...and this...
...oh, and this too.
So here's the story:
A few weeks ago, my hubby commented that we were really getting a pile-up of laundry. I told him I was doing my best, but the dryer was taking about four rounds before the clothes were actually dry, meaning that at best, I was only able to complete about two loads a day.
"Why didn't you tell me that before?" he said. And so it turned out the hose was full of lint, as the dryer had been pushed up too close to the wall, compressing the hose. When he was done with his repairs, I found that I could wash, dry, and fold one load of laundry in less than an hour. Awesome!
So I got all caught up, sometimes even doing extra small loads, just because I COULD. I was patting myself on the back for being such an efficient housewife, and delighted at all the time I was saving.
I should not have done that.
Because yesterday, I removed a load of laundry from my Super Great And Fast Dryer, and behold! Purple clothes! And a purple dryer barrel! And a little girl who is banned from using crayons for the next six months! Oh, and also, a little girl who should have all the pockets removed from her pants!
(Side note: How do I know it was Laura? Because after putting that load of jeans in the washer, I noticed Garrett still had a lot of dirty clothes on the floor in his room. I asked him to gather them up for me, and he picked the clothes up off the floor AND promptly opened the little drawer of his bedside table and pulled out five pairs of dirty jeans. Which would be ALL of his jeans. