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Post by Tiffany on Dec 19, 2008 22:26:37 GMT -5
Released Spring 2008, retired 2013.
When it’s time to do chores, Kit needs everything in this set. Kit can get her family’s clothes clean as a whistle with these washday accessories: A pretend washing machine from the 1930s with rollers and an agitator that really move A pink embroidered apron with criss-cross straps that button on 2 printed cotton hand towels A box of play laundry soap Kit uses to get clothes clean A drying rack that folds out so the laundry can drip-dry A pretend iron and ironing board Kit uses to press out wrinkles A rattan laundry basket so Kit can bring the wash upstairs F6585 $80
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Post by Rexphiles on Jun 18, 2009 15:12:24 GMT -5
I love Kit's Washset (and stove) but I wish the ironing board could fold flat and that the drying rack wasn't plastic.
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Post by Plain and Fancy on Sept 20, 2010 11:32:37 GMT -5
I bought it last month. I've only taken it out to look at it. I wish the rack was wood and the ironing board legs were metal, but I know that would have doubled the price. The washer is just like my grandma's. I hope on Christmas I can get my dad away from it. I think my DD is going to love it.
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Post by Mollyflower on Sept 20, 2010 11:56:44 GMT -5
I bought the set almost a year ago. It is probably overpriced, but it is a unique set, as far as I know, and that makes it worth it to me. I buy the historical stuff mostly for the grandchildren see how people used to live, but I have a sentimental liking for this set.
I grew up with these washday things. The plastic doesn't bother me. I'd rather have the pieces more durable and cheaper than having museum pieces. A cord would be nice on the washer and iron but aren't essential in my view. (Some of the old washers didn't run on electric power.) The only thing I miss is a lid on the washer. We always used the lid. I'd also like the ironing board to fold up for storage. I don't think it's fragile, however. Seems tough to me.
That said, my 6 year old g-daughter doesn't relate to the set. The 2 year old uses the washer as a hiding place for little animals and the ironing board as a shelf. Perhaps they are too young yet to understand the significance. We'll see.
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Post by askmkids on Sept 20, 2010 12:42:52 GMT -5
My daughters have this set and love it. I too wish the set had wood or metal but I have been disappointed many of the wood furniture AG has. I find that it breaks and doesn't hold up to play well so I understand why they use plastic. The set has held up well and is nicely made.
Other things to consider are:
Does your daughter have Kit? Are her dolls historical or modern in theme or play?
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Post by lindasews on Sept 22, 2010 9:21:39 GMT -5
I bought the set when it first came out. I love it and think it is worth the money.
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Post by PleasantMemories on Sept 22, 2010 12:17:48 GMT -5
I have mixed thoughts on this set and really don’t know if I’d be sold on it at the current price. One of the most frequent criticisms about this set is that many of the pieces are made of plastic. However, while I would have preferred wooden and metal pieces, everything except the drying rack (and of course the soap box) seems quite durable. I was a bit surprised that the ironing board doesn’t seem to fold up (at least I can’t figure it out).
My favorite pieces in this set are definitely the washing machine and the little accessories. I appreciate the little details that AG often adds, like having the washing machine agitate. Additionally, the piece seems quite durable. The little accessories really add to the set and can also be used with several other characters. I’ve found that we can never have enough aprons and baskets. The dish towels and iron are also cute.
This may not be the norm, but my daughter and I have found that this set doesn’t have as much play potential as many others. My daughter was five when she received this set and it didn’t take long to notice that most of the pieces were hardly touched. When I asked her about it, I was informed that Kit’s mom does the laundry because it’s dangerous for kids to touch the washing machine and iron. Even after I explained that many kids helped with laundry in Kit’s time, it saw little play. Eventually, she traded it to me for something else.
Looking back, I question how much she would have played with it even if Kit could do laundry. Unlike the stove (which doesn’t see much play here either) that can be used to cook/bake many things for various occasions, the laundry set can really only be used to do laundry. Since common play themes at our house include parties, school, after school activities, playing with friends, and travel, the laundry set doesn’t seem to fit into most of her storylines.
As a collector, I have also struggled to find a place for this set. My Kit has two rooms: a bedroom and a garden area turned kitchen (yes, it needs to be redecorated). The pieces in the set seemed to take over the kitchen and certainly don’t look right in the bedroom. As a result, most of the pieces are back in the box for now. However, the set could make a nice display if someone had the right spot for it.
