Thursday, April 8, 2010

Climb every mountain.


Fold every mountain in this case. I don't mind though. I love laundry. I especially love laundry products. Soap, pretreater, softeners, even bleach in it's various forms.

It is well known, by those that know me at least, I can't go to a store without spending some time in the laundry isle. I have my favorites that I will open and smell, but I always try a few new ones. If it's a box I have a patented squeeze and sniff method. I don't recommend squeezing an open liquid bottle though. Something to do with Gain squirting up ones nose, then said someones husband took a picture with his phone, while laughing, and laughing, and telling her he knew that would happen someday. Any who, I love, love, love it.

Jeff's gotten over his embarrassment over the years, lucky for him. In truth, I tune him and everybody out when I'm in that isle. I don't care if I look like a weirdo, and I know I do, opening and squeezing bottles and boxes one after the other. I even thought about making it a profession. Someone as dedicated to laundry products as I, should be in the field, creating, testing, and getting paid.

I used to be so in tune with the scents of each soap and softener, I could tell which ones you used. I am a little bit embarrassed to admit, but I browse laundry websites to see what is the newest thing they're working on. It's fun time for me. I also cruise them for coupons and samples, I'm not completely waisting my time.


The smells of certain detergents leave me feeling nostalgic. They bring back certain times in my life. Tide with bleach powder for instance, reminds me of being pregnant with Abbey. We lived with Jeff's parents during that time and that was what she used. I would stand above the open box and inhale. . . inhale. . . inhale. . . it cured any sickness I was feeling. I only threw up once with that pregnancy, and probably only because I didn't have access to the Tide. My gratitude to Tide with bleach.


Purex original scent liquid is what I used in our new townhouse after Lindsay was born. I did so much laundry that first 8 months. Lindsay threw up after EVERY feeding. She would loose just about everything, for 8 months! So, Purex and I got to know each other. I had gotten a super deal at Kmart and got 4 big jugs for around 10 bucks. Every day, load, pour, start, dry, and repeat.
I'll open a bottle and Abbey is only 2 and coloring at the kitchen table, singing a made up song. I'll be bathing Lindsay for the third time that day and putting her in warm clean clothes, and then hold her. She didn't like to be put down. We held her. Abbey would come sit with us and give me kisses on the arm and on Lindsay's head. "She's our sugar baby, isn't she mama!"

When I go past a venting dryer I remember the year of the snow fort. Donald built an incredible snow fort in the front yard. We played outside for hours, everyday. On days when the laundry was being done, we'd warm up by the dryer vent. It was warm and smelled really good. We also experimented with melting just the outside of our snowballs to create an icy layer. We called them stingers, well I did, I can't remember if Donald agreed to the name.


Tide original scent powder reminds me of my Grandparents house in Bellevue. Every time you went out to the backyard, you passed through the laundry room to get there. I know that smell. It's so clean and fresh. I'll wash my towels, pull them out of the dryer, put one to my nose, and I swear I'm out back bouncing on the giraffe hippity hop.


It's funny. I just set out to do a "look what I have to do today post". Oh, how the mind will wander.

14 comments:

Alicia said...

I love laundry too! My favorite right now is Gain. I've liked it for a couple years actually. I would love to see your laundry collection! Also, I know exactly what you mean about scents triggoring memories. Good post Heidi!

Yarn Princess said...

Have you tried the Purex Laundry Sheets??? I LOVE them! And I don't have to worry that someone will forget to put in fabric softener or a dryer sheet. I don't use anything else for my youngest's laundry now.

Stephanie said...

Glad someone enjoys laundry. I stick with tide. The cheap detergents are only used on towels and bed linens.

Too bad we don't live closer. I would gladly allow you too to do my laundry.

Lisa Christine said...

This post is simply phenomenal! I loved taking that trip down memory lane with you :)

Lisa said...

Tide Original is by far my favorite but the blue dyes were ruining our clothes (and giving my mom asthma attacks when she slept over) so now we're tide free & clear and it has no smell at all. =(

Terri said...

Oh, I love scented laundry products! I know they're probably not the most environmentally-friendly selections, but I love them anyway. Surf detergents are my favorite scents, but I like the new Tide scents as well.

Jeanette said...

mine is bath products. I smell them all. Poor Jim used girly soaps until I found Dove for men. But, he doesn't like it. He likes my cucumber melon type. Funny.

I hate laundry. I did 8 loads Tuesday & I have 3 to do today. I do love Tide Clean Breeze.

Enjoy climbing the mountain! :)

SuzanSayz said...

I knew that one day you would have to do a post about your obsession, er, love, of all things laundry. If I have to cut through an aisle in a store I try to always make it the laundry one. Well, that, or, the coffee aisle. Heaven forbid I end up in the Pet Food aisle.
Great post Heidi!

hmmmm, word verification is
micart
micart is always filled with good smelling laundry products.

Cindy Brinkerhoff said...

hmmm... maybe I should give this a try we always use the same, Kirkland laundry detergent and Downy from Costco. Boring, I know. I think I will go to target and buy a fun new smelling detergent today!

Jen A. said...

mmmm... laundry detergent! Is this a disorder of some sort I wonder... because I suffer from the same symptoms. When I was little I used to run my hand through the laundry detergent and make it all clump up in my hand. Now I just spend hours sniffing each frangrance. i can't help myself. It's 20 times worse when I am pregnant. My husband used to have to drag me out of the isle. I have to go sniff my laundry now. Seriously... this very minute.

Amy said...

Wish I could share in your love but I absolutely hate laundry. I do love the smells but the chore is pure torture. It doesn't seem to matter how many loads I do. There is always more to be done and more to put away.

dani said...

i love scents that take me back in time as well, heidi:) i especially love to smell tanning oils and lotions! (and am guilty of squirting coppertone up my nose while sniffing in an aisle in walmart;b
much love,
dani xxxx

Lisa Christine said...

New post! New post! New post!

Amy said...

Okay there must be something going on in your life for you not to be blogging. Where are you?