Ok, it’s come up in several places in several different ways. What are we going to do to keep our clothing clean?
Those with children have an endless life of laundry.
Our livelihood may depend on us going out and being able to still do a job & look somewhat professional.
So whether we SIP or we come and go each day, I suggest that we start now to make life a little easier later.
Last year I saved all year from my coupon savings and I gave my husband $500 of new clothes (you know how men NEVER seem to throw out anything) and with some strategic shopping, I have saved way more than I spent because I looked at the tags and bought NOTHING that has to be dry cleaned or even washed ‘differently’ than a regular load of laundry. And it meant that I replaced everything in his closet that even remotely needed any ‘extra’ attention. The savings from not having to do dry cleaning alone paid for the clothing.
There’s sooooo many wrinkle-free dress pants and shirts out there now, that it CAN be done — dressing for success & for least amount of laundry work!
During Y2k, one of the “biggest-impact-while-still-being-simple” things we figured out was wearing aprons when we did almost everything — cleaning house, cooking, cleaning the bathrooms, etc. Lightweight aprons can be homemade from wipe-off fabric from WalMart or a dozen other fabric stores so you don’t have to buy nice stuff — just have stuff you can use — even if it’s just an oversized long-sleeved shirt from the thrift store that you put on backwards to protect what you’re wearing.
What other things can you think of that will help us lighten the laundry ‘load’, so to speak?
Oh and don’t forget about bed linens & nightwear!
I have this little black cocktail number that is ohh-la-la. I’m going to wear that.
At least that won’t show blood too much…….seriously, what ideas do you have that will HELP?
Being a California kinda guy, I tend to wear t-shirts and jeans A LOT! If I’m not working under the car or out in the yard, I’ve found that I can wear the same pair of jeans for 2 or 3 days. As long as they don’t stand up in the corner by themselves, they’re okay. ;-) My job doesn’t require me getting dirty. Only groveling occasionally…
I wear a lot of wool and cashmere and I always wear a t-shirt underneath to protect against body soils. This helps ALOT. If one has to look presentable, I’d put work clothes on and off pretty much at the door — come in, hang it out to air, and change into sweats for shlepping around the house.
I’ve heard that if you hang your clothes inside out overnight (if they are not DIRTY on the outside) they stay fresh longer. The sun is a good freshener as well, of course requiring a clothes line or one of those fold up wet clothes hangers. Hooks with clips on the ends are handy for hanging clothes in odd places to allow air flow around and through.
Wearing undershirts keeps the over shirt fresher as well, and improves warmth. There are new products on the market for spot washing - like a Handywipe for your clothes - which would avoid washing the entire garment.
This is a really interesting thread. Great idea IWOI about getting clothes that require less maintenance, less dry cleaner visits. Good way to increase social distancing. I guess I’m a little confused, though, on some of the other issues in the thread on keeping work clothes presentable (without power/water?). Are people planning to continue to go to professional (suit and tie, etc.) jobs trying to present as “business as usual” at the point that both power and water for clothes cleaning have been unavailable for some time? Not trying to be funny at all. Have just always thought that if water and power grid went down, I’d be home worrying about how to cook 60lbs of beans with a can of sterno (ha).
I agree Galt. Worrying about my delicate knits is the absolute last thing on my mind today, tomorrow, or in the midst of pandemic. I started a thread on how to do laundry during power outage for a practical reason. No matter how minimalist you are with your clothing use, you will need to do laundry at *some* point.
The effort to maintain a normal lifestyle at all cost during these extreme circumstances seems like a lot of energy for naught.
Linens? How about a sleeping bag that you throw over a railing to air out during the day?
Clothing? Shorts, t-shirts, long johns, couple pair of jeans, undies, socks.
It ain’t gonna be biz as usual. It’s going to be like a protracted camping trip.
Edna Mode,
It’s a shame I haven’t learned how to put photos up here - I could have a blast with Edna Mode’s pandemic fashion creations! ;-)
If PanFlu comes along, and up to 30% of the workforce is out sick (or worse), I don’t think companies are going to be as strict about what a person wears to work, as long as they show up to work. Face-to-face sales calls, board meetings, and mixing with the general public will most likely be cancelled.
If power and water are out, then employers will need to understand that clean clothes are an option that may not be available to some people at that time…
I dont think business clothes will be an issue - I doubt workplaces will stay open - too much risk of infection….and if the grid goes down it wont matter anyway!
For kids, I try to buy dark colored clothing as it doesn’t show dirt as bad. At home, comfortable/warm clothing for winter - sweat pants and sweat shirts, long underwear, warm socks and slippers. I also wear an apron when cooking/canning.
Stay home, use white cottons and use bleach in your laundry.
OH yes, if you are good with needle and thread and really serious- You might want to look at:Flutect
“Tokyo, Sept 14, 2006 (JCN) - Shikibo Ltd. and the National Institute of Animal Health have jointly developed a fabric called ‘Flutect’ that has been proven to block the spread of bird influenza by 99.9%, even after 50 washings, stopping the spread of the virus within 10 minutes of exposure.
Flutect will be available in 2007 in the form of uniforms for poultry house workers, masks, filters, down jackets, lab-coats and so forth. “
Have just always thought that if water and power grid went down, I’d be home worrying about how to cook 60lbs of beans with a can of sterno (ha).
Galt, that’s funny.
Let’s get this back on track.
You’ve got to know that some people WILL continue to go to work & yes, they will wear ‘good’ clothing because that’s what they HAVE.
Edna Mode, your thread was about how to DO laundry — what I’m trying to focus you folks on is how to AVOID doing laundry, if you have the opportunity.
There are things that you can do to keep yourself and your spouse, your children from getting as dirty as we usually allow them to.
Lets stay focused on preventative measures that we can prepare for now.
Bronco Bill – at 09:34
Same here, I have different “work” and “home” clothes. Those from work don’t get dirty so I wear the slacks a few times before washing. Home clothes either get really dirty from farm, garden or mechanic work, or they are the comfy clothes I put on after a shower. I get 3 or 4 days out of those before they go in the hamper. In an SIP situ, I’m going for comfort and easy washability, and will get as much “mileage” between washings as possible.
Make a sheet bag to use inside a sleeping bag, to keep it clean. Wear long underwear to bed as pajamas (different pair than you wore all day) because they are easier to wash than other clothes (not to mention sheets, if you don’t wear pjs now). I’m thinking lightweight things under and over heavier clothes whenever possible, because wet heavy clothes will be a pain in the (mmm) - back. The apron idea is great! Maybe those spongy kneelers for working in the garden, to keep pants’ knees out of the dirt-either the kind you wear or the pillow-type you move along with you.
My husband works in a business casual environment & he has ALWAYS worn kakahis (can’t spell). He doesn’t ‘lounge’ around in sweats (yet) because he’s always in jeans. I need to change that.
I will tell you that although businesses won’t be so strict, most likely he who can APPEAR to be the most able to manage a crisis AND his appearance at the same time might have a psychological advantage in a business area where others are out of work.
I’m NOT saying this is extremely important to look good, but if you can do it, why not?
I need my husband to use more sweat pants because I’d rather wring them out with a wringer than wring out jeans with a wringer.
MooMoo’s baby! Now I have an excuse to wear the most comfortable clothing ever invented! You don’t have to be old or overweight to wear them around the house. They cover up the essentials and keep you cool and comfy. -great for Florida.
I’ve thought about the clothing issue too and keeping things “clean” as long as possible. This may sound kinda gross, but it is a sanitary example of stretching the use of underwear a few days like the jeans, etc… use and change pantyliners often to keep them fresher, which will help keep all pants fresher longer too I would expect.
Jane, you’ve just given ME some good ideas — I’m heading to the thrift store sometime this weekend, I’ll pick up some extra sheets for my sleeping bags & look for some kneelers — if we’re lucky enough to HAVE something grow in our garden then they will come in handy!
TreasureIslandGal – at 10:46
Glad you said it before me LOL! For working outside I would suggest overalls that can be removed at the door or garage. My DH wears sweats most of the time cause he works from home. Not the cotton ones that stretch out, but the woven ones. I don’t think they ever get dirty. I go all winter without washing sweaters and fleece pullovers cause I wear turtle necks and mock turtlenecks under them. I plan on only washing socks and underwear when things get really bad. And sheets if anyone gets sick.
