Let’s all first establish something fundamental. We all like clothes.
It’s our way to express ourselves. There’s an entire world of clothing choices. Fashion is and has always been in vogue.
The inference is that clothes are ubiquitous and, you’re going to need to wash them, now and again.
It’s magic (but not really)
I don’t recall having to wash my clothes as a kid. I’d just put them in the laundry basket and, they would appear, washed, dried, ironed and sorted in my cupboard. It felt like magic.
But it wasn’t, was it? It was Mum and Father sorting out the washing and drying bits and the Ironer(Presser) who came to your flat and picked up the 2 kilos worth of your family’s clothes to iron.
Uni life reality check
When I moved into University and had to live with other students at the dormitories, things were not very magical at all. As lessons, assignments, and deadlines piled on, so did the clothes in equal capacity.
We had a washer and dryer inside our unit, but it still felt like a chore to gather the pile of stale clothes and go through a washing cycle and then a drying cycle. (so much work, innit)
I understand how dramatic and over the top I’m making it sound. In hindsight, it wasn’t that bad.
A New Perspective
I’ve recently found myself in a bit of a flatting pickle. Not to dwell on it, but let’s just say I’m living the minimal life, for a brief period.
As such, I’ve had to be very considerate with the cadence of my laundry sessions. Things have changed a tad bit.
- I curate my clothing choices.
- Concern for the quality of the clothes has taken priority and as a result, so has the kind of detergent I’ve started using.
- I visit a community laundry room with industrial-grade washer and dryer units that are stacked.
- They make a very infantile sound (like a jingle) when they’ve finished their run. It’s charming.
- I time my visits to the said laundry room.
39 minutes for a wash cycle. (Hey Google, set an alarm for 38 minutes, cheers thanks)53 minutes for a drying cycle. (Hey Google, set an alarm for 52 minutes, cheers thanks)
- I spend about 10 minutes folding my clothes, rather meticulously. I can’t explain why. (maybe it’s konmari)
- I wrap my well-folded clothes in a canvas handbag and bring them back to my room, where I then organize everything in my cupboard.
So, I can confidently admit that doing my own laundry has taught me a lesson in self-discipline and is probably building a good habit and some character.
Feels, nice.