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maggiedoll
Girl of Many Lands
If what you are saying is true...then I still don't care
Posts: 589
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Post by maggiedoll on Sept 22, 2010 13:29:50 GMT -5
I paid full price for the washday set, and I think it is worth full price (unlike, say the oven). I just may finally write that review for Kit's washday set. The only thing that I don't like is the drying rack which stays folded up. The apron is a little two fancy for my Kit, but it is very pretty shade of pink with cute flower details. The hankies are kind of silly, but are pretty and can be used for other things or used for Kit's purse. The washer is very cool. Yes it is plastic but it is a solid heavy piece. It would be nice if there was a cord to stimulate like the think can be plug in (like Kit's waffle iron). What I really like about the washer is that not only can you crank the rollers to rinse the hankies but you can make the washing dasher move back and forth. The washer can hold two or three pieces of Kit's clothes, so you can really "wash" clothes. Sure you can hunt Ebay for a salesman sample of an iron washer but this one is pretty darn good. The ironing board is nice and sturdy, it would be nice if it would fold. It's kind of awkward to store and will not go back in it's box. The iron is cute, it's nice and modern for Kit's time. I wish it was a little more detailed, irons in the 20's and 30's would had temperature controlled dials and a nice long cord. The wash basket is what you can get at Hobby Lobby for a couple dollars. The soap is simple box and feels empty. I guess Kit used up the soap. The only thing I added was some wooden clothes pins and someday (seriously, I'm a procrastinator ) a nice drying line for Kit. I think would had played with it as a kid. Other than that, it is very nice set and if you can, get it for Kit. mod edit to remove dead image
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maggiedoll
Girl of Many Lands
If what you are saying is true...then I still don't care
Posts: 589
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Post by maggiedoll on Sept 22, 2010 14:11:49 GMT -5
American Girl.com sales: Kit can get her family’s clothes clean as a whistle with these washday accessories:
A pretend washing machine from the 1930s with rollers and an agitator that really move A pink embroidered apron with criss-cross straps that button on 2 printed cotton hand towels A box of play laundry soap Kit uses to get clothes clean A drying rack that folds out so the laundry can drip-dry A pretend iron and ironing board Kit uses to press out wrinkles A rattan laundry basket so Kit can bring the wash upstairs Birthday from-me-to-me 2008: In all it's NIB glory: Yeah, there is a not a speck of wood and metal in sight. It's all plastic. But hey, plastic makes American Girl go 'round. The centerpiece of the set is a washer. American Girl made the Washmore washer prettier than the real-life samples that I have seen. The body is cream colored with red specks and the "metal" stuff is steal gray. The rollers on the rinser is rubbery-feeling and American Girl added the brand "Washmore" on the front. The washer is Kit-size. Kit's hand rest on the rinse handle. An added bonus is that the rollers really work and can push the hankie though. The washer can hold a couple of dresses and a couple of socks (but where does missing socks go? ) for a real washing experience. Inside the washer. The middle thingy really moves and there is a small hole that drains out pretend wash water. Kit, her oven, her desk and her washer to show size. The set comes with an apron. It is a rose-type shade of pink that buttons with real tiny buttons. Flower details, cute, but not for my Kit. By Kit's time, irons would had been electric and temperature controlled. It looks kinda like the way irons should had been. It is made of light, shinny plastic with a black handle made to fit Kit's hand. I guess unfortunately all girls need to iron. The hankies are nice, big, screen painted in popular Depression area styles. They are nice for displaying the washday set with one being ironed and one going though the rinser. They are bigger than Kit's meet hankie and I can see them being used for other play ideas. The ironing board is a basic boar with a removable cloth top which happens to be a dust magnet. It goes to about Kit's waist, the help her look cute ironing. It is a pain that it will not fold up and makes storing a pain. The bottom, with legs that will not fold up. The wash basket is typical Hobby Lobby issue, but it can hold a couple of folded Kit dresses. The soap box is standered issue American Girl product. It is made of cardboard that does not open and is very light. It is not meant for hard play but looks likes for display and play acting. I could not find a picture of the folding rack. I'm not too found of it but it is useful. It can fold out and hold a few things. Not wonderful but not bad either. For display value I give it a B+. All piece is correct for Kit's period and Kit can been show doing all the washing activities. If one could forgive the plastciness of everything, one can kind the nice details in the washer, soap box and iron. Everything besides the board can be store in the box, but the set looks too nice to hide in a box. I have not been a kid for a while but I would guess a play value of a A-. It probably depends on the kid, but if you have a girl that likes putting her doll to work there are a lot of things that she can do with the set. The washer has moving parts, the iron looks like the real one in her house but historically correct and the basket holds clothes. A little history nerd in the making can have interesting comparing and contrasting between laundry in 1930s to laundry today. Isn't that what American Girl is all about?
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mrsthomaston
Mini*s Lover
Waylon loves pretty dolly!
