DENVER -- You take it for granted when the old washer kicks into gear for another load. But when it doesn't, what are you going to do? When Wendi Grover's washer was broken she turned to RepairClinic.com for help.

"It wasn't cleaning the clothes because the agitator wasn't turning," said Grover.

Once she'd entered the information about her washer and the problem, the Web site diagnosed the likely cause, showed her the parts that probably needed replacing and even suggested the tools needed to do the work.

Grover paid about $5 for the parts and $5 for regular shipping for a total cost of just over $10. And because RepairClinic.com is in the business of selling parts, the site's parts detective and its advice and recommendations are free.

The Web site handles just about any brand of appliance and carries parts for washers, dryers, ranges, refrigerators and more.

"Just today, to double check, I ran a search to see how many parts they had for my particular washer and they had 600 parts," Grover said.

The Web site is quick to point out that some repairs are too complex for the average person. Grover adds another caution.

"If a person is intimidated by working with tools, this might not be the right project for them," she said.

But if you do end up calling in a repairman the site gives you some information that might help. It'll help you explain what's not working, even help narrow down the possible problems. It should also give you an idea of what replacement parts are going to cost.

Whether you're doing the work or having someone else do it RepairClinic.com is a good ally to have.