We have a tightly controlled and highly functional laundry system in our house, with every kid having their own laundry day, their own sock nets, sheets washed every 2 weeks etc. There are few missing socks or half filled loads of wash.
Then the kids come home from college and all efficiency is thrown out the window.
Boys wait until they can't find socks and underwear. Then stuff the washing machine with every type of clothes, exceeding maximum capacity. Set the machine for 98 minutes of heavy duty wash. With double fabric softener. Forget about the clothes and remember them a day later, when they need underwear.
Girls put one silk blouse in the washer for 36 minutes on the gentle cycle, with one cup of detergent and one cup of fabric softener. Then put that one piece in the dryer.
A friend's college daughter is raking in big bucks by charging $10 to do a load of wash. Kids deliver the dirty clothes. She does her homework while the clothes wash and then takes 5 minutes to fold them. The kids pick up the clothes and pay her. Business is booming.
What is it with college kids and laundry?!
oh my what a topic! I FINALLY got my own washer/dryer hooked up after having done my laundry at my daughter's for nearly 2 years during our reno. I only had about 2 loads a week. She has her and her 4 year old and I really thought I taught her better than that. No matter what or when, she always had laundry in the washer and dryer and I finished both :-). I actually kind of enjoyed serving her like that again after all these years..those jeans mixed with thongs made me laugh...but I am glad to finally be free to be a laundry natzi again!
ReplyDeleteI know what happened to this kid and washing clothes. His mother thought she was being kind and washing his clothes and not teaching him how. Then getting a wife with the same ideas. At lest that's my side of the story.
ReplyDeleteI have never had a laundry system and I'm sure that's where I went wrong. Since I really detest doing laundry, my kids have followed suit. For my youngest daughter (21), the laundry room and basement floor is her closet. When I empty the dryer of her clothes and put the piles on the pool table (our folding station), it just becomes a mountain. I told her if she gets my car washed and the oil changed, I will get all of her laundry done. Good idea, right?
ReplyDeleteXO,
Jane
I need some sort of a system too. I don't know why I always miss socks. And by always I mean always.
ReplyDeleteI have a granddaughter in college always looking for ways to make money. I might mention doing laundry to her.
ReplyDeleteOnce my girls hit jr. high age, I turned their laundry over to them. I was always getting the wrong undies, bra etc in the wrong girls pile, so I decided it was just easier on me and them, to each her own. Worked for me. lol and no more mix ups.
I have a scheduale here too...and I do my best to ignore the piles when I vist my daughters house...maybe that's their rebelion? lol
ReplyDeleteDebbi
-yankeeburrowcreations
What a great (and easy) way for her to make money!
ReplyDeleteI don't mind doing laundry. I'd choose it over many other household chores, that's for sure!
Oh, the days...I used to do college-aged people's laundry too when I was in high school :)
ReplyDeleteI'm with you! Me oldest daughter, well organized, well kept, peculiarly neat, comes home with mounds of clothes. Honestly her excuse is that it is that costly at the school she's attending. She will even haul laundry with her to see her boyfriend because it's cheaper at his campus. I call her frugal...now I need to work on an excuse for the rest of them.
ReplyDeleteoo that would be a great way to make money...doing laundry for college kids....i think it is our last throwing off of responsibility to just let it pile up...ha....
ReplyDeleteAnnmarie, Laundry? Don't some little fairies do laundry when I'm not looking? I always have clean clothes, etc. Wait!! Oh yes, it's my better half at work! I haven't done a load of laundry for over 34 years. (But we only had one son) However, even I know that you don't just throw everything in together. I will admit that wasn't true back in my college days. Just like your kids...pile it up and pile it in! Pink socks! Oh Well! Take Care, Big Daddy Dave
ReplyDeleteNow that 10 bucks a load sounds pretty good to me- maybe I need to bring it up to my kids!
ReplyDeleteHa! Where there's a market there is a young entrepreneur ready to capitalize on it! :) I don't suppose the college kids come home that often (mine don't~and when they do they follow the house laundry rules...for now :)
ReplyDeleteKeep up the God work.
