Dryer Fire Safety

 

One of the tasks we managed to complete during lockdown

was cleaning out the dryer vent.

It's suggested to do this at least once a year,

depending on how much laundry you do.

Not only is this important for the life of the dryer,

it could save your life.

Along with making it easier for the dryer to do its job,

keeping the lint filter and vents free and clear of sediment

helps your dryer work more efficiently and quickly.

 

The lint that builds up in the vent is highly flammable,

and if the vent gets clogged, it can start a fire.  

It can also prevent CO gases from exiting the system outside

and keep it circulating within the laundry area.

 

This brush, with the extended handle,

is a tool that makes the job a breeze.

It can be used with a power drill, to make the task even easier.

The brush can be found at most hardware and home improvement stores.

 

Our laundry space is in a hallway closet,

we don't have a separate laundry room (yet).

Now, you know I wouldn't show this to anyone unless I thought it could help.

This is what the floor underneath the dryer looked like.

Ugh.

I doubt it's ever been cleaned under,

but since the dryer had to be moved to get to the vent,

we took the opportunity to tidy up while we were there.

 

 

The hose connecting from the dryer to the vent hole in the floor (on the rear right),

was removed and we could get to work.

With the Shop Vac and my usual floor cleaner of hot water and vinegar,

the grunge was sent down the bathroom sink.

We placed the brush into the hole and got out a mess of debris.

The second part of this task was to locate the vent on the outside of the house,

and clean it out as well.

You may be surprised at all the junk that makes its way out.

All of this debris can be composted,

or if you don't use dryer sheets (I use dryer balls),

it can actually be left outside for the birds to use in nest making.

I even know someone who puts it in her worm bin.

The back of the washer and dryer were thoroughly cleaned.

The side where the washing machine sat was no better.

For some reason, this side was sticky and I found a stack of newspapers

wadded up behind it, along with a few stray kids' socks.

This tile will be replaced when we redo the bathroom floors,

but at least it's cleaner until we tackle that job.

We will be moving the laundry to another part of the house,

and this closet will become our pantry and storage area.

Looking forward to making this spot more efficient!

Every time I opened the doors of the laundry closet,

the area in front of the washer and dryer really bothered me.

It was full of nasty grunge and gunk. 

Ahhh, that's better. 

More importantly,

our family feels a bit safer,

knowing that we have maintained this often forgotten space.

It will be an annual chore that can be accomplished in minutes.

Our safety is well worth the time and effort.

 

Using Diffusers

Essential oils have been used in our home for several years.
We prefer the DoTerra brand,
as we've always had good experience with them.
These oils can be added to diffusers, applied topically,
and some are even safe enough to ingest.
Especially in winter, when the air is exceedingly dry,
dispersing oils into the air helps keep humidity higher,
while adding a fragrance to fit one's mood.
We usually have lemon or orange diffusing in the living room,
but we use peppermint during the holidays. 
Aromatic application can encourage
relaxation, stimulation and emotional renewal.
The diffuser shown above is our living room unit.
It gets filled in the morning,
and pretty much goes all day,
cleaning and scenting the air.
This unit has an automatic shut-off,
so if I forget to turn it off before bedtime,
it will shut off when the water is gone.

Using a diffuser with essential oils in the bedroom
encourages sounder sleep.
Scents such as lavender, jasmine, sandalwood, and even vanilla
foster a sense of relaxation and restfulness.
Eucalyptus, lemon and rosemary can aide
in breathing easier through the sleep cycle.
Along with the chosen aroma,
the vaporizing effect of the mist adds needed humidity to the air,
especially in the dry winter months.
I was even able to find a diffuser
with an added bonus, a white noise option.
Between the essential oils and my choice of rain, 
a rolling stream or incoming waves, my sleep has improved.

An important aspect when using a diffuser in any application,
is keeping it clean.
The water sometimes sits and creates mildew in the reservoir.
Simply using warm water and perhaps a bit of vinegar
will take care of the problem.
I do this at least once a month,
and more if I see it's needed.
This ensures that the diffuser will last longer
and continue to support your well being.

Our diffusers are a welcome addition to the homestead.

Powder Laundry Soap

The switch was made years ago to fashion my own cleaners.
With C's numerous sensitivities,
it made sense to do away with the chemical-laden cleaning agents,
and build a repertoire of safer products.
It was also a bit harder then to find products that were cruelty-free.
It's been one of the most effortless changes in our lifestyle.
Along with vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice for general cleaning,
familiar elements can be used to supply your household
with a fantastic laundry soap.
This recipe was featured on 
"Off Grid with Doug and Stacy",
which can be found here.
I find myself watching their videos,
always learning something new.

