The old poem goes,
Wash on Monday,
Iron on Tuesday,
Mend on Wednesday,
Churn on Thursday,
Clean on Friday,
Bake on Saturday,Rest on Sunday.
Have you heard it before? It's been stuck in my head, but I googled about a little for a source. Perhaps the most legitimate-looking one was at this library's website. The library credits the Little House books for one version of the poem, and some more googling revealed that an alternate line is "Thursday Market Day." How fun. :)
Monday used to be my exclusive wash day! It was just how I organized my week. But now that our family is bigger, and one of us wears cloth diapers and gives sweet hugs to Mommy with her food-covered hands, there is simply more wash to do. So, I do as much as I can on Monday, but there are always a few more loads during the rest of the week.
Mostly, I'm here to tell you that I finished felting my dryer balls! Here they are . . .
Don't they look cute in the basket of cloth diapers? They're covered with fuzzies because I've been using them. When I first pinned the idea, friends shared some conflicting comments . . .
But mine came out well, if less colorful than the ones in this picture! And do they work? Well, I haven't been using much fabric softener lately anyway, so I haven't done clinical trial comparisons . . . but I like them. :) And they're natural and green. If you decide to make them, I do recommend that you follow the directions closely, including binding them tightly in an old panty hose. I felted mine on two wash days and just kept throwing them in the washer with warm loads. Both the cores and the full balls were probably washed 3-4 times.
We've been phasing out the Downy and Tide lately . . . the Tide was completely phased out, but my dear John bought some more for us, and you just don't complain when your husband brings home laundry detergent of any sort. :) Now we mostly use Trader Joe's plant-derived powder detergent not only for the cloth diapers but also for all our clothes. I've also switched to an oxygen bleach, occasionally use the Borax, and now the dryer balls . . . step by step . . .
But it's always good for me to pause and remember, No matter how natural, healthy, frugal and green you try to live, Gretchen, what really matters is how much Jesus loves you, and there's nothing you can do to add to that. And without trusting in His atoning work, the most natural, healthy, frugal and green person will suffer the same eternal death as everyone else . . .
What's your favorite laundry detergent? Have you tried dryer balls?
I agree with the last statement, and I remind myself of that, especially on occasions when I buy frozen pizza for dinner or something like that.
ReplyDeleteSarah, we have a frozen pizza every Sunday night. :)
DeleteMy comment isn't related to your conclusion; it's something a little more mundane. I used to do our laundry primarily on Mondays (with more loads here and there as needed) until Natalie came along, and then that plan worked no longer! My mother churned as a child, but I don't know which day that chore (one that she despised) was done. But I can remember when I was a child that Thursday was grocery shopping/errand day, Friday was the day she cleaned the house and did her hair (or had it done) and Saturday was the day she baked a dessert for Sunday lunch. :)
ReplyDeleteThat is neat, Denise. Very neat. I didn't know people were still regularly churning their own butter so few generations ago. :)
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