my inbox for several years. Ummm, better late than never?)
Overall, we like it! It's still working well and it's got good suction all these years later.
(In case you missed it, back in 2013 our original vacuum had a kid-induced tragic end to its life, and we bought a Miele to replace it.)
This is the longest I have ever owned a single vacuum, so I think the $399 price tag was worth it.
Right now, our cost has averaged out to $50/year, and I imagine that will keep going down because it doesn't seem like our vacuum is anywhere near dying!
Of course, a few years ago, we mostly got rid of our carpet; we just have a big rug in the living room and then carpet in three bedrooms. So, our vacuum doesn't get quite the workout it did a few years ago.
And as of last winter, we got a robot vacuum, but that mostly runs on our hard floors, not on the carpeted floors. So, I'd say the robot vacuum has not significantly reduced the amount that we use the Miele.
Now, about the Dyson hose issue: based on the fact that my Miele has lasted eight years (which averages out to $50/year so far), I think it would make sense to upgrade to something like a Miele. I'd rather make a one-time purchase than buy hoses every year.
I don't think Miele makes uprights anymore, but I saw some used/refurbished Twists available on sites like eBay or Mercari.
Also, you could check a vacuum store/repair shop in your area as well because they sometimes sell used vacuums that are in good shape.
I must admit I am quite shocked that a Dyson hose needs to be replaced once a year on average. What a waste of resources! And the hassle that probably in the midst of vacuuming the hose gets broken and till you have the chance/time/money to replace the hose you live with a dirty floor.....
My Miele has been going strong for over 10 years now - used 2 to 3 times/week minimum on hard floor and on the concrete floor of the balcony, for spiderweb and dustes on the ceilings etc....and it doesn't show any sign of breaking in the near future
I took our old Dyson to the distributor and was told they were going out of the big vacuums...ours was a few weeks too old to buy replacement parts. I was cross but we were able to purchase an upright and I do like it.
As to frugal things I don't have anything on my brain. I have had a fail. I made some bean bags filled sensory items for my newest granddaughter. Her mother has told me they are not satisfactory. I am not remaking them. She wants me to go out and buy a certain type of material. For a start the material she wants may not be available anymore and secondly I am using small pieces of fabric and items I already have at home.
Miele Canisters are considered something of the gold standard, especially if you have allergies. My allergist told me to consider swapping out our 10 year old Dyson with one but I have a hard time replacing something that already works.
Also, my wife has a little rolling bag for her sewing machine. She also has one of those three tiered carts that IKEA and Target have (I forget where hers came from) and she keeps her serger on that. I assume a smaller machine would fit on one of those as well.
I keep my little used sewing machine on a storage shelf in our basement. I just pull it out when I want to use it.
My old Miele canister was over 30 years old when it bit the dust, and had never needed a repair. My new Miele canister is about 2 years old and - not surprisingly - hasn't had a problem yet. I have a LOT of rugs and almost no bare wood in my house so it gets a lot of use.
As for sewing machines - has anyone used the little baby ones you see in places such as Michaels or Target? I have simple projects for which a machine would be better than hand but I find the idea of learning to use a full-sized machine more of a job than I want to tackle. If the lttle ones work (for things such as towel mending, not full-scale quilting or clothes making), I think I could manage that.
@WilliamB,
So your old vacuum finally bit the dust...
Lol, I see what you did there. 🙂
@WilliamB,
DO NOT get a baby one—they are garbage. Even the inexpensive ones at Walmart, etc. are not great, even for occasional use. There are always tension issues, and cause more frustration than they’re worth. I’d ask for a rec at a sewing machine shop (where they sometimes sell used machines). They’re really not difficult to use!
Jessica
@WilliamB,
If you are thinking of the very small "handheld" machines, I've heard they don't work very well or last very long.
I have a simple Brother machine that I bought at a garage sale. It was pretty easy to learn to use because it has mechanical dials, no electronics. The user manual and YouTube videos were very helpful in learning how to use it.
@WilliamB,
Buy a vintage machine. They work like champs and they're not garbage like new machines, even the full sized expensive ones. From the early 60s, made entirely out of metal, they cost as little as $25 off FB marketplace or garage sales. Absolutely worth it.
I have my mother's old machine and I bought my daughter a similar one. They'll last forever, unlike the junk they make now with plastic gears, etc.
Hi I have had a Henry for about 20 years I have replaced the hoze once I also have a Dyson battery cleaner which I feel is the biggest waste of money I have ever spent ,it does not pick up properly, it clogs with hair and the only way to empty it is with an old knitting needle
@Chris, I've heard good things about Henrys but they're not readily available in the US.
I can chime in on a few of these...
I bought an Oreck upright years ago. My daughter was either dating her now-ex-husband or they were recently married at the time I bought it. They married in 2005, so... The vacuum is still going strong and the free little carry-cannister vac they sent me with it is also still working, although I use it much less, so I expected it to last a good while. I think I paid around $300 for the vacuum then, although I'm not sure, but it was worth it for me. I've only replaced one belt on it. I use it on hard floor and carpet.
