I admit it: I’m nerdy about my laundry.
Back in the days before children when I was running a small business from home, I was also, you know, the homemaker which was okay with me because I had a lot of time in which to take care of everything. I watched a lot of Martha Stewart-y television (who, by the way, I blame for systematically whipping my imaginary OCD into a frenzy that feels VERY real to me now) which taught me how to be a Goddess of All Things Domestic.
I used to make Mondays and Fridays my major cleaning days – a day after the weekend, and again just before the weekend to launder, restock, replenish, wipe down, and re-organise all I deemed necessary to make the rest of the week smooth. I would spend the rest of the work week maintaining my excellence, and basically have the weekends off.
I used to change the bed sheets every Sunday night – fresh sheets for the first sleep for the week ahead. I used to rotate AND flip our mattress as per a 3-month schedule – a reminder note was pinned to the ends of the bed, indicating when it was time to do so. This was to keep the mattress from sagging and lumping with time. (Plus, Martha said to do it, so it HAD to be necessary.)
Incidentally, that little note is long-gone now… I’m sure I haven’t flipped the mattress in over two years. Le sigh.
The bathroom used to get a complete overhaul of white linens every other day too, but all this was before children.
Of course with children comes a different kind of mess. And a different amount too. One has to let oneself off the hook about the way things used to be, when one is faced with what really is. I really can’t manage my domestic schedule the way I used to. Okay, I could, but I would need to be a meth-addict or something.
But no one wants to go backwards…
So, though I don’t always manage to get the sheets changed every week anymore (often it’s after two) we do wear fresh pajamas every night. I figure this keeps things a bit cleaner between the sheets, as long as no one is peeing or puking in them. (Also, we have a dog who sheds black hair everywhere, so after thirty minutes of playing on the floor, or dragging too-long pj bottoms while walking, it’s amazing how hairy their clothes become – they’re not going back in the drawers or into the clean-ish sheets tonight, thanks but no.)
I do like Martha’s rule about having at least 3 sets of sheets – one for the bed, one for the hamper, and one for the linen closet. (Swoon… a linen closet. Dare to dream… ours live with our jeans.)
I have the same rule about towels, so every person in our house gets three. I change them twice a week – hand towels more often (but daily if there are any colds in the house.) Have I mentioned that they’re all white? I love it. It’s restful and spa/hotel like to me. And? I like dirt I can see. After washing, I put the freshest ones at the bottom of the stack so they get all the same amount of use. When they get dingy-looking, I just get new ones. (Thanks to bleach, this is less often that one might think.)
Oh, and I fold them so you never see the seam-edges. What? I already said I was nerdy, so just shut up. Plus, it’s pretty, yo. And it’s not so OCD-like – it makes me smile every time I walk into the bathroom. It makes it look instantly cleaner in there, no matter what’s on the counter or wherever.
It’s all about control, really. (Which we all know is an illusion anyway, right?) Another day I’ll show you the insides of my dresser drawers. RAWR!
I’ve desired to publish about one thing like th is on my webpage and th is has given me an thought. Thanks.
Restacking at the bottom is a highly underrated practice, me thinks. So glad you agree, Christine!!
Dude. There’s so much drinking, it’s almost embarrassing… that’s when I do my best folding, you know – over some pinot grigio… hee!!
I actually feel like I am a guy when i read this stuff- i am so impressed with it but a little far from it. Impressive to run such a tight ship but is there much drinking ? I have some obsessions but I fear they would illuminate my unique peculiarities! I want to see those drawers though!!!!
I’m with you on putting the clean ones at the bottom of the pile so they get even usage. I do that with our clothes too, never letting Tim put the laundry away, he just wouldn’t get it!
I thought of you THE WHOLE TIME I wrote this post, Jen. Want white towels? Winners… you should go. Yes. Think: BATHSHEETS!! Makes me all tingly inside…
Oh, how I WISH this house had a linen closet!! Sadly, old Victorian row-houses seldom do. They seldom have bedrooms big enough to house a queen sized bed OR even a regular sized closet of any kind… I’ve learned to live with less, as long as they’re tidy inside. But it’s taken a HUGE effort, I tell you. 🙂
Admittedly I don’t change my sheets or wash them NEAR frequently enough but I do have an answer to the mattress flipping/rotating schedule. Get a sleep number bed. Never again a need to flip or rotate. Heh.
I am totally going to start buying all white towels because it annoys me that mine are all different colors. I too fold mine and place them all the same direction.
We are such soul sisters.
my gramma would always talk about my great gramma’s linen closet (and gramma’s is immaculate, too) but it was a high source of pride. no seams showing, sheets and TOWELS!!! ironed…stacked neatly, just so.
i don’t think it’s nerdy, in fact, i think a “linen closet” is a lost art! we need more throwbacks and martha-ness in our lives i think!
You’re not alone, Gav… I often laugh at my husband’s efforts too. Heh.
I don’t know if it’s a ‘guy’ thing – but I am severely folding challenged. I try… but every time I make the bed I get laughed at. 🙂