 This easy-to-make laundry soap 
contains simple ingredients that are easily recognizable.  
Along with being aware of the origin of our food,
it's important to me to create personal care and cleaning products
that are safe, cruelty-free, and earth-friendly. 
With just two common components,
this recipe is a snap to put together.

 The soap can be scented with your choice of essential oils,
although eucalyptus is a favorite of mine.
This recipe replaces the popular "Zote" soap concoction,
as I really felt the need to remove animal products from my cleaners,
just a personal choice.
The Kirk's castille is made with a few simple ingredients,
is cruelty-free and contains no sulfates.
Check out their line of soaps here.

Streamlining my household management is a constant intention,
and with this uncomplicated solution, it's smooth as silk.

 Homemade Laundry Soap
(Doug & Stacy)
2 C washing soda
1 bar Castille soap
essential oils (10-12 drops)

Grate bar soap and mix with washing soda.
Add essential oils to your liking.
Use 2 Tablespoons per load
(Washes 12-15 loads)

Laundry Made Fun

A couple of weeks ago,
I was scanning some local ads on Next Door,
which is similar to Craig's List,
except that it contains items relevant to your immediate area.
It's fun once in a while to see what bargains might be out there,
or things that people are giving away that we might be able to repurpose.
It was quite surprising to find a patio set listed for $40,
so we went to see it and ended up purchasing it.
It looks brand new, 
and although I wasn't really thinking about buying deck furniture,
this just fell into our lap.
What does that have to do with laundry, you ask?
Bear with me...

 Well, one of the items on my wanna have list,
was a clothesline.
I had one in Florida, even though our HOA tried to keep us from having one.
(It's against the law to prohibit clotheslines.)
Until now, I've been making do here with one large drying rack,
setting it out on the deck to dry my clothes and linens.
Big K and I talked about how we could make a clothesline work out there,
so that I didn't have to go up and down the steps with a heavy basket of wet clothes.
We stumbled upon this folding clothesline.

One of the most appealing things about it
is the lack of packaging that came with it.
This paper, cardboard box and plastic wrapping paper
are all recyclable.  
How refreshing to have a minimal amount of packaging.

 Contained in the package is this spike which the user
can pound into the ground,
thereby eliminating the need for concrete.
It even comes with a rubber cap to place over the top
when the clothesline is removed for storage.
This prevents critters, dirt or rainwater from getting inside.
The spike just happens to fit in the grooves of our deck.

 The table and chairs I mentioned earlier?
The pole for the clothesline fits perfectly in the hole of the glass table.
Now I can use the clothesline right on the deck,
which is directly off the kitchen.
No need to rig something up or come up with some new idea 
about how to make it work in our application.
Don't you just love when things come together effortlessly?

The clothesline is retractable, so you can store it elsewhere
or purchase a vinyl cover if you'd rather leave it up.

 Another feature I love about this clothesline,
(or rotary dryer, as it's called by the company),
are the notched arms where hangers can be placed
to dry dresses, shirts or sweaters.

 There is plenty of room for a full load,
maybe even two at the same time.
This clothesline is the perfect addition to our homestead.
It makes me look forward to laundry day!

(I'm not compensated by this company,
I just like to keep the good stuff moving.)
Here's 
where you can find out more about this amazing product.

Clean Sweep

The last few weeks have been a bit of a challenge.

First, the boys got bad colds

with a cough that lingered for a couple of weeks.

Then I came down with some mystery tummy problem.

Still trying to figure that one out,

but I'm getting closer.

We've been sticking pretty close to home,

only venturing out for the bare necessities.

With all that nesting time,

it seemed like a great opportunity to do some tweaking around the ole' homestead.

The beginning of the year always gets me fired up

to reorganize and rethink what's working or not.

C's room needed an overhaul.

I can't even tell you how disgusted I was with it.

I couldn't bring myself to post pictures on here,

because I just want to forget it ever looked so bad.

The boy did not inherit his momma's organizing gene.

Or maybe it's just a teenage thing

(although I know my room never looked like a war zone).

He just gets so involved in his projects, 

that he loses focus on what's piling up around him.

It's mighty tough on a neatnik like me.

I tolerated it for a good while,

thinking that if he just kept the door closed,

I wouldn't have to look at it.

Well, I've come to my senses.

Last week, we took everything out of his room except for his furniture.

We cleaned it from top to bottom,

dusting, mopping, vacuuming.

Then, bit by bit, we went through every single item he owns,

cleaning it as we went, and made the decision about what would stay.

Here's what his closet looks like now,

with room left for a few more items he will be sorting.

 I also emptied his drawers in the closet

and replaced the items he recently washed

(thankfully, he now does his own laundry).