I bought a battery powered stick vacuum and it died in two years. I bought the same brand and it died in just over a year. I bought another brand (I don't learn easily, do I?) and it died in a year and a half. I bought my last, different brand vacuum and it died in two years. My daughter bought an expensive Dyson cordless and it died just after the warranty expired. We are both done with cordless stick vacuums.
I would not be happy with having to replace a hose every year, especially at that price.
Since I don't eat gluten anymore, I don't really make bread anymore, sadly, but I used to use bread flour, white flour and/or whole wheat flour fairly interchangeably, but we ate it mostly on its own, not so much in sandwiches. I also used to add gluten to whole wheat flour at times.
I have enough room in my bedroom now for a small vintage sewing table, the kind that the lid flips open and the sewing machine sits in a hole in the top. Folded, the table takes very little room. Before that, I kept the machine in my closet on a shelf, but I found having to get it out and set it up anytime I just needed to do a quick repair was a barrier that would keep me from sewing. It was worth it to me to buy the little table and give up that bit of real estate, in order to have my machine handy. Another problem was that I sewed dresses for my kids when they were young, which took a number of sewing sessions per dress, instead of a one and done repair, and I only had our dining table as a sewing surface back then - every meal meant moving the machine and all my sewing stuff, since we didn't have another table or a bar of any kind where we could eat. That was definitely a barrier to sewing.
@JD,
Did you change the batteries in the battery operated vacs? The Dyson batteries are over $100 through Dyson, but Amazon has knockoffs for around $50. Dyson batteries usually last 2 years. An employee at GW told me people donate battery operated vacs all the time because they don’t realize you have to replace the batteries. Given the extra expense, I don’t think I will buy another one myself.
@D.,
It wasn't the batteries on any of them - they literally broke into pieces - all of them!
I store my sewing machines on the bottom shelf of my bookshelf. We'll soon be buying the type of bookshelf that has doors, to keep the baby away from the machines. I've had my sewing machine for 17 years and my serger for 7 years, and I haven't used a cover with either. They've been fine. I can imagine that if they were stored on the floor of a closet they might get a bit dusty, but despite being unenthusiastic about cleaning, a bit of dust hasn't caused any problems.
I can only comment on our own Dyson vacuum cleaners and they seem to live forever. We bought one with a hose in I think 2011? At a price I thought was outrageous then. However between its longevity and not having to buy vacuum bags, the price per year is now quite acceptable. The vacuum is silent, light to move around, with useful accessories and a very flexible hose.
Also, two years or so ago Dyson came up with a rechargeable model, which quite turned my husband's head. So now we have two: the rechargeable downstairs, where my husband does the vacuuming, and the older model upstairs, where the children and I do the bedrooms and attic.
I have forcefully forgotten the price tag on the rechargeable one and have opted to be happy about my husband doing the downstairs vacuuming.
Previously we had Miele (6 years) and Nilfisk (15 years but incredibly heavy and at some 4 euro's a bag! Industrial quality and a great workout for your arms). We'll stick with Dyson I think.
O and we still have the original hose.
We had the upright Animal Dyson for almost 9 years. I had have three dogs and lots of carpet for the large majority of that time. So it got quite the workout numerous times a week. The cannister broke once (perhaps 3-4 years in) and I called Dyson. Luckily, it was covered by the warranty and they sent me a replacement free of charge.
About two years ago, the plastic piece holding the hose into the bottom broke off and there was no way to reattach it using replacement parts. My husband ended up drilling a screw into it to keep in it place. That kept it going until about last month, when it finally kicked the bucket.
We bought the original one on sale from Costco for about $399.99. I was happy enough with our experience with it to purchase another. This time, we got the same model (also on sale at Costco) for about $349.99, and let me tell you...like most things, the quality has gone WAY down. The vacuum cannister is smaller, the hoses feel more flimsy and not as smooth to adjust, the electrical cord is shorter/flimsier, AND it came without the attachment the previous model had affixed to the back. All in all, it's operating okay for now. But I am suspect about the quality. We shall see...
So disappointing how the quality of practically all goods seems to be nose-diving.
our miele cannister didn't even last a year. we were away for a year so there was nothing that could be done. i have the worst luck with vacuums. when i got married i told hubby i hate to vacuum and make beds. 21 years later i still hate it and he still does it. i am very lucky.
@Anita Isaac, I am married to a similar saint. When we married, 39 years ago now, I said I don't like the noise of vacuuming so he said, "Fine. I'll do it." I have not vacuumed once in all those years and he always tries to do it when I am out of the house on errands or gardening. I took over cleaning the stove and kitchen counters because he detests that, which we both consider a fair exchange.
Thanks for answering my question about your sewing machine in your post! 🙂 The comments have been interesting food for thought as well.
