programed to run. In fact, I don't think I have ever let it run the full 4 hours--or whatever length of time a complete cleaning cycle is. Usually after a couple hours the gunk in the bottom of my oven has turned to ash (which is what it's suppose to do so it can be wiped up) so I usually manually turn it off early. I can't see the purpose in heating up the house and using all that extra electricity if you don't have to! Depending on how thick the spills are in the bottom of your oven are (it doesn't really look that bad), you might be able to do a shorter self-clean cycle too. Just hang around so you can check it often for signs that it is "done" before the end of a full cycle.

retailers seem to have lost sight of how to make a quality product and provide good customer service. About 3 years ago, I experienced my own consumer nightmare over an expensive Samsung front load washer that broke down less than 90 days after purchase. The major retailer I bought it from, HHGregg, was of no help whatsoever. I got lots of lip service from both the store manager and sales manager about helping me resolve the problem but absolutely no follow-through. Samsung wasn't much better. They just wanted to repeatedly send out technicians (4 visits in 3 weeks) who couldn't seem to get to the root of the problem. I was finally forced to open a defective merchandise dispute with my credit card company in order to get any resolution. Many months later, after providing all kinds of documentation to the credit card company regarding the problems I had with the washer, Samsung and HHGregg, the credit card company finally ruled in my favor and credited me the purchase price. Then, much to their dismay, HHGregg (who had repeatedly blown me off) was forced to come pick up the defective washer and matching dryer. (Ha! Take THAT, HHGregg!)

After some checking around, I heard repeatedly that Lowe's had great customer service so I bought a new Whirlpool front load washer and dryer from them to replace the Samsung washer/dryer HHGregg took back. At the same time, I also purchased a Kitchen Aid dishwasher, wall oven, and refrigerator, and a GE cook top for a kitchen renovation we were starting. That was a $7,000 sale HHGregg could have had IF they had treated me right over the defective washer but since they didn't, Lowe's got my hard-earned money.

Exactly 2 years after purchase, the freezer part of the refrigerator stopped cooling. Fortunately, I had bought the extended warranty! Lowe's extended warranty people were FABULOUS. They shipped the parts overnight. When those parts didn't completely fix the problem, they offered to take the refrigerator back and let me pick out a new one. I told them I would prefer to try to repair this refrigerator rather than attempt to pick out a new one so they offered to give me $150 on the spot toward the purchase of a mini refrigerator/freezer to use in the meantime since I had already been without a working refrigerator for several days. When they didn't have the additional necessary parts I needed in stock, they told me to order from another distributor and they would reimburse me for overnight shipping and the cost of the parts. They did promptly issue me a refund check for the parts and overnight shipping--with zero hassles. Although I was sad to be having problems with a refrigerator that was just 2 years old, I could not have been happier with the Lowe's extended warranty people. The repairman who serviced my refrigerator actually worked for an independent repair company who does work for Lowe's. He confirmed Lowe's provides outstanding customer service and oftentimes will just offer to replace a faulty appliance rather than repair it.

I know I've already written a book here but in light of my experiences in the last few years with large appliances, I have a few tips I'd like to share with HT members:

#1. The old saying, "They don't make things like they used to," is true, especially when it comes to large appliances. We seem to live in a "throwaway" society now so when purchasing new appliances, just expect them to have a short life span.

#2. When purchasing new large appliances, don't spend extra money on higher priced models with all the "bells and whistles" unless you absolutely need them or are sure you will use them. Remember, they don't make things like they use to and, in most cases, you probably won't get your money's worth before the appliance needs to be replaced.

#3. Even if you don't like using credit cards, put your large appliance purchase on a credit card (zero interest or 12 month same as cash deal, if possible). It gives you extra consumer protection and invaluable leverage. If you have problems with the appliance within the 1 year manufacturer's warranty period that you can't resolve through the manufacturer or retailer, you can open a dispute with the credit card company, who will go to bat for you. If you win the dispute, they will absolve you of the responsibility of paying for the defective appliance.

#4. If your appliance fails DOCUMENT EVERYTHING--dates, names of people you talked to, their job title and direct phone number, what they told you etc. Details, details, details--they are invaluable, especially if you need to file a credit card dispute.

#5. Buy the extended warranty. With all the computer parts in appliances these days, they often fail sooner rather than later, and all those computer components are expensive to replace. The parts alone for my refrigerator repair were over $500--almost 1/3 the cost of the original purchase price of the refrigerator. I don't know how much the service calls were. However, my out-of-pocket repair expense--ZERO because I had the 5 year extended warranty beyond the 1 year manufacturer's warranty.

#6. I highly recommend buying large appliances from Lowe's. I feel like they went above and beyond to truly help me and make things right.

Good luck with your new dishwasher, Kevin. I truly hope it performs trouble-free for you for many years.

any evidence of claw marks in the wood? However, if it climbed the post and bent the hanger in the process of trying to get to the seed, then my question becomes how did it get the seed out? Seems like a bear claw would be too big to reach in the feeder to scoop the seed out (and it looks like the top is still on). Could the feeder be tipped enough to spill all the seed on the ground and then be eaten off the ground? A raccoon could be another possibility but would a raccoon be heavy enough to bend the hanger? This just may remain as one of those unsolved mysteries!

I saw other examples when I googled "beadboard kitchen soffit."

I think it looks great but if I were going to do beadboard soffits, I would recommend the paintable beadboard wallpaper rather than real, wood beadboard. The wallpaper would probably cost less and be much easier to work with over your head. Some of the beadboard wallpapers are so realistic (particularly the Graham & Brown Super Fresco beadboard wallpaper), it's very difficult to tell it isn't real beadboard. I've used the G&B beadboard wallpaper extensively in 2 homes (including on furniture) and it has fooled everyone who has seen it, including some experienced remodeling contractors. Everyone asks, "THAT'S wallpaper?!"

If you are interested, one of the HomeTalk members, Rhoda V. (Southern Hospitality blog) sells the G&B beadboard wallpaper at this link: http://southernhospitality.mybigcommerce.com...

You can find retailers near you by typing in your zip code.

chalk, or sprinkle them with baby powder, and leave it sit for a day or two, the oily stains will be absorbed by the chalk or baby powder. I haven't actually tried this yet so I can't vouch for its effectiveness, particularly once the clothes have been washed, but it couldn't hurt to try this too.

even better than the commercial insecticides: 1. dry grits--reportedly the ants eat it and then "moisture makes it swell in their stomachs," killing them and 2. dry cornmeal--they "can't digest it." Don't know if either of these methods really work but it certainly couldn't hurt to try it, especially since most of us southerners have either grits and/or cornmeal already in our pantry.

potatoes in straw towers here: http://www.hometalk.com/186379/easy-potato-b...

In that posting, she also gives a link to her blog with more detailed info. http://www.sowanddipity.com/you-say-potato/

least your husband hasn't let it go as long as me." Well not yet, anyway! lol. Funny thing is, these doors seem to bother him more than they bother me. :D

page, several links will come up for homemade liquid laundry soap recipes.

If you have a newer HE washer, especially a front load washer, I am of the opinion, powdered laundry soap is actually better for the washer than liquid soaps, particularly the commercially made liquid laundry products. I did a lot of research before buying my front load HE washer because I was really concerned about the "smelly washer"/moldy smell so many of them seem to develop. There was a very strong correlation between people who had the smelly washer problems and liquid laundry soap and fabric softener. Some believe (as I do) that the oils in these commercial liquid laundry products leave behind a film that isn't washed away by the low, energy saving water levels of the HE washers. As a result, the sticky film is the perfect breeding ground for harboring moisture, which in turn causes mold and mildew.