When I was in college I didn't feel like paying $2.00 to wash and dry EVERY load of laundry I did. Especially because I'm so picky about mixing colors and what not. So I'd wait until I would go home for a weekend or break. The longest I went without doing laundry was 6 weeks. I had to go buy new underwear (even though I had close to enough to make it that whole 6 weeks) and a pair of jeans just so I wouldn't have to wash anything at school... I love doing laundry (and always have) but I just did NOT want to do it at school. Plus, leaving your stuff in the laundry room while you went to class or did homework wasn't good. If you forgot about it, it could end up in a wet heap on the counter. Gross. My poor mother though, she knew if I was coming home to make sure all her own laundry was done because the washer and dryer would be occupied for a day or two.
ReplyDeleteI officially want this business my 2 sons both in college bring me anywhere between 7-12 loads weekly. I ask for dryer sheets and a bottle of detergent monthly but lots of time I seen clothes I question being theirs so yep I am going into the laundry business haha thanks for the business idea! Have a great week.
ReplyDelete*sheepish* I use to bring a big bag home to mom's house on the holidays. But in my dorm...it was almost impossible to ever get your laundry done because they were always in use. Or people would leave stuff. Or, your stuff would get stolen. Once I moved out of the dorm and into a house, I did dutifully do my own laundry.
ReplyDeleteFuuny post
ReplyDeleteKisses
Aga
Check my new post
www.agasuitcase.com
That is so hilarious. And so true! Having college-aged children myself I can totally relate!!
ReplyDeleteVery enterprising!
ReplyDeleteAnnmarie! hi! it gets worse. when they marry and have their own washroom in their two story house [my home is a one story], their laundry grows up the walls and they spend all day folding and folding and folding.
ReplyDeletei don't even have half the clothes they do. how did this happen?
It is just so rushed and hurried, I've found, when kids come home to visit. Their crazy schedule throws a perfectly oiled machine all off balance. (pun intended)
ReplyDeleteThat is one smart girl to let them pay her for it. I knew more than a dozen of college kids who would have taken the girl up on that one. Gosh, why didn't I think of that? So much better than scrubbing floors at a pizzeria! Fun post :)
ReplyDeleteI once had a system......once all the kids were gone, something happened and now I feel like all I do is wash and it's just the two of us! I don't know how that happened. I love the idea of the girl doing laundry and homework at the same time and getting paid! She will do well in life! :)
ReplyDeleteThat's one smart little entrepreneur. I see good things in her future. I laugh at the massive load of wash my son is able to do at one time. Does anything get clean?
ReplyDeleteLaundry is not a priority for them until everything they own is dirty. That's a smart girl who figured out an easy way to make a few bucks!
ReplyDeleteI think I would go crazy with all that laundry!
ReplyDeleteThey get dumber for a while when at college. And so what! It's your nickel. Things do turn around somewhat.
ReplyDeleteI hate laundry, so that would certainly NOT be a moneymaking endeavor for me. Kudos to her!
ReplyDeleteEverybody hates doing laundry!
ReplyDeleteThis gives me an idea, wondering if I can start charging the fam to do their laundry? bwhahah <-- evil laughs
ReplyDeletegot to love the girls idea of making money brilliant
ReplyDeleteI'm waiting for the laundry dump any day now. (I'm actually not sure when he's coming home for the break. Should probably check that out.) He's real good about putting clothes in the wash, but drying and folding...terrible.
ReplyDeleteHahaha this is a funny post. AS a college student who has to do my own laundry I do not pay attention to what I put in the laundry EVER (has ruined a lot of my clothes). But for the girl who has been making money, it is on everyone around me that you have to sign a contract that you will not charge people to use your laundry (pretty much illegal).
