Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Laundry Mishaps

Those of you who know my mom, know what a great housekeeper she is. Almost before you've finished your dinner, she has your plate in the dishwasher. Before you take your shoes off, they're stowed away in some unknown closet. Before your dirty clothes hit the laundry basket, they're washed, dried, folded and put away.

It's a good thing I take after my mom. Because if I didn't, clothes might occasionally pile up. But since I'm so on top of things (like my mother), they of course never do.

And speaking of laundry, my mom always taught me to wash whites with whites, darks with darks, and lighter colors with their likes. And usually in small loads. Since the laundry never piles up, of course.

So today when I finished folding all the laundry (that didn't take two hours...since of course I've been so on top of things the past few weeks...), I wouldn't have dreamed of throwing all the clothes we've worn in the past two days into one load...just to have everything clean and put away at once. I would NEVER do that. Because my mom never would.

If I did think it a good idea to throw everything into the washer (not to mention the still-wet-from-yesterday clothes I forgot to put in the dryer), that would mean a HUGE load with every variety of color. White. Black. And lots of pink. Lots of new, bright pink baby clothes. Good thing I know better than to mix all those colors.

I can only imagine what would've happened. Like Joe's white underwear...pink. Or maybe Avery's cute, white shorts and new white blouse...pink. Or my family reunion t-shirt...pink tie die. And any white socks? Pink.

Good thing I know better. Because as much as I love pink, it just wouldn't be pretty. And my mom would probably have a heart attack. So don't worry mom...I know better. Ahem.

19 comments:

Sarah E said...

Love it! My problem is always with random bleaching. Bleach was banned from my house about 9 years ago, but stil... Ryan's dress shirts always come out tie-died with bleach!

Erin said...

If only we were as great as our Mom's! I still remember my laundry neatly folded, ironed, and put away within 1 day of me so carefully throwing it on my bedroom floor. And at one point, she was doing laundry for 9!

It's funny how you can hear your mother's voice in the back of your mind as you are doing something you know, she probably wouldn't do.

I think you guys just started new fashion statements!! Embrace the pink tie dyed look...it's totally in!

Tina said...

I so understand. I NEVER do any of that either. In fact, I know my sister and I so so good at doing laundry and my mom never has to fold it or do it when she comes over because its already done....
that was great! Thanks for being real!

Hiller Family said...

Laundry is a battle that I rarely win. Your post was great, honestly my husbands underwear have ended up pink more than once.

Art and Evelyn said...

Okay, don't tell your mom this but OxyClean works wonders on random pink clothes. I'm just telling you in case this ever happens to you in the future! It's so great you're on top of things! What a good example you are to me! haha! Love ya!

Allie said...

Yeah, you aren't the only one that has ever done that. I mean....of course not you specifically! ;)I read your post and was like "Crap, I REALLY should go do laundry now" Good luck trying to bleach those whites!

Darci said...

Did you ever see that episode of "Friends" where Rachel did this?? It was so funny, yet awful. I was always afraid of that happening. Sorry. ARG. Sounds like Oxyclean might work, I would totally try that.

Maylene said...

What??? You don't want ALL your clothes to be pink? J/K...Robyn you always make me laugh. It's funny, I always thought that since I have the washing machine and dryer in my house...it would be a piece of cake to do laundry. Remember that days hauling stuff to the wash hut or other places like that. But somehow, even though it is only a few steps aways, I am really good at letting the mountain of dirty clothes grow into Everest!

Aly said...

Laundry is so evil! For a short while (a couple of years ago) I had it down to an art...one load every day, never a pile up! Wish I still had it under such control. I know first hand that Oxyclean works, just fill up your kitchen sink (or tub) and let it soak. Hot water, lots of Oxy Clean, and soak it all day (occasionally stirring it) Works like a charm:)

Lyenna Kemp said...

Seriously, laundry is my least favorite job of the house. I would rather clean toilets, at least it gets done in 5 minutes. You do laundry and it takes an entire day. Well, it probably wouldn't if I did it more often. Oh and who assumed that because I do the laundry I have to empty the pockets?!! Gum, crayons, items of question, man can't they just empty their own pockets. Come on people!!

Kimberly said...

I still haven't put away the clothes that I folded last week. Now I have an entire new batch of laundry to do...ugh, it never ends!

Diane said...

Boy am I glad you kids have such short memories. I guess you've forgotten the "sock basket". I think you guys thought it was odd to go to a friend's house and have them get socks out of their drawers. You thought that basket was actually "normal"! And...yes...I've had my share of pink underwear. Of course, it couldn't just be mine since I love pink anyway. It had to be Dad's too. Live and learn. At least today there are remedies for these accidents. Back then it was wear it or throw it!

This post was funny. Stressed me out, but it was funny! Glad it wasn't true!!!

Christie said...

Are you sure I'm not your mother's long lost child? Because I'm pretty sure I am EXACTLY like her.

Darcie said...

It was a few years ago that I was so sick of laundry piles, that I decided enough was enough. Now I do laundry two days a week, wash fold, put in clean baskets and as soon as it's done my kids put there clothes away or I will if I have the time. This works the best for me I tried to do one or two loads a day but then I always felt like I was never done!

I am glad to say that I haven't mixed colors since I started this. I am also glad that my kids are old enough that they can help in this task!!

Best of LUCK in this never ending battle:)

Grandma Hand said...

Oh Robyn you really crack me up because you are just like your mom. I really have tried to reform for just the two of us and fold and put away IMMEDIATELY IF NOT SOONER. My biggest problem is always being one sock short when I do the laundry I always end up with three or one never 2 or 4 and I find the sock hid under the bed AFTER THE LAUNDRY IS DONE.

Mandy said...

ha ha ha~ too funny! pink is my favorite so I would be happy too!

Deanie said...

I seriously thought about a "sock exchange" when the kids were younger, I was really sure that everoine else must have all those missing socks. Where did they go?? I will never know. They might be easier to keep track of if they were pink, stand out more....

Michael said...

Ha ha! I did that with a yellow dish towel once...and trust me, yellow is much less appealing than white. It just makes everything look dingey. Is that how you spell that?

Grandma Hand said...

I loved your blog because you are so human. I do better with laundry now but its the dishwasher is never unloaded and ready for another batch.