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Laundry Day

It was the one day when my sister and I knew we could get permission for a later night or something our mom would have otherwise said no to. While the washing machine swirled and spun and rinsed and dried the laundry we worked our way into a conversation which would innocuously lead to an idea of a sleep over or a temporary raise in allowance for a to-die-for pair of expensive shoes. Hands worked in unison as we folded laundry together, and then she would just nod or smile her approval. By the time the ironing was finished it was a win-win situation. By the time I reached college I reached two conclusions: firstly mother knew we wanted something when we willingly helped with the laundry and secondly while we did the laundry I never really paid much attention to the whole process that she followed like a ritual. For the latter I paid heavily when I added a red blouse to a wash load and ended up with a lot of pink splashed clothes. Slowly but surely as my college years drew to a close my knowledge of the art and science of laundering grew. I found most of the theoretical management practices I learnt in class in use during my weekly laundry sessions. Multitasking, organization of cleaning supplies, time and resource management, etc, you name the topic and I found myself practicing it at the college launderette. This also included an attempt to delegate responsibility in the form of slipping part of my washing in someone else’s cycle only to find it disappear. Rest assured I wasn’t going to try the management principle again when it came to my laundry.

If laundering stirs up feelings of dread and drudgery then perhaps you are going about the whole process with the wrong attitude. Postponing this all important task will leave you not only with an unending cycle of piles of unwashed clothes but more importantly very few clean clothes to wear. Think of it this way if wearing clothes is essential so is washing them and getting them ready for the next wear. To make things a bit easier to start with choose the right spot in the house to do your laundry, for this you need to keep the following things in mind:

Have a designated area for the soiled clothes and have your family member bring in their dirty laundry in assigned colorful baskets; the colored separated from the whites.
Ensure proper plumbing, drainage and ventilation for the washing machine.
Create an ironing area next to the laundry machine so that you can iron the clothes as soon as they are washed and dried. This will not only save on time but the still damp cloth makes ironing easier and avoids further wrinkling of the garment or linen.
Have the required cleaning supplies at hand.
Ensure that you have enough counter space for the clean and ironed laundry.
Keep the laundry area bright and cheerful. Play some lively music as you do your chores.
Have a list of laundering tips and stain removal hints taped to the wall next to your washing machine.

Choosing the cleaning supplies for your laundry can be confusing considering the range of products that are available. Here is a complete list of things you may require to get the clothes clean:

• A phosphate free powder or liquid detergent that works efficiently in all types of water. A dispensing pump for the same.
• A fabric softener with a dispensing pump.
• A pre-laundry stain remover liquid or spray.
• A pre-laundry stain removal stick which can be applied almost a week before washing. This ensures that the stain is being loosened long before the wash cycle.
• A spot remover, that is especially useful for upholstery and rugs.
• A spray to remove wrinkles from clothes to make the ironing process easier.
• An extra strength cleaner for dirtier than usual laundry.
• A degreaser to help remove the toughest grease, dirt and food.
• A clothes brush.
• A lint remover brush.
• An ironing board with a cover that aluminum flakes in the cloth blend to reflect the heat given out by the iron, thereby making the process more efficient.
• A special formula for your delicate wash.
  

Having the right products at hand and organizing the whole process of laundering can make this often cumbersome yet essential task easier and less time and energy consuming. Always ensure the cleaning agents you use are bio friendly and don’t forget to read the instructions provided with the product. Also check the washing and ironing instruction provided for each garment before you choose the wash cycle. This will ensure proper care of the clothes as well as make your choice of garments to be washed together a whole lot easier.

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Laundry Day, Washing, Cleaning Articles, Stanley Home Health News