ReplyDeleteFollowed back :)
ohsummercandy.blogspit.com
Haha - I remember those days and I am glad they are over! sandie
ReplyDeleteThis post made me smile.. until I read the part about the gal charging for laundry! Now that got me thinking about new business ventures... how smart is she! :)
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Nikki at www.bedazzlesafterdark.com
This reminds me of when my oldest was in college, the girls came to him to learn how to do laundry.
ReplyDeleteOkay, that girl's college laundry business? Pure genius! Love it. :)
ReplyDeleteOh she is brilliant to do that!! :)
ReplyDeleteI am so not looking forward to this with Adam! I am still waiting for him to 'learn' how to pick up the clothes from his bedroom floor!! LOL!!!!
ReplyDeleteSmart girl...my grandson is due back in a few weeks...he always brings a huge pile home. :-/ I like the schedule you have for laundry...clever.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is 4 years out of college and lives 600 miles away, she has brought jeans home to wash! Crazy, but true! Thanks for stopping by, Laura
ReplyDeleteI wish I'd thought of that business while I was at uni! Would have made a killing.
ReplyDeleteWhen my son came home from college one year, he stuffed the washing machine so full and tried to run a cycle, and guess what? The machine broke and I had to call a repairman!!!
ReplyDeleteI've gone through three washing machines since my children starting doing their own laundry. At least they do appreciate when I do a load and everything comes out as good as it went in.
ReplyDeleteHey darlin! Just wanted to let you know I am following you back :)
ReplyDeletelovinglifeinthefablane.blogspot.com
Our youngest son uses Tide with Downey cause he loves that smell! He has done his own laundry since he was 10! He is away at college! My oldest son does laundry on Sunday afternoon. Then he says "Oh mom, would you be a nice mom and start the next load?" Ha Ha! He buys me groceries and helps me with ebay selling so I am always happy to help him! He went to a private high school and sold gum to all the rich kids at top dollar! We never had to pay for lunch! LOL! Thank you for following me and stopping by! I am enjoying your blog here today! I am new following you! Hee Hee! That college girl is smart doing laundry! I love it! I would do that for money too! But I still love laundry. In fact I have a load to dry now! Nick goes to college in Kansas and laundry is FREE! It is a nice little perk!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend and come back soon! Hugs Anne
Grrrr! I hate doing laundry! That's the one chore you can't take a break from!
ReplyDeleteHappy Weekending, A!
oh how stinking smart is that young entrepreneur. And I have to admit, my husband might sub "college students" for "my thirty four year old wife"-- oops.
ReplyDelete=)
Thank you so very much for joining us for An Aloha Affair last week. How sweet it was to end the month together.
Our beautiful December team has gathered and we are so excited to invite you to join us for... An Aloha Affair. Come mingle and grow with us, you are always welcome. Always.
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Nicole
localsugarhawaii.com
They have the same affliction with dirty dishes... :)
ReplyDeleteYou gotta love an entrepreauner!
ReplyDeleteLaundry... daily struggle.
ReplyDeleteWould you like to stay connected through GFC and Bloglovin?
xo Amy,
http://stylechocolatechip.blogspot.com/
That is hilarious. I guess in college they forget!! You inspire me to consider having my kids do their own laundry (or better yet, letting THEM pay ME to do it! ;-) I think this every time I see my daughter throw a blouse that she wore for 1 or two hours into the dirty clothes bin.
ReplyDeleteI so know what you are talking about!
ReplyDeleteJust imagine if we were still doing laundry by hand! I think I'd pay someone $10 too.
ReplyDeleteI live close to Notre Dame. I wonder if I can rake in some big bucks with those college kids too? Smart girl for having figured out a way to make an easy $10!
ReplyDeleteWhen my kids (6) were all at home, we had a tight laundry system, too. You have to to survive! I even color coded the towels (forget trying to match them to the bathroom!) Each child had their own color of towels/wash cloths. Each time they bathed, they hung their towel up to dry and used only one or two all week (usually). It sure cut down on the loads of towels throughout the week!
ReplyDeleteA couple of my kids carried on great laundry regimens after they grew up, but yep, have no idea what happened to the rest!
