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.

Making a Clean Sweep

I like a clean house.
A lot of satisfaction is achieved knowing 
that I am the caretaker of this place we call home.
Not only does it keep us healthier,
it serves as a constant reminder to myself
that being a "homekeeper" is a noble career.
Although I'm not paid for my work,
the fulfillment comes in a job well done.
By taking care of what we have,
we are demonstrating our appreciation for all of our blessings. 

That being said, a few things have changed since we moved into our current home.
As of now, I don't work outside the home
(except for selling daisy totes at the farmers' market during season),
so I have the time to contribute to my household manager duties.
Our house is just over 1400 square feet,
so it is quite a bit smaller than our home in Florida.
I decided that I wanted to clean less and have more time for hobbies.
So the boys are now responsible for keeping their rooms clean
and will soon be doing their own laundry.
This takes much of the burden of cleaning off of me
and motivates me to do a better job on those tasks that are mine.
Here are some of the ways I have streamlined my cleaning.

 

There are so many uses for vinegar outside of salad dressings.
It is my go-to for anything that needs sanitizing.
It gets used on tile floors, in toilets before scrubbing
and the job it does on grout is amazing!
Here's where I used it in our last house

along with some Bon Ami to bring our grout back to life.

For the most part, I like to make homemade cleaners,

but Bon Ami is something my mom always used,

and it is still one of my favorite products around the house.



Our homemade glass cleaner is made with just a few, simple ingredients
and is used for glass furniture, mirrors and windows.
It does a fabulous job and costs just pennies per bottle.
The recipe is right on the bottle,
so that when it's time to make more,
we have the recipe at our fingertips.


I also believe in supporting companies who are keeping Mother Nature in mind.
The Mrs. Meyer's brand of general cleaner is what I use for
once-a-week dusting and cleaning our beautiful wood floors.
I like that I can buy a large bottle of concentrated cleaner
and add to my spray bottle as needed.
This is in keeping with my philosophy of buying less plastic,
as I am working toward adding less items to our recycle bin.
Paying attention to packaging is important.




Recently, we've decided that each of us will do our own laundry.
It's mostly to help C with his independent living skills,
but there are other considerations.
Big K isn't always a fan of my homesteading ventures,
so he'll be using traditional means to wash his clothes.
I prefer to make as many products as I can easily manage,
and our homemade laundry soap fits into that category.
I've been researching a way to make it even better
by using a cruelty-free bar soap.
Dr. Bronner's peppermint soap will be used from now on.

For the last couple of weeks,
we've been using wool dryer balls to decrease static electricity in our clothes.
So far, I'd have to say that I am pleased with the results.
These wool balls are supposed to last for years,
so here's another thing that can be crossed off the list of supplies.
I like that we are also supporting a company right here in the USA.
The bonus with using these is that it cuts down on the drying time,
so that you are saving money all around.
 

Of course, although we don't yet have a clothesline on this property,
it will be something added to our to-do list for a warmer season.
For now, our wooden drying rack has been used in the house
when temperatures are too cold outside.
The fireplace also aids in drying our laundry
while keeping us toasty warm.

our clothesline in FL

My cleaning routine has recently been modified.
After taking a few months to consider what works best,
this is what I came up with.
The daily tasks take less than an hour,
which leaves more time for things I enjoy.

Monday-clean bathrooms (floors too)
Tuesday-clean kitchen (fridge once a month)
Wednesday-clean wood floors
Thursday-dust all common areas
(boys are responsible for their own rooms)
Friday-grocery shopping or thrifting

Because our home is on the small side (1400 sf),
and because I have less on my plate,
it's much easier to complete my tasks.
The pleasure of keeping house is not something
that I've ever experienced in the 18 years that I've been at home.
With this new routine, and simple strategies,
I am finding myself content and gratified,
even downright joyful,
which is something that everyone can use
a little more of.

Be Blissed!

Clean Fridge

This refrigerator was given to us by former neighbors in Florida.

The husband didn't like the freezer down below,

so they gave it to us in pristine condition.

I don't think it was even 6 months old,

and we were happy to use it as our extra fridge in the garage.

We moved it all the way from Florida,

into the rental and then to its final resting place at our new home.

About every 6 months or so,

I like to give it a good cleaning.

It's easy enough to wipe it down between these times,

but being able to take all of the components out makes it so easy to do.

The inside is wiped down with warm water and vinegar. 

This solution does a good job on so many cleaning tasks.

It's gentle, works like a charm and costs just pennies.

If there is an especially stubborn spot,

I just take a bit of baking soda with water and make a scrubbing paste.

Voila!

Clean as a whistle!

As each shelf or bin is washed, it gets laid out to dry

before being reinserted where it fits best.

It's a good idea to check for expiration dates

whenever you clean out the fridge.

Anything that is expired should be tossed,

and those  unopened items that you don't think you'll be using 

can be passed on to someone else.

Another option is to create a meal out of the week's leftovers.

Have an international supper night!

I love how the space in refrigerators today are so flexible.

You can easily move shelves and bins around to suit your needs,

and that can change from one shopping trip to the next.

We use this fridge as extra storage,
as we have no designated pantry in this house.
Efficiency is improved by keeping it full.
It does my heart good to see all the homemade goodies in there!
Keeping up with these types of cleaning tasks 
makes it easier in the long run to maintain the household.

"Let everyone sweep in front of his own door,
and the whole world will be clean."
~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Other cleaning posts:

Cleaning Routine
Dirty Lil' Secret
Homemade Glass Cleaner
The Monster in Your Shower
Mean Clean Washing Machine