I bought a Miele cannister vacuum three years ago for $399, and I am in love with it. I can store it in the tiny former broom cupboard in my kitchen (it sits upright). It works very, very well. Two wonderful features: the electric cord retracts into the vacuum when you touch a control with your foot, and it is QUIET. Can't recommend it highly enough.
I have a Dyson cordless vac. I love the idea of cordless because I hate vacuuming so the less excuses I have the better and trying to find outlets within the radius of the cord was always a good excuse to not vacuum. I don't have any carpet in my house. I'm on my second cordless and it has been broken and duct taped together on the dust canister which is very annoying when you have to empty it twice to vacuum my little house. It does an okay job but until I find another brand that is cordless that will make it through my house on one charge and do a better job I just stick with this. The other dyson cordless I have still works but the head part (that attaches to the end of the stick and touches the floor) broke and to get a new one was the same cost as buying a whole new vacuum so I keep that one in my craft room and just use it to suck up paper scraps and bits and pieces since it's only the stick part.
@Michelle Schroeder, Instead of duct tape, maybe using velcro to wrap around would work. (Have the loop part across the removable part w the hook part on either side to connect to the base.)
I've never had a problem with Dyson hoses lasting just a year. I know I mended one with duct tape once and it worked just fine after that.
I've had my Dyson for probably 16 years...and we still love it. However, it does mostly just vacuum hardwood floors and a rug or two, so it doesn't get a strenous workout every time! I think trying to find the right vacuum cleaner is a struggle sometimes. My mom is forever on the hunt for one that is light but also works well! Good thing we have this group and Kristen to get ideas from!
I have a shark vacuum that I bought at Costco a few years ago for probably $300 which seems outrageous but I like it. Cords don’t bother me. The only down side is my hair wraps around the brush so I need to take an exacto-knife and cut it out every now and then. I use it on vinyl plank and carpet and a large area rug and it works just fine. It has a thing where you can select the surface you are vacuuming and I think it drops the brush lower for hardwood/vinyl and brings it up for carpet.
I have to say that I love my Rainbow sweeper. I've had it over 30 years and still going. Yes, I've had a few tweaks to it, but I find it works best for deep cleaning. About 5 (?) years ago I bought a Shark to do quick jobs, but it doesn't compare with the old Rainbow. Downside is its hefty price tag and the fact you have to fill the canister with water. But it also sucks up water. I use it to clean the melted ice while defrosting the freezer.
@Ohio Farmwife, I’ve never heard of a Rainbow vacuum!
Seriously I hate vacuuming, and have bad back problems, etc. that make it painful.
I have a broken Bissell upright and a broken Dyson upright, sitting around hoping to be fixed! I’m using my Eureka canister, which is struggling. It was helpful to read these suggestions and even more, the robot vacuums discussion recently! However, helpful as that, and this discussion are, I’m still left confused. Which is best for price, comfort, convenience? Does anyone have or know of a chart, or could someone make one? I bet you are thinking that I should look on a consumer or sales site, but why I ask here on The Frugal Girl is because I value the opinions of Kristen and this group a lot more than I do those of the general (questionably frugal) general public!
@Jenny,
I think now a days you have to have the mindset that things don't last as long as they use to. One is fortunate if something lasts 5-10 years. Reviews change so quickly that you have to go with your gut instinct on any given day.
We have a Miele canister vac, bought ten years ago and still working well, for the heavy cleaning and use a robot vac for the every day floor dusting. The Miele was caught on a great sale and I was attracted to it because I have terrible allergies, which did improve after we started using it. I suspect it could use a tune-up because it used to nearly suck the upholstery off the chairs at a medium setting and now it takes the high setting to do that. Our three long-haired dogs do give a vacuum a work-out.
All my sewing stuff, my out-of-season clothes, our luggage, and heavy winter bedding are stored together in a closet three and half feet wide and one hanger deep. It's a masterpiece of organization, but the sewing machine does sit out on an writing table style desk that is now my sewing table because I use it constantly. I sewed a cover for the machine to keep the cats from playing with the spool of thread on top. 🙂
Shark Navigator owner here, I liked my first one so much I bought a second many years later for the basement. I don't like to carry it up and down stairs. They are not the same quality material wise as the older versions.
Hubs found an Animal Dyson someone was throwing out. He could not get it to turn on, he cleaned the filter which was completely plugged and it turned right on. I gave it to my son who has a golden retriever, he needed it more than I.
When we moved and I got my own office, I bought a secretary-style desk to go next to my computer desk. I keep my sewing machine in there so it's out of sight but super convenient to use. I know not everyone has the space for that but it's been an awesome solution for me! It's a great little workspace for lots of things.
I got a Miele compact a few years ago (thanks to your review of vacuums) and I love it. I just looked, and here in Canada it’s the same price now as what you just quoted you paid for your upright, so it’s probably a bit less in the US.
All Miele products are awesome!
Here in Germany you can buy replacement parts as well but I have never needed anything for our 8 year old vacuum.
The washing machines are also great . We buy them used. My last one lasted over 16 years…11 with us.