The other afternoon, I was running around like a chicken with its head cut off, readying the house for dinner guests. Our laundry “room” is a tiny closet off our kitchen, so I decided to multitask and throw a load in while I prepared the meal.
We have a 30-plus-year-old, top-load washer that doesn’t have all those newfangled features and settings, so I usually dump the detergent in and allow the basin to fill about 1/6 of the way so the soap and water mix before throwing my clothes in. Well, on this particular day, I did that and then ran over to the kitchen sink to wash some veggies, planning to return to add the clothes after about a minute.
You can probably guess where this is headed. I busied myself in the kitchen and never ended up adding the laundry to the washer. Thirty minutes later, the washer finished its cycle, and I walked over to find the lid open and the basin empty. I immediately realized what had happened.
By that point, Mr. Handsome had returned from work and was vacuuming the living room, so I told him about my little blunder. “You know,” he said. “I walked by the washer and saw it running with the top open and nothing inside, and I just thought to myself, ‘This must be why my wife never asks me to help with the laundry. There are just too many things I’ll never understand.'” We both had a good laugh.
Has anyone else made a similar mistake?
Anonymous
I do this ALL the time. Typically when I'm cooking, cleaning or doing schoolwork. I probably do it at least once every 2 weeks.
Anonymous
Hi Ellie,
Sorry this is off the subject but do you have a pasta recipe?
I have pasta Wednesdays and am always look for different types.
Thanks!
-Anna
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Hi Anna,
I do love pasta, although we don't eat it too often. When I do make it, I usually just experiment (a little bit of this, and a little bit of that), but I'll see if I can put my recipes down on paper. 🙂
Ellie
Regina
Well your washer is clean now.LOL
At the laundromat when we lived in CA I would forget to add the soap after I added the coins.
Most recently with our new washer you have to do three things: 1. Add soap and fabric softener if you use liquid. 2. Press power. 3.Select cycle 4. Press Start.
I was a little absent minded and did everything but push the start button. Imagine my surprise as I was busy and I discovered why I never heard the cycle finished melody that plays when the washer is done.
Anonymous
When I was suffering from Lyme Disease and was at my "foggiest," I went to the laundry room with an armload of dirty clothes, opened the dryer, threw them in, and walked away. It didn't dawn on me til later in the day that clothes have to go into the washer first, before they go into the dryer.
That was also around the time that the cordless phone went missing but eventually turned up inside the refrigerator. Lyme can really do a number on your thinking!
Anonymous
Mr. Anonymous does his own laundry and I do mine. He also does his own clothes buying, takes in whatever needs to be tailored or dry cleaned, and irons his own shirts. I didn't have to "ask him" to help with laundry. He's been doing his entire adult life. It would be good for all Mr. Handsomes and Little Handsome Jr's out there to know these skills, too. Washing machines are blind to the gender of who turns the dials, and the hamper doesn't care who empties it.
Anonymous
I totally agree!!!
MarriedUK
Even as working woman, with no interest in perpetuating historic gender distinctions, I don't think there's a problem here. 1. Mr Handsome was vacuuming (a really horrid domestic task). 2. He was obviously joking. 3. People divide and conquer. Ellie does the laundry. Maybe he pays the bills (my husband can't work our washing machine, as i discovered about 4 years after buying it when he needed to ask how it worked) but he does all the "life admin" and makes sure our bills are paid on time. I think you're looking for something to criticise here.
Anonymous
Sometimes there is nobody around with which to divide and conquer. Men are widowed, boys grow up and move out on their own, and wives sometimes go on vacation. Laundry and machine operations are skills everyone needs to have.
Anonymous
You're right, everyone who wears clothes should know how to get them clean, by themselves. Otherwise, they'll eventually need to know where to find an endless supply of really big fig leaves….
Anonymous
How presumptuous!
Her husband is a Doctor, I'm pretty sure he can figure out a washer machine.
