Regular readers may be aware of my mild obsession with laundry. I do at least one load of laundry every single day, without fail. If I can't get to a washing machine I find myself getting distinctly jittery. The day I saw the bottom of my laundry basket ranks up there with getting straight As at A-Level for 5 star super dooper days.
My obsession is reaching new heights. I found myself, in an idle moment wondering what advice I would give to my sons as they flew the nest, and was faintly disturbed to find that most of it revolved around getting their washing done.
So, reader, it is a big confession that I have to make to you. Because I don't have a CLUE what those little signs they put on clothes labels to tell you how to wash the clothes actually mean. You know the ones - a triangle with a circle in it or the square with a circle in it and a cross through it. I don't like it when they have have a cross through it, it normally means don't do something and the problem is I don't know what I'm not supposed to do. This may explain why Dave's favourite ever jumper is now dressing a 12 year old.
Clearly the sign with a big 40 on it means wash the clothes at 40. That sign is my friend. But what of the others? There must be one for don't put in the drier which, not having a drier, I don't have to worry about. But the rest of them? Does anyone actually know what they mean?
On a slightly different tack, I was unpacking some of our old baby clothes at the weekend and came across a helpful note: "12-18 months The Red Dungarees dye EVERYTHING pink, which is why despite having 2 sons you have a lot of pink 12-18 month clothes". Good to know don't you think?
I think I do as much laundry as you and one of my 3 kids isn't here any more. I usually do a couple of loads every day or two and my washer is huge. God knows where it all comes from, but I certainly don't share your love of it. That's just weird.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say I love doing it, but I love it when I've a pile of freshly laundered, folded clothes.
ReplyDeleteJust hope that the clothes are all the same size they were when they went into the washing machine...
No idea what most of those labels mean either....!
ReplyDeleteWe have a huge washing machine here, so can leave it to every other day. I don't know how I will cope once we are back in England with a typical small machine....
No, no, no. You've got it all wrong. The 40 sign means you have to be 40 years old to wash that item. Don't tell me you've been washing those ones merrily through your 20s and 30s. The laundry police will be after you.
ReplyDeleteI am a whizz with care label instructions (probably from having worked at Next through my teens on Saturdays). Circles are for dry cleaning - and the letter or symbol inside the circle is essentially to tell the dry cleaner which solvent they should use. Squares are drying instructions.Square with a circle in is for tumble drying and number of dots refers to how high a heat you can whack it on at. There are other drying symbols for drip-drying and lie-flat drying but I can't remember having seen those often. Nowadays I think they tend to write 'Dry on a flat surface', don't they, because nobody understands the symbols.
ReplyDeleteDespite all this marvellous knowledge, I wash everything at 60 (mostly because I also do a wash a day of muddy, food-encrusted clothes) and dry it all on the radiators. (I don't think there's a symbol for that)
nvg - it's not the washing that means I have to wash every day but the drying... there's only so many radiators in our house (and I know exactly how long it takes every pair of jeans to dry at what time of day..)
ReplyDeleteiota - I KNEW it! Don't tell them about the phase I had for washing at 60. They'll be ever so cross.
fiona - they need a symbol for drying on radiators. Preferably one that will tell you how long it will take to dry so I can sort out a drying system.
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Nope have no clue about them either just know that all woolies have to be hand washed and put on the radiator and that everything I love and cherish such as pretty skirts and dresses have to be sent to the dry cleaners - hence the reason I wear jeans and sweat shirts mostly...
ReplyDeleteI don't know whether to be more impressed (and scared) by your love of laundry or the speed and efficiency of your spammers...
ReplyDeleteAnyway. You have a baby. You therefore clearly should know that you are only supposed to wash his clothes in pure soap hand made by virgins on the full moon in water the precise temperature of amniotic fluid. This will, of course, do nothing to get the poo out, but it will prove to all and sundry that you love your baby.
Alternatively you dcould do what I do and bung everything in at 40 with copious amounts of napisan. Unless it's really disgusting, in which case throw it out.
That's actually true. Fortunately for world resources and my budget, I have a pretty high disgust threshhold.
Woollens and silks of course should be left in the laundry basket indefinitely. It won't get them clean but it will mean you won't have to hand wash them.
Anon - yes, maybe, but that still doesn't tell me what those labels actually mean...
ReplyDeleteTattie - similar scenario here. Lots of jeans and sweaters. Little pretty stuff (and what there is has been through the machine and is no longer quite so pretty)
PlanB - Obviously woollens and silks languish at the bottom of the basket. That is why I was so impressed to actually SEE the bottom of my basket. I haven't seen it since - and that day was a good 2 years ago now...
I have never ever seen the bottom of my laundry basket. I too have no idea what the labels mean
ReplyDeleteNo clue either....I just sort roughly by darks and whites and hope for the best. You can fold my laundry any day, heheh :)-
ReplyDeleteI don't understand laundry labels either which is why all our clothes are dishwater grey and fit the cat...
ReplyDeleteThere is something satisfying about sticking in a load of laundry. I just put them on the same and hope for the best!
ReplyDeleteYou need one of those little magnetic guides to symbols from Lakeland. With all their glorious laundry paraphernalia Lakeland must be your favourite shop?
ReplyDeleteEmily....I am an American who has stumbled upon your blog while researching info on what is involved in moving to Bosinia. My wife (who is Bosinian) and I are planning a permanent move to Bosinia at the end of this year. Ihave previously lived in London for a year, but this adventure is much different. I am trying to find out all things great and small regarding such a move. Would you consider contacting me via e-mail (chuckysam17@yahoo.com) to provide insite. I would be most appreciative. Thanks...Chuck Diaz P.S. I sincerely apologize for rudely intruding into your current blog
ReplyDeleteJen - I was relying on you to know!
ReplyDeleteTanya - Me too. I quite like laundry folding... must get out more.
Lottie - same here...
About Last Weekend - I like sticking on laundry, it is the putting it away that I can't stand.
A&U - Why do I not know about Lakeland?
Chuck - no problems, we love a bit of intrusion to take our mind off the laundry. Will email...