Another time consuming chore: The Laundry~
Many of my children, after their missions, came home with very dingy looking under and
outerwear. What started out as pearly white returned a bit dishwasher dirty. We discovered
that our washing machine here in Cambodia did not have hot water running into it (again,
please know that I am thrilled that we have an actual working washing machine in our
apartment). So, like the process of washing the dishes, there was also a process of cleaning
our clothes (if we did not want them looking disgusting upon our return trip home).
outerwear. What started out as pearly white returned a bit dishwasher dirty. We discovered
that our washing machine here in Cambodia did not have hot water running into it (again,
please know that I am thrilled that we have an actual working washing machine in our
apartment). So, like the process of washing the dishes, there was also a process of cleaning
our clothes (if we did not want them looking disgusting upon our return trip home).
I decided that we would try to bypass this eventual outcome by taking extra
precautions! One being that a little "Spray and Wash" would be helpful.
precautions! One being that a little "Spray and Wash" would be helpful.
I purchased: "Oxygen Power Stain Remover"
Unfortunately, their stain remover is really just "Windex"(a wolf in
sheep's clothing). I'm guessing someone watched "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"
and assumed that this was a solution to all their problems (including laundry).
sheep's clothing). I'm guessing someone watched "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"
and assumed that this was a solution to all their problems (including laundry).
Like the dishes, I started boiling 2 pots of water and taking one back to the bathroom, pouring
it into the washing machine, going back to the kitchen, filling up the 1st pot, stick it on the
stove, take the 2nd pot back to the washing machine and continue this procedure for about
15 minutes. We did our laundry about twice weekly as I couldn't convince Billy to just wear the
same clothes 5 days in a row. This took about 17 trips. Fortunately, it wasn't long before I
discovered the water in our bathroom faucet is scalding hot for about 6 minutes. With this
grand discovery I was able to fill up the washing machine with hot water from the bathroom
sink, saving me a hundred steps and splashes of boiling water on my arms, chest and feet!
it into the washing machine, going back to the kitchen, filling up the 1st pot, stick it on the
stove, take the 2nd pot back to the washing machine and continue this procedure for about
15 minutes. We did our laundry about twice weekly as I couldn't convince Billy to just wear the
same clothes 5 days in a row. This took about 17 trips. Fortunately, it wasn't long before I
discovered the water in our bathroom faucet is scalding hot for about 6 minutes. With this
grand discovery I was able to fill up the washing machine with hot water from the bathroom
sink, saving me a hundred steps and splashes of boiling water on my arms, chest and feet!
The hazard, just like in the kitchen, is being careful not to get burned.
I discovered if you allow one pan to fill up while you are dumping the other in the machine
it goes faster but the switching out of one pot and replacing the other one is the tricky part.
The Process:
1. Put 6 scoops of laundry detergent in the machine (just like the liquid dish soap is diluted,
the laundry soap is diluted as well). 2. Turn the washing machine on for just a second to let
it spin the soap and the "diluted" Clorox bleach around. 3. Once the water starts streaming
in press pause. 4. Pour the scalding hot water from the sink into the washing machine.
1. Put 6 scoops of laundry detergent in the machine (just like the liquid dish soap is diluted,
the laundry soap is diluted as well). 2. Turn the washing machine on for just a second to let
it spin the soap and the "diluted" Clorox bleach around. 3. Once the water starts streaming
in press pause. 4. Pour the scalding hot water from the sink into the washing machine.
5. Once the machine is halfway full of water, turn the machine back on to see if the water level is up high enough (you will know if it is because no cold water will come in). 6. If the water is not coming into the machine press the button that will make the water fill up more. 7. Then press pause again so that more hot water can be added and the cold water can't stream in. 8. Begin adding the clothes.
9, 10, 11. Continue adding the water, checking the water level of the machine and going through the process of turning it on and then pressing pause. This allows the hot water level to be in the machine without the machine adding cold water but to also allow enough water in the machine to cover the clothes (as it only fills up a tiny bit without the additional "add" extra water button).
The clothes are done in about an hour. 12. Hang them up
13. Rotate them back and forth under the fan/air-conditioning.
Good, Clean Fun!