My DD went for weeks this summer wearing the same jean capris, I finally had to steal them from her to wash them. :-)
For the sick room, hospital gowns rather than PJ’s or regular gowns since you can throw hospital gowns in bleach without ruining them like you would a ‘good’ gown — I know we all sleep in Vic’s bedclothes! And a shower curtain liner underneath the sheets to protect the mattress - a wet or dirty mattress would not be pleasant if you were sick & couldn’t be moved. A waterproof mattress liner would also help since it’s at least easier to clean. I’m setting up our guest bed first, as a sick bed, going ahead and doing it now since we don’t have overnight guests but maybe once a year. Then I can set up our regular bed as a sick bed if needed so I’ll need the same precautionary tools to keep the regular bed sheets cleaner.
The Sarge – at 10:11 ;) I’m spoiled. I work at home, and what I described pretty much describes my “work clothes” (only a slight exaggeration)!
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 10:40 Edna Mode, your thread was about how to DO laundry, and I’m trying to AVOID doing it.
Yeah. I get it. That’s why I think keeping wearables to a minimum and keeping it to light items that’ll be easy to wash and dry is essential. To hell with fashion! I haven’t gone to a dry cleaner in two years. It saves time, money, and ill effects on the environment. We are an all-cotton, all-the-time family straight out of LL Bean and GAP. The only one who ever irons anything is my husband cuz he has to look presentable for work. But he won’t be going to work when TSHTF, so non-issue.
We Americans are way to preoccupied with cleanliness and consumption. Too many clothes to begin with, IMHO. Clothes do not have to be washed after a single wearing. I don’t advocate waiting until your jeans can walk walk to the washtub on their own, but during a pandemic, I could easily get a through a week with one pair of jeans. Towels, on the other hand, harbor so many disgusting things and tend to get shared in families that they do need to be washed frequently. Those, wash cloths, and some clothes were what I had in mind when I started my laundry thread.
I think all of our standards are going to drop considerably during power outages just because of the sheer amount of personal energy that needs to be expended to keep up with the essentials. The notion of “clean” and “dirty” as it pertains to laundry will be redefined as we are forced to reallocate our energy and time to matters of more immediate need. Mark my words.
Since we live in the country and I expect that we will be spending a lot of time outdoors, working in the garden, cutting firewood, etc. we will all get dirty, as in dirt(y). I think I will require two sets of clothes for each family member on a daily basis. (There are five of us) An outdoor pair of pants or blue jeans to work in, which will be used until they can stand up on their own, and a solitary t-shirt with an overshirt as needed according to the weather. The dirt can be shaken off of them and hung up on the front porch until we use them again the next day. We also have no neighbors that can see us, so changing clothes outside won’t be a big deal. I don’t want a constant stream of dirt entering the house anyway, as all cleaning will be made more difficult if and when there is no power. We can do basic cleaning; washing hands, face and underarms on the front porch before putting on our inside clothes, which will not become as dirty since we won’t be working in them. I have several solar showers so I may just hang those on the porch to use for this. I plan to do one load of wash every evening; that day’s t-shirts, socks and underwear when one load will be manageable, and wash everything else once a week. Water and fuel is not really an issue for us, and for that I’m grateful. Hopefully, with a house full of men, we won’t run out of deodorant. :)
I’d recommend that Tide pen (looks like a highlighter). We took a family vacation and I didn’t want to pack tons of clothes- but my son is a magnet for everything, especially when he eats. I just cleaned the spots off his shirt after every meal while it was still on him. LOL It won’t help truly dirty clothes, but in my experience it does get rid of spots to extend wearability.
I’m glad to know that the Tide pen works! I sent one to work with my husband a year ago & he has yet to use it. He’s a neatnic freak — never jeans (until he married me), always kakahi pants & polo shirts as casual clothes & at work he’s in dress pants (and is trying to get used to not having a crisp crease like he had in the military) and either polo shirt or dressy-type shirt without a tie.
He’s in upper management which makes him self-conscious about his appearance, but he’s just naturally a neatnic. Aggrevates me to no end that all his coat hangers are always evenly spaced — makes me just want to go throw ‘em all in the floor sometimes.
