The Zen of Laundry

This is what joy looks like! (pointlomacoinlaudry.com)

This will sound crazy, but I really like doing laundry. It’s not because my lovely bride isn’t willing to do it, because she would. And it’s not because I’m OC, although I can be (see The OC’s Guide to Blogging – A 5 Step Plan?). But to me – it’s relaxing and peaceful. The enzymes of the stain-fighter working its magic, the smell of the warm clothes coming out of the dryer, the crisp snap of a t-shirt or towel before folding them, and the satisfaction I get from seeing the pile of folded – or hanging – clothes.

Who doesn’t like to have clean, stain-free clothes?

There’s a lot of I’ve learned over the years. Some are simple laundry “truths” that our mommas taught us, and others are ones I’ve learned through trial and error – well, mostly error!

Last year at Thanksgiving time, I got one of the Best. Gifts. Ever – the front-loading LG washer and dryer set. In a bit of a twist, it was between me getting the much-desired laundry pair (at almost 50% off), or my wife’s wish of a big-screen-tv. In a moment of weakness, she felt the washer and dryer might be more practical. Yeah, laundry dude ME!

The Workhorses - my LG Washer & Dryer

My cupboard with my triplets - Borax in the middle.

Without further ado, here we go!:

Ah, melted crayon! (housekeepinghere.com)

1. Check the pockets – every one. I made the mistake, years ago, of missing a crayon in the pocket of my son’s pants; nearly every long sleeve dress shirt was stained when the crayon melted in the dryer.
2. Always wash by color. I know there are those of you who mix your whites and colors, to my horror; and yes, now your whites are a dingy grey. For the love of God, man, SEPARATE!!
3. Use a good stain fighter – I like OxiClean and Zout. Check the garments for stains first, and give the enzymes a chance to do their job before you wash them. It can be harder getting the stain out after the material is washed.
4. Don’t scrub the stained fabric threads too hard. You can stretch the fabric, or worse yet, actually rub a hole in the item – I’ve done that a few times, in my aggressiveness to get the stain out.
5. Don’t let the stain defeat you. It’s mind over the stain’s matter. A lot of really nice garments can be picked up at thrift stores because someone didn’t want to take the time to get the stain out. Be patient.
6. When you’re done treating the stain, put the article of clothing in with your load, and wash on the hottest temperature the clothes can handle (usually warm, and sometimes hot temp is acceptable).
7. About the dryer – please don’t leave those nice, warm clothes sitting in the dryer AFTER they’ve stopped, for more than a few minutes. That’s how you end up with those horrible wrinkles. Get those guys to the safety of a folded pile or a hanger, STAT!

Bonus: I’ve had that latex paint moment where I’ve gotten a couple of drops on my clothes (I’m sure that’s never happened to you, though). If you put a very small amount of Goof-Off on the paint, gently rub the area, and follow up with a stain fighter, the paint will usually come out. Rinse the clothes THOROUGHLY before putting in the washer, to get as much Goof-Off out of the fabric as possible.

Well, that’s some of what I’ve learned. I’m sure you have some tips you can pass along to the rest of us. Please share by commenting!!