Washin’ it Here, Boss

posted by Momo Fali on December 5, 2011

I can’t believe I’m going to say this…

My husband started doing the laundry.

For the past 16 years, I have been in charge of washing, drying, folding and putting away the mountain of clothing, sheets and towels that our family creates. My husband once calculated, between our two dogs, how many piles of poo he had picked up; just so you know, it was about 12,000. I figure that I have turned, at least, that many socks right-side-out.

But, between work, blogging, cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, my kids’ extra-curricular activities and my over-use of commas, I have been falling behind. My husband could only go out and buy new underwear so many times before he stepped in and took it over.

Yesterday morning, he announced, “There’s a new sheriff in town” and he started sorting clothes.

His first job was to empty the washer of the jeans and sweatshirts which had been rotting in there for a few days. Holla! He took a whiff, deemed them fine, then threw them in the dryer. After which, I opened the dryer door, smelled a pair of my son’s pants, gagged and put them all back in the washing machine to be cleaned again.

So, the start wasn’t smooth, but by the sounds of his yelling at the kids, “I’m emptying your pockets this time, but I won’t be doing it again!” I think he’s getting the hang of it. So far, he’s only shrunk two pairs of my pants.

Sure, they look like capris now, but at least they’re clean.

 

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    Comments

  • Missives From Suburbia


    Wow. You are brave. I banned my husband years ago, because he was so, SO bad at it. I still have to look away when he loads the dishwasher.

  • Tara R.


    I tried that neglecting tactic, but it didn’t work for me. Alas…

  • Anna Hettick


    lol my husband knows how to do it just doesn’t do it very often. If you husband wants to come over and give my husband lessons on taking over the laundry that’s be great. =)

  • LiteralDan


    I bet, with that attitude, he will soon surpass you in laundering skills. My wife and I casually take turns, but I am much more punctual/efficient about it. When I do it, I do it right.

    And, as a bonus, I actually put it away, instead of just turning every laundry basket in the house into an impromptu dresser until it’s time for someone else to do the laundry.

  • BusyDad


    I rock at laundry, but I suck at folding. And since my wife folds laundry like origami, I am not allowed to desecrate our dressers with that silliness. It’s the thought that counts, right?

  • Sarah


    laundry is actually one chore I can and will do on a regular basis. so naturally it is the one chore that my husband has taken over since he became a SAHD. how ’bout cleaning toilets babe? but hey, whatever he does, I don’t have to feel guilty about not doing…so it’s working itself out.

  • Amie


    I bet your “new” capris would look great with my cashmere sweater that I got to wear once before it was made doll-sized by my husband in one of his early attempts at laundry-doing. He’s gotten much better!

  • meleah rebeccah


    Oh I have no doubt your husband will become a pro at doing the laundry – soon!