Manly Validation
I have spent the better part of this morning begrudgingly sorting through and folding the mounds--literally mounds--of clean laundry. I readily admit that folding and putting away said folded laundry is far down my list of things I enjoy doing each day. Truth be told, it's not even on the list, unless that list would be the list of things I absolutely despise doing but I do anyway because it's in the job description that I, like a fool, failed to read before signing up for this gig.
I came to a few realizations this morning, First, my wife was right (how many times you gonna hear that, Honey?). My obsession with kids wearing socks during the summer has got to stop. I despise folding the whitewash and socks just add to that pile. The kids don't keep a pair of socks on for a full day anyway. If they do make it through the day, they are so full of dirt and grime that there is not a washer or detergent made that will ever sufficiently clean them. And lastly, the ones that actually do make it to the laundry basket are never matched. I've got a basket of singles that is literally overflowing. Must be over 40 socks in there and not a single one matches another. Here's to summer sandals!
Next. What exactly is "like-colors"? I've got a couple shirts with no fewer than seven different colors in them and the washing instructions indicate that I should wash them with like-colors. The one time I was able to produce two similar shirts in the same laundry load one wanted warm water with like colors the other wanted cold. There's no way! I'm not about to set aside an entire load for a single shirt. And before you get any ideas--I'm not going to hand wash it either. I took my chances--they got cold. (I now have two very similar shirts with no fewer than 3 different colors.)
Here's another thing. Exposing a folded garment in a dresser drawer to the ambient air in the room does not make that garment dirty and in need of a wash! In the folding today were three long sleeve t-shirts and two sweaters. Sweaters!!! It's the middle of July. We haven't worn sweaters around here for months. So why does it end up in the laundry? Jeez. If you take it out of the drawer and decide not to wear it, fold it back up and put it back in the drawer!
Good Lord! I've just ranted about laundry. Again! I feel I may need to go outside and do something a little bit more dude like, manly, testosterone fueled! You know, to re-validate the man card. I saw some weeds in my rose bushes. Maybe I'll go tackle those pesky little boogers!
I came to a few realizations this morning, First, my wife was right (how many times you gonna hear that, Honey?). My obsession with kids wearing socks during the summer has got to stop. I despise folding the whitewash and socks just add to that pile. The kids don't keep a pair of socks on for a full day anyway. If they do make it through the day, they are so full of dirt and grime that there is not a washer or detergent made that will ever sufficiently clean them. And lastly, the ones that actually do make it to the laundry basket are never matched. I've got a basket of singles that is literally overflowing. Must be over 40 socks in there and not a single one matches another. Here's to summer sandals!
Next. What exactly is "like-colors"? I've got a couple shirts with no fewer than seven different colors in them and the washing instructions indicate that I should wash them with like-colors. The one time I was able to produce two similar shirts in the same laundry load one wanted warm water with like colors the other wanted cold. There's no way! I'm not about to set aside an entire load for a single shirt. And before you get any ideas--I'm not going to hand wash it either. I took my chances--they got cold. (I now have two very similar shirts with no fewer than 3 different colors.)
Here's another thing. Exposing a folded garment in a dresser drawer to the ambient air in the room does not make that garment dirty and in need of a wash! In the folding today were three long sleeve t-shirts and two sweaters. Sweaters!!! It's the middle of July. We haven't worn sweaters around here for months. So why does it end up in the laundry? Jeez. If you take it out of the drawer and decide not to wear it, fold it back up and put it back in the drawer!
Good Lord! I've just ranted about laundry. Again! I feel I may need to go outside and do something a little bit more dude like, manly, testosterone fueled! You know, to re-validate the man card. I saw some weeds in my rose bushes. Maybe I'll go tackle those pesky little boogers!
Posted by Zoe's Dad at Friday, July 11, 2008 11:54 AM and is filed under man card,Laundry,Weeds,Roses,CHORES 
I don't usually separate colors at all. Nobody notices.
Good luck with the weeds.
You are going to have to take a weed eater to those for the full man effect! Lay waste, friend!!
Try revving up the chainsaw or the big-ass lawn mower for awhile. Always works for me.
OK. Will you marry me? Because my husband is a good guy, but the laundry folding is just something he never embraced, no matter how much I passive-aggressive him about it...
I absolutely hate laundry. It's the one chore that I will not do...ever. I rather clean poop covered toilets with no gloves. Yep, I hate it that much. Luckily my wife does all of that.
Only real men do laundry Ed, no need to feel less manly for ranting about it!
Hope those weeds took a manly whacking
You are probably the only person I know who has a worse laundry situation than I do. I don't envy you at all!
You just saved me from typing up my own laundry rant!
I've had the same experience with sweatshirts in the pile. I'm like, who the hell is wearing sweatshirts in July?
I'm doing my best around here to reduce the amount of clothes that make it to the laundry room. I'm wearing the same pair of shorts for weeks. I rotate 2 or 3 t-shirts until they're so dirty they can stand up by themselves.
But nobody else wants to help out. I swear, I think my kids are changing clothes three times a day the way the hampers fill up. And my wife will wear a pair of pants once, then throw it into the hamper.
And what's this? I look over just now and see my cat fast asleep on top of the pile of clean clothes, shedding his nasty fur over everything!
They're all against me.
Darren--It usually depends on the amount I can cram into one wash. I feel guilty about the special care items.
James--Oh, they shall rue the day!
MGM--You're absolutely right--using heavy machinery is a manly endeavor. Unless you're doing it--then it's just cool!
manager mom--this passive aggressive thing you speak of...I do not know of this
Vegas--I've got a long list of despised chores. Unfortunately, they're all mine and that's not gonna change.
Kami--I also like quiche.
Amy--I'm not so sure--I imagine 4 girls can do some serious damage in the laundry department.
Phil--You're killing me!! That's just another argument for my wife not to allow pets in the house.
I hear you the reused clothing. If I can catch the shirt before it runs away--it's getting worn again.
I don't ever separate the colors unless something needs a good bleaching. We also have a HUGE, I mean HUGE pile of laundry waiting to be folded. It seems to wander around the house, room to room until someone gets sick of it and starts folding.
My kids don't even wear shoes in the summertime unless we go someplace fancy, i.e., out of the yard, and then it is flip-flops all the way.
Ed, you crack me up! Thanks for your funny, funny comments on my blog; you always catch me off guard, and I love it.
As for this post, I HATE the white load. That's why, for Mother's Day, I asked for "white load folding/sorting" coupons (and got them). When I find clean clothes in the chute, I sniff them. If they smell good enough, I fold them up and put them in the basket as if I washed them. So far, no one has caught on! And yes, lose the socks!
Whit--I'm not a fan--but I'm looking for som crocs--or croc knock-offs. Our laundry pile is in the guest bedroom. We need more guests and my laundry would be kept folded.
Kissin Time--I didn't get anything for Mother's Day. I may have to try the fluff and refold thing.
Whit--I'm not a fan--but I'm looking for some crocs--or croc knock-offs. Our laundry pile is in the guest bedroom. We need more guests and my laundry would be kept folded.
Kissin Time--I didn't get anything for Mother's Day. I may have to try the fluff and refold thing.
P.S. Do you have a profile on Cre8buzz? I searched but didn't find one. I know you said you had trouble keeping up with it; did you join, though?
Also, did you try Dogpile? What did you think of it?
Put it all in together on cold. Once the kids move out, you can have nice clothes that need to be washed separately.
Yes, you need a vacation!!
Trooper Thorn--I'm a big fan of the cold wash--I fear, though that I shall never see the day that they leave the house.
Nola--You have no idea!