My Nemesis

If you read my intro post that listed 100 things about me, then you may remember that one of my least favorite things to do is the laundry. When I lived in the States I would do it all in one day and spend the whole day doing it so I could be done and not have to worry about it for another week. The worst part of it is I don't trust anyone to do it but me. I like to sort a certain way, wash using combinations of detergent and oxy clean for different loads and each load has a certain temperature water that I use. I know what you are thinking, I hate it because I make it so complicated. You are probably right, but with knowing all that, I still have to do it my way.

The good thing is that since moving here I have simplified the laundry task (not by choice but by necessity). And since I have a house helper (we call her Da Jie--Big Sister, the boys call her Da Ma--Big Mama) the task for me is cut by I would say 40%. Now I can only wash with cold water. I don't have hot water that runs to the laundry room at all. I'm hoping this will change soon--we are going to buy a small hot water heater to run in there and the kitchen since this winter will bring ice cold water for dishes and hand washing in the kitchen. So as the washer fills up I add the detergent and oxy clean (which I brought with me but can be bought in the capital city-PTL) and then the clothes. I have to be very careful to make sure nothing is tangled. Sounds weird, I know, but the washers here don't have the thing in the middle to help keep things separated. So by the end of the first spin cycle everything is knotted and twisted together. As soon as I load I have to set the timer for the end of the first cycle so I will be sure to add the softener in time. I never used softener before, just got dryer sheets. But you can't get dryer sheets here, so unless I want to use stiff towels and wear crunchy feeling underwear I'll deal with the timer thing. I'm pretty sure this is where a Downy Ball would come in handy, but those aren't available here and I would have to watch the load the whole time to make sure it released at the appropriate time. Just the first time...maybe two. So once that process is finished I am glad to accept help. When the load is finished Da Jie or myself will move the load on the the dryer. PTL I have a dryer. Those are slightly hard to come by here, I don't know one national that owns one. The dryer takes 1.5-2 hours to completely dry a load. And I do the smallest loads possible without completely wasting water and detergent. I've even started hanging some items (like jeans) until they are mostly dry and then just letting them get soft in the dryer. When they are finally dry either Da Jie or I get them out, fold them and put them away. I hate folding, mostly cause the boys clothes are small and numerous. The culture here will wear the same thing several days in a row. I'm not that culturally savvy but I will wear some things several times before they get washed. We aren't to that point with the boys yet. Their clothes get dirty. Mostly because they are covered with food (well Bennett) or dirt if they've been outside. So, anyway, folding all those little shirts, socks, etc. seems to take an eternity. That's only slightly exaggerated.

I hope this gives you insight to one part of my neurosis, I mean life here. I only take credit for making it slightly more difficult than necessary. And I need to thank Rachel B. for the best spot treater in the world. She gave me a bottle of De-Solv-It and it's the only thing I've ever seen get out a grease stain completely (which we get quite frequently when eating lots of greasy food with chopsticks), sometimes even after a previous wash and tumble in the dryer.

Wow, long post for this subject. Seriously, I've got to get a grip.