Yeah, I’ve definitely put stuff back together and ended up with a random screw left over... and honestly, half the time it still works just fine. I figure some of those screws are more about keeping things from rattling or just for extra security. On my old dishwasher, there was this one screw that never seemed to line up right, so I just left it out. Ran for years without any trouble. I guess as long as nothing’s wobbling or leaking, it’s probably good enough.
Funny how that happens, right? I always wonder if manufacturers just throw in an extra screw to mess with us. That said, I do get a little twitchy if it’s a screw from a hinge or something that actually moves. Ever had one rattle loose and end up inside the pump? That’s a headache I’d rather avoid... but if it’s just a panel screw, yeah, not losing sleep over it.
I get what you mean, but honestly, I’m always suspicious when there’s an “extra” screw left over. Last time I fixed my dishwasher, I thought it was just a panel screw too—turns out it was for the bracket holding the drain hose. Guess who had to pull the whole thing out again when it started leaking? Not fun. I’d rather double-check than risk a mess later.
Man, I feel this. Had a similar thing happen when I swapped out a garbage disposal—thought I was being clever skipping a “random” screw. Next morning, the whole unit was vibrating like crazy. Now I lay out every part and double-check, even if it takes longer. Guess it’s true, those leftover bits always come back to haunt you...
Honestly, I get the urge to double-check every piece now, but sometimes those “extra” screws really are just spares or for optional mounting. Not saying skip stuff on purpose, but I’ve seen manuals include hardware for multiple models, which gets confusing fast. I’ll usually compare what I took out to what’s left before stressing. Overthinking it can waste time too, at least in my experience.
