Q • Are the newer washing machine hoses really worthwhile? — S.M., St. Louis Most washing machine hoses are a standard garden variety, made with rubber. As any garden hose can wear out and split, so ...

*Refers to the latest 2 years of stltoday.com stories. Cancel anytime. Those two small hoses behind your washing machine don’t get noticed very much. However, there is a reason that they should.

With the exception of fire, there are few home disasters that rival the damage caused by a burst washing-machine hose. When turned loose, 600 gallons of water per hour can enter a house. That can fill ...