My kids are not in college yet, but boy do they pile up laundry anyway...sending sympathy hugs your way and I think you should charge! :)
ReplyDeleterobyn could do her own laundry except i have to turn the broken knob for her---sounds like a good business to go into :)
ReplyDeleteGood way to make money.
ReplyDeleteI think that enterprising young lady has her head on straight. Apparently college kids can't handle laundry. My hubby-to-be would do the same thing - wait til her had NOTHING to wear. Then I would rescue him by doing it for him. He took me out to eat every now and then saving me from certain starvation. So, I guess it was a win/win. I have one kid left to train on how to do laundry - then I'm DONE.
ReplyDeleteThat's great--talk about ingenuity and entrepreneurship! I never thought of things like that! But yes, the college kids coming home with laundry is a classic...because it's true. Why it's true is a mystery. Especially when they come from an organized system like you describe. With only three of us here in the house (me and two grown daughters), we all just take care of our own laundry and it works out fine.
ReplyDeleteKudos to the young woman for finding her niche and a way to make money while in college. Great post.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite home education topic is domestic science. My 7 year old now does the family laundry with minimum supervision! Meanwhile, my 5 year old is learning how to dust! ;o)
ReplyDeleteI don't know. I don't understand it myself. I'm always so careful with my clothes and I don't get why you'd ruin your clothes being lazy. Generation gap, I guess.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine you'd need such a system at your home! The girl you mentioned with the laundry business definitely has a good thing going :))
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up with my NO RULES Weekend Blog Party!
Paula
lifeasweknowitbypaula.blogspot.com
That girl doing the laundry has "future entrepreneur" written all over her!
ReplyDeleteI think our dirty laundry pro creates and multiplies as we sleep.
ReplyDeleteEncouraging Thoughts for Life
My kids were like that too. It's just not a priority for that age-group. Too much else going on! Hey, I'm writing a two part post about being on a jury this week. I thought of you, your husband being an attorney. I was very disillusioned by some things the judge said at the end. Check my blog (part 2 isn't up yet), I'd like to know what your husband would say.
ReplyDeleteA separate electric bill just for the washer sounds like a good idea.
ReplyDeleteGet each day itemized, any excess could then come off the culprits allowance. I've mellowed these days, but my kids well remember how thrifty I used to be.
My son is sixteen and I still do his laundry, but he washes my large suv and takes care of the yard. :)
ReplyDeleteI think getting paid to do the laundy is brilliant! Homework can be done and money can be made at the same time. I like your laundry system at home- very organized!
ReplyDeleteWe are trying to be much more organised with our kids and give them more responsibility. However its taken nearly two years to get them to the dishwash thing properly!!! (and still nagging...) Great idea about having one day each for the kids' washing - then its all theirs!
ReplyDeleteFollowing you from FMFY
ReplyDeletehttp://mommaof3-littlebits.blogspot.com/
If they had to pay for their own detergent and the electricity bill, they may act more sensibly.
ReplyDeleteOh, the loads of laundry I would bring home to mom from college. How did she put up with it? Now with my own family, washing and drying is a breeze (the machine does it!). But the putting it away...there are many other things that get done first.
ReplyDeleteI've started teaching my 7yr old how to wash clothes - why so young? Because I was 18 yrs old before I had to learn how to turn a washing machine on & it was embarrassing-LOL! THAT is not going to happen with my lil' guy :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a smart girl!! doing laundry for people, yep, she's going to go far in life and it won't be a a laundry mat, this is only the beginning for her!!!
ReplyDeleteMy kids all know how to do their own clothes but when they are home, I sorta take over. With boys, they'll wash and dry, but never do they fold and it drives me crazy so I just do it as a treat for them/me. I can't stand to have clean clothes all bunched up.
They appreciate it with a, 'Thanks Ma'
My kids are all adults and graduates, and a couple of them STILL come home to do their laundry.
ReplyDelete;)
PS. I do not help, however. Well, maybe I'll switch something to the dryer if they ask me right before they are leaving the house...