Anyway, he gets a couple of uses from his pants, then into the wash they go. That’s why I was so interested in changing his wardrobe to something more manageable and we haven’t been to the dry cleaners in over a year now! Now he’s going to get sweats for Christmas this year! All my other Christmas shopping is done, except for brother-in-laws, so I can concentrate on his “new” wardrobe.
Snowhound1 – at 11:32 Now, that’s what I’m talking about!
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 12:09 All my other Christmas shopping is done…
I’m jealous.
Don’t forget the growing kids! Not a bad plan to shop ahead a bit for things like shoes, coats, and pants that can be quickly outgrown. And it won’t go to waste if you remember to bring it out when they hit that size and then replace it with larger sized “preps.” Oh, and socks, lots of socks.
Some great ideas in this thread!
Smaller size lightweight bath towels (or maybe even a generous size hand towel) will wash and dry way faster than thick plush bath sheets and still get the job done.
I like to wear lightweight silk longjohns under my jeans in the winter - they are less bulky but still add a surprising amount of warmth. Quick wash and dry.
Check out one of the on line Travel stores, the one’s that sell luggage, money belts, travel clothing, and portable irons and plugs for all types of electrical circuits. Tillie of Canada and TravelSmith in the US come to mind.
There are lots of good ideas there. Every one of them has easy wash-in-a-sink little black dresses to wear everywhere on a trip; suits that resist wrinkles and dirt, comfortable shoes and so on. Outfits with secret pockets all over so that you might really not need a bug-out-bag at all.
Anyhow, one of the things they offer is both men’s and womens underwear made out of Rayon acetate. This material is really a hand-washer’s dream! Easy to wash, wring it out in a towel, and it will dry in a few short (pardon the pun) hours.
I have only seen men’s shorts in the catalogs, but I have seen the women’s acetate panties at Sears (they come in a 3 per pack) and NationalHosery Company used to sell them by mail order.
Rayon is environmentally friendly, drapes wonderfully, and breathes like cotton. The rayon acetate underwear is knit, just like nylon, but silky and softer than nylon/antron, and a little more substantial than the AntronIII nylon most women’s undergarments are made from.
One word…
Tychem
Coveralls and a respirator.
For those that think they will be going into work wearing a suit and tie…
You’re nuts.
I haven’t seen a dry cleaner in 6 months.
Luckily I can get by with dockers and a polo shirt, although in a pandemic I will most likely be wearing fire turnouts for the duration.
LOL
Concerning Towels: One of the biggest loads of laundry I do is Bathtowels. I have learned over the years the following:
Fewer towels are used if each person has only one or two sets of towels each week. Lots of washcloths, though.
Each person’s towels are their very own, not to be used by others.
Towels are to be hung back up on towel bars, never dropped on the floor. Damp towels are hung single layer so they dry and don’t molder.
The ultra large luxury thick towels cost a lot more to wash and to dry. Avoid them. The thinner smaller economy towels may be the way to go — many more fit in one single load of a washer (or wash bag, or whatever) and dry faster.
There are also “camping towels” which are more like a synthetic car chamois.
Dressing for success: Just because we are having a pandemic, doesn’t mean spit and polish goes away.
People expect their leaders to look like leaders: even though Patton and Eisenhower and Bradley were actually being SHOT at, they always looked like generals — starched, pressed, and ready. It’s just efficient to know who to follow.
Every leader knows that they have to look the part to be taken seriously, regardless of conditions. So, if a person is working under horrible conditions, that fact that he can preplan enough and control enough resources to be able to look leaderly, means people will follow.
In a crisis, it’s even more important. Think of Mayor Guiliani — no matter what you think about the rest of his term, he had 8 hours of extremely effective leadership in keeping panic down, because people just looked to him to lead and he was ready.
So, I would agree that looking good (if planned for now) is important for important people trying to keep things like water, electricity, and so on running ---
Bachelor solution, lots of Fabreeze.
Well said heddiecalifornia – at 13:28 !!
Another reason to stockpile deoderant!
If you live in a cold climbe and think you’ll be lounging a lot, lightweight fleece is great. It’s super warm, wicks away moisture and dries really quickly when you do wash it. Silk ulong johns are also nice and warm and dry quickly but I don’t think my boys (including DH)will go for that!
