A day in the life of me: Laundry Day

Although we're beginning to fall into some type of routine, the only day that has been consistent for more than 2 weeks now, is Wednesday, our laundry day. After the first load of laundry, I knew I would have to devote a whole day to the chore. Otherwise, I would either end up feeling frustrated that I accomplished nothing else, or I would grow weary trying to tackle this chore several times throughout the week. Early on, Bradley and I quickly discovered that if we didn't set 1 or 2 goals for the day, we were spent and undone by the close of it. If you don't choose a goal or two, then you'll soon find yourself pulled in different directions, unsure of what to do first. On the flip side, if you try to undertake more than 2 goals, you'll find yourself extremely frustrated and unaccomplished because here everything takes longer. Traffic, poorly marked roads, well-meant, but misguided help, along with other factors all contribute either to a lesson in patience or a minor melt down. It's your choice. Unfortunately we've made the wrong choice a few times, but thankfully we have the blessing of a warm, somewhat comfortable bed where we can recoup, and then arise to make the right choice: patience. This brings us to Wednesdays. Besides preparing meals, and a short break here or there with Laura Ingalls (I feel it's appropriate to watch Little House on the Prairie, as I'm tapping into my pioneer woman spirit for this task), I wash, hang, and fold all day. Before moving here we'd planned on having a washing machine. We'd looked at some small machines, that would work for us, but once we rented our flat, we realized that we neither had the space, nor the ability to host one. Plus, getting  it up the stairs would have been well, possibly impossible. So, we had to shift our thinking a little. We started shopping around for a different type of washing machine. If you ever find yourself in Cambodia, here I offer my experience in how to know if you have a good quality machine. 

First, you have to test the "hot water" setting,

and don't forget to add the detergent.

Although Bradley has assembled the hot water heater

we purchased, our flat does not have enough electricity

to use it for more than 8 seconds before the breaker trips.

We're hoping to find a solar powered battery or car battery

to charge the water heater since a certain pansy in our

home does not care for her cold showers.

Next, we have to wait for the hot water to fill 

the washing bin... one kettle's worth at a time.

Yes, this part does take a while, which is why I don't

wash everything with hot water. Our towels, sheets,

and extra dirty clothes are the only items that get

the boiling water treatment. I finish Filling up with

cool water to ensure that I don't burn myself while

"warshin', wish-a-wash, warshin', tingle-tangle-tingle

wish-a-wash, warshin'." You have to do something to

stay intrigued while doing laundry prairie style. ;o)

Then we add the clothes to be washed.

It's important to be sure the agitator in the "machine"

is working appropriately, or the clothes will stay dirty.

Here I use my fish style washboard to agitate the

clothing, but Bradley has now made me a wooden

laundry stirring paddle that works wonderfully!

Then I use my WWII persona to scrub the tar out

of the article at hand. Dunk, scrub, dunk, scrub. 

There's a message true and glad for the sinful and sad

"wring" it out! "Wring" it out!

It will give them courage new, it will help them to be true

"wring" it out! "Wring" it out!

Yes, I think of this song every time I do this part.

Then I fluff the item, as I learned after the first time,

if I don't, it will stay wrinkled until the next wash. 

Yummy!

Rinse cycle.

A good machine agitates during this cycle as well.

Dunk, dunk, dunk, and wring it out again. 

Fluff again, and put in the basket with the other

rinsed clothing, before the final cycle. 

The dry cycle works best when it's not raining.

We can also hang them inside, but it takes them longer

to dry since less breeze comes through the windows. 

Okay, well, I hope I've helped you in determining what makes a good washing machine. I thank God for my functioning hands, running water, working electricity, hot water kettle, and natural drying elements. Laundry day may be different in Cambodia, but it's still a blessing to have clean clothes for these temporary bodies. I do miss the fluffy feeling of fresh, warm clothes out of the dryer, but washing my entire wardrobe by hand leaves me feeling worthy of a good night's rest at the end of the day. May your fluff and fold warm your bodies and homes!