Posts: 308
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Post by mrsthomaston on Sept 22, 2010 14:21:55 GMT -5
I tend to agree with others, I wish the pieces were made of wood or metal. But that being said, I really really like it. My grandmother said she had a washer just like it and loved the whole set. It currently has its own room in my doll palace, next to the bath tub!!
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Post by MaryCarly on Sept 22, 2010 15:37:51 GMT -5
In my opinion this set is absolutely useless and very awkward to include in a room. . . yet I LOVE IT! I smile every time I look at it, especially the tiny iron. I am not sure why as real laundry items don't make me smile. Seriously, this is one of my all time favorite sets, possibly because it adds a touch of realism and life to my rooms or possibly because I fantasize that my dolls will actually do some work like dusting their own furniture.
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Post by agfan8144 on Sept 23, 2010 9:06:05 GMT -5
I received my Washday set yesterday. I really love it. The washer is neat...it seems that it is part plastic and part metal. It looks great with my Kit and Ruthie. Glad I purchased it.
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arlsdimples
Girl of Many Lands
Order of the Llama
Posts: 691
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Post by arlsdimples on Sept 24, 2010 10:49:34 GMT -5
I just received this set today and I have to say that I absolutely love it. I have looked at it in the store off and on since it was released but not as closely as I would have liked to. I have always liked it which is funny to me because I view laundry as an unending nightmare.
I think the pieces are actually nicely made and sturdy. I do as a collector wish the drying rack was wood, but believe it would not hold up as well for the target age group. I could definitely see my own daughter breaking it when she was 8 or 9. It would have been neat to have the ironing board in metal also. We have DH's grandmothers ironing board from the time period. The thing is a monster and very heavy. I do wish the ironing board folded up but as I don't fold my own (too awkward and heavy) I guess I am fine leaving this out as well. It still looks very nice and is sturdy.
The box of soap is......a box. The basket is nice but as others have mentioned you could probably get something similar at a craft store. I like the towels for little extras and am actually impressed with the apron. I love the buttons and little pocket. I see it more on Ruthie than Kit though. The iron would be cuter with a cord, but it is still cute. It seems to be made of both plastic and metal.
Now as for the washer I have to disagree with most people on this. It is NOT all plastic! It looks like it is but it's not. The base, legs and pole going up the side are absolutely metal. The tub, agitator and wringer, plus a few other little details are plastic. If you don't believe me take a magnet to it. I don't believe I have ever seen a magnet stick to plastic. It does appear to be plastic, but those parts give the piece weight are cooler to the touch and I did the magnet test on them. I love that the agitator moves and the wringer works.
Overall I think this is a very cute set and very unique. It will be interesting to see what happens to it on the secondary market once it is gone for good. I do have to say that I am very happy I was able to get it on sale.
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Post by seejoansew on Feb 24, 2012 8:50:22 GMT -5
Taking it apart requires 2 screwdrivers (the tool kind and the kind you drink!) 3 hands and nerves of steel.
The bottom of the table has 2 little boxes where you snap in the legs. Those little boxes have a slot on each side, where the tabs on the legs lock in place. One person sticks a screwdriver (or a butter knife) into each slot and gently pushes in on those tabs while the second person carefully wiggles the leg loose. Squeeze gently and work slowly, so you don't crack the plastic. Repeat on the second leg.
To reassemble the table without it locking, I stick a couple of toothpicks (a broken popsicle stick would probably work too) in those slots (in one side and out the other side). Then I can push the legs in but they won't lock in place.
I hope that helps.
(Edited because I can't spell before coffee.)
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Post by daisysmom on Feb 24, 2012 12:11:01 GMT -5
It is one of those items that isn't made to be taken apart. Once you snap it together you are supposed to leave it that way.
I put mine together wrong and spend a long time holding my breathe and trying to take it apart - AG almost had to send me out a new one.
My advise would be to leave it alone - you might break it.
At the very least - call CS and find out if it is available as a replacement part before you fiddle with it.
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Post by eyesew4 on Jan 27, 2014 17:56:50 GMT -5
I think I will leave the ironing board up for now. FWIW, my daughter likes playing with the whole set. I think it's cute. My grandma had a wringer washer until she died in the late 60's. It fascinated me as a little kid although the wringer spooked me. I worried about hands getting caught in there! hahaha
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Post by glasshalffull on Sept 6, 2014 13:40:01 GMT -5
I tried seejoansew's idea of using toothpicks. I used two for each slot though one would work equally well. I taped them down for easier handling. This solution really works. The ironing board could stand fine, but the parts aren't locked in. Very easy.
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Post by keeperofthepast on Jun 21, 2023 16:20:21 GMT -5
A friend of mine has this and I was recently able to see it. I think it's a cute set and makes a great display piece. I would have wanted wood and metal if I were purchasing it back then.
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