Also, she said he was busy vacuuming.
So he definitely pitches in with the housework after a long day of seeing patients.
MarriedUK
I rather suspect he could. Laundry isn't difficult. You don't need years of training, just a mild inclination
Anonymous
Mr Handsome does help with the laundry. You would know this if you would have watched the vlog they did together.
Anonymous
Everyone has their own way of running their own family life! I do all the laundry. But my husband does all the cooking! Doesn't mean I can't cook or that he can't work the washing machine lol
Anonymous
Thanks for a good laugh Ellie. Mr Handsome's response was too funny.
Anonymous
While I haven't done that, yesterday I washed the same load twice. smh No excuses ~ just distracted. lol
Anonymous
I have a feeling you're going to get quite a few Laundry Confessions. I'm real good at throwing one last load in at the end of the day, then forgetting that I put it in there and going to bed. I usually find the load the next day, still wet and needing to be washed again because it sat unattended like that. So my plan to do the laundry efficiently backfires and turns into double the work.
Anonymous
Why did you re wash them again you didn't need to thry were still wet. If it was 3 to 4 days then you would have to wash again.
Anonymous
I do that, too. I feel the clothes could start getting musty if left to sit damp with the lid down. My washer is old and in the garage, not the cleanest of places. Plus I hear new front-loading washers have a horrible time with musty smells.
Laura Shugart
I loved having a washer dryer in my kitchen at my last house. It reached a point where I moved a comfy chair in there and it became my main living spot. This made me realize that a lot of houses are excessive or illogical in design. I would like to build a house one day and the rooms would not be the standard. I wouldn't have a dinning room, just a little table area in the kitchen like a coffee shop and my library would double as a dining room with the big long table.
Anonymous
Not this, but many times I forget to add the detergent and then have to rewash.
Anonymous
It is strange that after a long day painting in the mouldy house I came home took all my painting clothes off and put them straight in the washer. Then I made my supper (of biscuits and cocoa) and went on my tablet to check out your blog. Guess what?! YOU reminded me that I still have to get my laundry out of the washer! I have done the same thing you talked about too.There is an old fashioned saying, "The harder I try, the behinder I get!" Have you heard that before? And there are some other similar types of funny sayings, does anyone else know others?
Anonymous
Are you operating the washing machine or is it operating you? Woo a woooo a woooo….a strange parallel reality going on in your house…..do any other odd things happen there? Did you tell Mr Handsome to take off his shoes, OR did the floors tell you to tell him that? Woo a woooo a woooo!
Anonymous
You have some odd humor.
Anonymous
Ellie will you please put a direct link to Mr Handsomest memes on the top of this page?
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Sure thing!
Robyn
Lol, that's so funny. My laundry blunder that happens from time to time, is I'll put a load of laundry on, then head out to run errands. I get home and will have completely forgotten I put laundry on, then find it the next day when I go to put more on, and end up having to redo it….
Anonymous
When r u planning on having kids?
MarriedUK
This is a totally inappropriate question
Anonymous
I can answer that for Ellie:
About nine months after conception.
I'm highly confident of that timetable, BTW. At least for humans. Giraffes, as most of the world just found out thanks to April The Giraffe, more like 15 months plus some hair-pulling weeks of anticipation.
Glad to have had the opportunity to clear that up for you.
Regina
Why is it inappropriate? I'm sure Anon was only asking because the idea of Ellie being a mommy is sweet. I don't think she or maybe he meant any harm.
Anonymous
It's inappropriate and intrusive, in my opinion. It's a very personal question! I was brought up never to ask such a question…imagine the hurt you might cause if someone was having difficulties conceiving or, god forbid, had just had an early miscarriage?? I was once asked when I was going to have a second baby, and I *was* having medical problems at the time…it was very upsetting.
