Earning extra income at home by doing laundry
There are a lot of articles and blogs out there about making money from home, most of these are targeted at stay at home moms and include things like, “Get a job as a virtual assistant” or, “Sell your handmade goods through an Etsy shop.” These are great ideas, and I am sure they work for a lot of people, but in my experience with this a lot more time is spent scouring the interwebs for opportunities than actually generating any income. What I have found works best for me is low tech and old fashioned. I wash clothes and I bake bread.
Want to get rid of extra clothes you’re holding on to? Don’t do laundry for a few weeks
I recently found myself feeling bogged down by all the clothing I owned, so I decided to perform an experiment. I didn’t do laundry for 2-3 weeks, and then donated everything that was still hanging up on laundry day. Since it’s still winter I kept a few summer items so I can perform the same experiment later in the year, but other than that all the extra stuff I had is gone. The best part is that I didn’t have to deal with any of the emotional stuff that comes with trying to ditch stuff in one go — I was able to just look at my closet and realize how much I was holding onto for no reason.
Where can I find an awesome double laundry hamper that’s easy to carry?
Right now our laundry system is a little all over the place: we’re putting everything into one medium-sized wicker hamper my husband thrifted a few months ago. It’s kind of driving me crazy, so I’ve decided the solution is a double hamper — one side for lights, one side for darks. But here’s my problem: everything I’ve found online doesn’t seem to be apartment/laundromat-friendly.
Changing my underwear: how merino undies got me to change teams after 20 years of wearing Jockeys
A random piece of TMI you should know about me: I have been wearing the same underwear since 1991. No, not the same pairs, but the same style — a very basic black cotton string bikini from Jockey. They’re practical but a little flirty, functional and easy to order in bulk. They have been on my butt since I was in high school, and mostly I just don’t really think about them at all. But after two decades, I’ve finally changed teams. I’ve got new underwear, inspired by literature and mildew. Lemme explain…
How do I recycle greywater in the winter?
Due to some boring logistics, we will probably end up placing the washing machine in the garage. The problem is that there is no drain there, and it’s cost prohibitive to install one right now. Our solution is to recycle the greywater from the wash. In the summer we will use it to water the lawn. However, in the winter the temperature drops below freezing, and we don’t really need an ice skating rink in our back yard. What ideas do you have for recycling greywater in the winter?
Use lingerie bags for washing delicates AND sweaters
I hate washing things by hand. In addition to sweaters, I think that other delicate clothing/unmentionables last longer if you wash them by hand. My first victory was moving somewhere with a washing machine that has a delicate cycle. But I was still doing multiple loads of delicate laundry since bra hooks and knit sweaters do not mix! The next victory was what I like to call a “baskets moment” or in my case, a “bags moment.” For people who apparently live under rocks like I do…
How I learned to stop lamenting my life without convenient washers
It’s been years since I’ve lived in a place with a dishwasher or laundry machines. Sometimes it’s frustrating to find many well-meaning cleaning and organization tips or checklists offered up online that assume I have these easily available for my personal use. It’s taken me a while to figure out how to better manage my washer-less life rather than just lament it. Here are some things that I’ve found work for me…
Laundry tips and tricks for pitted out shirts
I’ve been wearing some of my favorite basic cotton tops regularly for a few seasons. Overall they’re in great shape, no holes or stains, but they’re starting to get a little funky, and not in the Disco Stu kind of way. The problem is that they fit so close under my arm pits that they’re becoming discolored and musky. I’ve tried cleaning the area with vinegar and stain removers, but it hasn’t taken away the smell. Do my fellow Homies have any laundry tips and tricks dedicated to the pits?