His clothes have been poorly treated,

becoming wrinkled because he would just stuff them in there.

He is a minimalist when it comes to clothing,

he does take after me in that way.

This week, after he does his wash,

I plan to show him how to properly fold everything

so that it can fit into his drawers neatly.

I will most likely post pictures in the closet,

as visual cues often help kids with autism in learning new tasks.

Everyday things need to be broken down to make them manageable.

 His bookcase is looking better,

although he needs to go through and see what books he no longer reads

so that they can be donated.

He is an avid reader and spends some time each day

engaging in this pastime.

Yes, a few of us still like turning real, paper pages.

 His fire alarm panel takes up part of one wall.

You might notice in the first picture

that he has bins full of this equipment.

It's something he's been interested in for years,

and he uses his knowledge of electronics

to make it work however he wants.

I love that his interests are so unique and intriguing.

He has yet to go through a few bins to see

what else he doesn't want anymore.

He knows it can't all fit in there,

the hard part for him is letting go.

My job is to help him understand

that items in his limited space need a purpose.

Easier said than done.

I have to admit, he did purge quite a bit more than I thought he would. 

The shocker came when he told me (more than once)

that it was fun to do this activity!

W-H-A-T???

While we worked on most of this project together,

he now has a few solo tasks to complete.

His desktop needs attention.

This is where he often works on his Lego creations.

The system is not working as well as we had hoped,

so we will probably come up with different storage underneath.

The desktop was actually a door we bought from a ReStore,

but it's no longer the best option.

We'll be looking for something with more height,

so that he can have more bins for brick sorting.

These black drawers work very well for Legos.

They are designed for nuts, bolts and screws in a garage application,

but they are ideal for housing all of his bricks

and he has even labeled the drawers. 

This shows me that the potential is there for organization

and maybe some of me rubbed off on him after all!

I've been helping sort these pieces so that he can put them where they belong.

I know it may sound crazy,

but I find sorting very relaxing.

Maybe because I know that eventually, 
things will end up in their proper place.

Our next task will be to come up with a plan

so that he can more easily keep things in order.

Feeling overwhelmed is not a pleasant state of mind,

and his room should be a place of rest and creativity.

Hopefully, he is now motivated to keep it up.

We'll see how it looks in six months!

Independent Living Skills-Making Laundry Basic

Before we moved, our (then 16-year old) son, C, 
had recently started doing his own laundry,
as part of his training for independent living.
When we moved to a rental in North Carolina,
there were no laundry facilities,
so I was visiting the laundromat and C had  
Mom's Laundry Service 
doing the job.

After we moved in to our new home,
it took a good 6 months or so to feel settled,
and we were busy with projects that needed attention,
so we let the laundry issue slide.
In this smaller home,
we have a laundry closet in the main hallway to the bedrooms.
It's an adjustment,
but we're so grateful to have laundry facilities.
 (We have plans to renovate it to make it more efficient.)


Having accomplished a few of the bigger projects in the house,
it was time to get back to teaching living skills to C.
The decision was made that each person will do his/her own laundry.
It's been my sole responsibility for almost 2 decades (WHAT?)
and it feels a bit strange to let it go.
Knowing it's all in the best interest of our boy's future,
I relinquished the task.

The first thing we did was create these visual instructions.
Folks on the autism spectrum usually learn visually,
so the straightforward steps are accompanied by pictures
to help him assimilate the process.
We're still getting used to the idea of self-serve laundry,
but I think in a few weeks' time, it'll become routine.

The items for doing laundry are all in plain sight.
I'm using Soap Nuts instead of traditional detergent,
but C will most likely stick to store-bought, like his dad.
(The second photo shows our stash of liquid detergent for the boys.) 
The Soap Nuts are there if he wants to try them,
as we are always trying to expand his options,
so that he learns to deal with changes.

Homemade stain remover is fairly easy to make,
and with the ingredients right on the bottle,
he should be able to mix up his own whenever he needs it.
He uses A LOT of stain remover!

The wool dryer balls remain in the dryer,
so there is not much for him to remember when it comes to drying clothes.
We are happy with the results of these little orbs,
noticing that our drying time is decreased
and some of the static electricity is removed.
I do use my drying rack outside or in front of the fireplace when I can,
but C doesn't get the same charge out of hanging up his clothes to dry.
So, the dryer is what he needs to practice using.
Again, the option of line drying is there should he want to use it,
or if he needs an alternative
(if his dryer is on the fritz or the power goes out).

These simple steps will help him ease into 
doing one more thing for himself.
He is taking pride in being able to do things independently.
I'm proud of all the strides he has made.