Bee
MarriedUK
It's inappropriate because sometimes people long for babies with every fibre of their souls and the babies don't come. I have no idea what Mr & Mrs Handsome desire vis-a-vis children but there is a distinct possibility that this question may cause pain. For that reason, it is evidence of very poor judgment to ask anyone that question. I would only raise it with a very close friend if I was given a clear steer that the topic was desired… In relation to anyone else, I wouldn't say anything nice at all.
Anonymous
"About nine months after conception." Lol, I'm using this in the future.
Anonymous
Other than "None of your business," that's about the only logical answer.
Anonymous
Hilarious! at least your washer got a cleaning!
Anonymous
When my husband & I were newly married, we too rented a house with a small closet off the kitchen as the laundry room…and we had that EXACT washer! (Different state than y'all, though). Goodness it was loud and a dinosaur, but it could get out stains, lol. Same thing would happen to me, I'd be doing housework and get distracted with the busyness of life…well that ol' washer would just carry on as if the lid were closed & full of clothes. Happened more than once, lol. Obviously newer models have vastly improved their safety features. I had a good laugh at your laundry confession, and the pic of your washer brought back a lot of memories. Wait until the stories you'll be able to tell when you have kids, haha ; )
aletterfromhome
After years of ruined clothes as a teenager (with unpredictable washers/dryers), I have a set of laundry rules that has saved oodles of arguments btwn hubby and I.
1. Bleaching is done at the laundromat only because I don't want spots on colored loads.
2. Only I can load the washer and set cycle and temp.
3. Hubby can move stuff over to the dryer but that's it.
It only took a ruined cellphone and a chap stick to prove to hubby he doesn't do laundry well! Lol
Kanadiangirl
I do all the wash for our family of 16 and I wouldn't have it any other way. I hate when others attempt to touch my washer and dryer. I have one washer and I only use my two 60' clotheslines.
Candice
Wow! I have just my family of six to do laundry for…it feels like I can hardly keep up with cloth diapering, plus all the other household tasks for a mom of four littles. Good job doing all that laundry and line drying as well!!
Kanadiangirl
Well I stopped cloth diapering after my sixth so that's why I probably don't have that much wash. Average about 6-8 loads per day.
Anonymous
Ellie if that is all you ever have to confess you will be doing good! Don't forget that Satan prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom to devour. Also the lord said we are to watch and pray lest we fall into temptation. The Bible says to be careful how you walk lest you stumble. After starting out trying I wonder sometimes how I gotoff track and hit the ditches of life often. Satan is subtle is one thing I can tell you. I can't really explain how it happened, my first efforts were strong but eventually I was way in the dark again doing things I ought not to have done. You may think this is a corny comment and if you do mark that as a red flag! Vigilance is vigilance so we should not be afraid or ashamed to ever acknowledge that we are being vigilant for the things of the lord in our life!
Anonymous
Gee, I doubt forgetting to put your wash in the washer is a sin or the work of Satan…..
Anonymous
We think we know the human heart, but it is not so.
Anonymous
There is a Canadian Manitoba lady (Audrey) who is on a show called It is a new day! She committed adultery with the native man her husband brought to stay in their home. She got pregnant and the baby was meris! Oops! Not such an easy mistake to hide. They wrote a book about this. How does a woman go from hosting a Christian show to committing adultery? She was a perfect daughter wife and mother
Anonymous
Re reply gee…If you read the comment it does not say sin or work of Satan about Ellie's experience. You are quick to criticize!
Anonymous
I'm usually good with laundry but your story reminded me of one time where I was having guests for dinner. I baked brownies, put them in the oven, forgot to set the timer and started doing something else. So, I ended up with burnt brownies. I started over, made sure I set the timer and continued to prepare the rest of the meal. Timer rings, I open the oven and…. it's empty. I set the timer but I forgot to put the brownies in.
Josée
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Oh my! Sounds like something I would do. Haha. I've learned the hard way that I always need to set a timer when I'm cooking or baking. I tell myself that I'll remember to take it out, but that rarely works.
Ellie