Just as an observation, the uniform for cowboys, construction workers, and assorted other “hard work” type jobs has been, for several decades, jeans and a t-shirt. Various styles, but it eventually boils down to jeans and a t-shirt.
In cool weather, jeans, a t-shirt, long underwear, a cardhardt (sp), leather, or denim jacket. I’m not going to touch on what people wear in really COLD weather — I’m from Arizona. :)
Jeans are extremely durable, don’t stain easily (particularly dark ones — when I was riding daily after work, a few years back, I wore black or dark blue jeans exclusively!), are easy to wash, don’t wrinkle much, are comfortable, don’t hold odors, etc.
T-shirts are cheap … not particularly durable, but cheap. You can get generic t-shirts for $5 each at wally world.
If TSHTF, I’m pretty much planning on being a goatherd until it’s all over with. Got goats, will travel. (To family property in N. AZ.) I imagine trecking around after the goats all day will be hard on clothing — particularly with that red clay up there. (And limited water at the cabin.) On my short list of things to buy are a bunch of jeans and a few packages of cheap t-shirts — also a couple extra pair of boots, but that’s probably not a consideration for people who plan on living inside during a pandemic.
Cygnet-don’t forget the Carhartt coveralls for cooler temperatures. Since they are an overgarment, I wouldn’t feel like I had to wash them until they were walking around on their own. :)
I’m not going to touch on what people wear in really COLD weather — I’m from Arizona. :)
It gets pretty cold here in FresNo….I remember one cold night last winter. Got all the way down to around 60 degrees!!! I actually had to wear socks…. :-)
Some of the top end outdoor goods stores have expedition clothing that is waterproof, breathable, durable, never wears out, warm, comes in layers, and underlayers that have built in antimicrobial treatments (silver and other stuff) that will keep your underwear fresh for days.
No, I have not tried any, but the advertizements sure look good.
heddiecalifornia – at 15:51 --- The drawback is the price. Expedition clothing can get pretty expensive…
For those that wear “just plain t-shirts”, they can be bought pretty cheaply at the chain stores other than Wally-World. Check Sears, Penney’s, K-Mart. 3 shirts for 5 dollars…
Cygnet – at 14:52 - To go along with the jeans you need patching material and strong needles & thread for the occasional rip.
cygnet - the only problem with jeans is they are a bear to wash by hand. Otherwise I totally agree - that’s what I’m in most of the time.
Someone, in another thread, reported that nurses during Katrina wished for sportsbras and headlamps. These points are worth repeating. Sportsbras catch sweat and can be worn for long stretches.
I also bought rugged leather sandals in progressively larger sizes for my toddlers - enough to last their entire childhoods, by golly. In the wintertime in the South, we hippy types wear socks with our sandals.
Oremus – at 13:49 Frebreeze! Too funny. That is my son’s solution.
I think I am going to learn how to run the power plant so I can do laundry in my washing machine. This is my “high maintenance” area. I am a fanatic about clean clothes. I am probably going to wear myself to a frazzle just to have clean clothes while my family has to do all the cooking so we don’t starve.
I’m buying a couple of prodigious winter coats from LL Bean, the likes of which my fifteen-year-old fashion plate will never wear unless freezing in the privacy of her own home.
Mountaineers have an expression “Cotton kills, cotton saves” — wet cotton wicks away heat from the body at an incredible rate (like 400X faster than dry). This literally can kill you with hypothermia if you (or your little one) is in damp cotton in a chilly house (or tent). Wet cotton is terrific for getting rid of heat, so we tell our Boy Scouts that if someone looks like they are getting overheated they should leave the cotton T shirt on but soak it down with water. There was a reason folks used wet washcloths to bring down a fever!
I could see where tub washed laundry might not get dried well in emergency situations. Wool retains body heat even when damp and most polar fleece dries super quickly. I’m thinking of stocking up on wool socks! Be careful with damp cotton on little ones. They sometimes don’t know to complain and they can get a chill pretty quick.
I have solved my problem of clothes to SIP in. I have stocked up on sweats of all colors. and lots and lots of socks…..I’m gonna hybernate. I got a big new lazy boy and some fluffy throws and I and my furkid are gonna snuggle together. LOLOLOL
um, seeing as i presently do not own a washer,
i have like, all these plastic buckets… and a river for filling them with… and some bleach… Dr. Bronner’s…
y’know.
that’s my plan.
(and i’m of the opinion one can never have too many sheets, blankets, and towels.)
i lived alone 9 months with an infant on minimal solar power, phone access, and water, several miles from the nearest paved road, in NorCal, using cloth diapers,…did just fine, with some complaint at times admittedly, but…
i’m doubting things will be so business as usual as to need clean clothes and the like.
high-quality thinsulate type long underwear, good waterproof hiking/snow boots, wool socks, quality gloves, hats, and a down jacket might be a good idea, depending on where one lives.
i do plan to have stockpiled lipstick.
Cygnet-work with goats all day now and like to tell you that you will need extra clothing this time of year when the bucks start smelling. the whole house will smell like it if you don’t change your outer clotes often. We live out of water jugs , that we fill up several times a day and I hand wash-and I have found that sweatpants are really the easiest to wash-stick with dark colors also. Longjohns in the winter help. It gets down to zero here in the winter, but I have not worn a winter coat in several years-just 3–4 sweatshirts ( top layer one with hood).-I have considered going to the second hand store and buying all the sweatpants I can find there, they only cost about 1.50 and you won’t believe what good quality clothes people get rid of-that way, if one gets so dirty , that I can’t get it clean anymore, I can just cut it up for rags !
I have used aprons for 30 years. I use only the bib style and it must have pockets. They do protect your clothing.
What part do clothes play in spreading of flu viruses?
I would be careful with cuffs — its amazing how we drag/slide arms across table tops, counters and (ugh) noses.
heddiecalifornia – at 13:14 - Concerning Towels: One of the biggest loads of laundry I do is Bathtowels. I have learned over the years the following: Fewer towels are used if each person has only one or two sets of towels each week. Lots of washcloths, though. Each person’s towels are their very own, not to be used by others. Towels are to be hung back up on towel bars, never dropped on the floor. Damp towels are hung single layer so they dry and don’t molder. The ultra large luxury thick towels cost a lot more to wash and to dry. Avoid them. The thinner smaller economy towels may be the way to go — many more fit in one single load of a washer (or wash bag, or whatever) and dry faster.
If anyone is sick with any type of fever or diaorrhea/vomiting in your household, you’re going to need at least 2–3 complete sheet changes per day, as well as at least 4–5 large towels, which will need not only to be washed but to be disinfected and ironed, plus the pajamas/nighties, pillowcases, etc. If in addition they have a rash on the body, you’ll need the thick and soft towels.
Ahhhhhh, ironed sheets….what a luxury! Alas, I don’t think I’d recognize a sheet without wrinkles anymore.
FrenchieGirl – at 12:03
I’m wondering why you would think that thick towels are needed for someone with a rash on their body — would you please explain what you mean? Certainly thinnner towels would be easier to clean, what benefit would there be to using the thicker ones?
If you have a rash, and possibly fever, and you want to wipe the person, the thick ones are infinitely softer and they gather more humidity faster, so that your patient does not dread the movements of the thin ones which tend to be rougher, and you can do the job quicker therefore there’s less possibility of a chill or discomfort. Also, if the person is perspiring very much while not moving, a thick soft towel underneath the person is less likely to provoke skin lesions than thin ones. I’m thinking of the very seriously ill people, but possibly also for children having measles, chicken pox and various itchy conditions. Any comfort one can give to a sick person is that much that helps them get better.
I see. That makes sense now that you’ve explained it — I would have never thought of that and my ‘patient’ would have suffered for my ignorance — thanks for the education!!
And on the subject while we’re at it, I prefer cotton or linen sheets, because they absorb perspiration very well. I never use the mix that has half cotton and half synthetic. And I put a top sheet beneath the duvet cover (also cotton). The drawback is that it’s more of a pain to wash, but especially to iron. But sleeping in ironed cotton sheets when you’re sick is marvelous, even when you’re not sick. In summer I use my grandma’s linen sheets, one bottom, one top, and naked in between, and it takes most of the perspiration away. They’re over a century old, I still have some that need breaking (not to be used with sick people these). I’ll trade other things just to have ironed sheets.
Now, if someone can give me a tip to iron sheets when there is no electricity, I’d be grateful, because I don’t know where I could get the old irons that you heat in a fire.
All this means it’s not just a question of what clothes you are going to wear during the pandemic, it means reassessing exactly what you are going to do, what you are willing to do, with household linens. As I said, I love ironed cotton sheets, thick towels, and I’d be willing to trade other skills for that. i.e. If the household is too small, therefore few hands to help you with daily chores, you’ll have to bypass many comforting things. I’m lucky, there’s 8 of us (adults) so we’ll share the work.
if climate,and modesty allow,work sans clothing.
FrenchieGirl – at 14:38 When you need to iron clothes without electricity - http://tinyurl.com/f8xxg. I hope you have a wood or coal stove!
ssol — at 15:07 - Woah! Lovely. Thank you. And they do ship abroad. Yes I do have (also) a wood stove, with a flat top…
The general consensus on the FW Vitamin D thread (http://tinyurl.com/ky738) is that lots of Vitamin D will greatly help you fight off an H5N1 infection. Since you need full body exposure to sunlight to internally generate lots of vitamin D that means wearing nothing outside at high noon is a prudent mode of dress for BF. Include a bottle of red wine (resvatrol) and some music and you might have a sure fire cure.
I’m not sure I would describe that threaf as having resembling a concensus, but D rarely would hurt. Being the Southern belle I am, I’ll pass on the direct sun….too many negatives to justify the bemefit. But your description of dress and liquid refreshment has the makings for an interesting movie script.
Figured out over the last few days why the pioneers only washed their clothes twice a year, dresses only once a year;-)
worrywart, they sure figured out what was important and what wasn’t didn’t they?
I used to have some of those ‘sack’ things to wear….had sort of sleeves with wristbands and sort of legs with ankle bands. They were comfortable, but you had to almost entirely undress to go to the bathroom and that could get cold if you’d been bundled up in one for hours. They were toasty…maybe I should find some more & make a ‘trap door’ like a pair of longjohns! I liked them because they weren’t close fitting like longjohns are.
My work “uniform” is suits or slacks with a blazer or sweater. I wear a lightweight knit “tee” or a blosue with each of theses. The pants and suits are dry clean only - but are only dry cleaned about 3 or 4 times a year. I have enough basic suits and slacks and rotate through them (hanging them to air in between) that I can go for long stretches between dry cleaning needs. I also have some khakis that are fairly light weight but also washable at home. By washing the knit “tees” and blouses and wearing good underwear - I am essentially providing a clothing shield for the bulk of sweat related dirt/smells. If I am reporting in to work during a pandemic - I should be able to use these items in the same fashion - with only minor laundry requirements involved.
My at home clothes are simple - lightweight -and layerable for cooler weather. I would likely refrain from using jeans during that time frame - choosing khakis, sweat pants, and shorts instead - which are easier to wash by hand and hang dry.
Regarding towels-I have a small clothes line on my back roofed deck. After showers in the morning, I hang each persons towel out there unless there is an absolute monsoon coming down, and bring them in late afternoon. Streaches the wash time between towels considerably and I think the fresh air and sunshine helps.
Another garment to try are those nylon-type exercise pants. They are cheap and available enough,comfortable, they repel dirt wonderfully, wash easily and dry quickly,- turn them inside out when washing/drying though, to make sure the lining gets clean/dry.
Ive been hitting the thrifts/Goodwill a LOT latly. You can get cotton tees really cheap, plus sweats- to the point of disposability if it came to a crunch-if someone where really sick and no washing facilities. A good place also for extra bleachable sheets/lightweight blankets-again, if you needed you could just dispose of the sheets. Unfortunatly, I can envision scenarios were someone is physically sick on a sheet and others members of the family are too ill/exhuasted to wash a nasty sheet-esp with no power/water.
FrenchieGirl,
remember that you can always heat up a cast iron skillet & use the bottom to press your sheets with — nice and wide and will cover an area a lot faster than a little iron!
Lol, boy! have I got a few of those! It deserves a try!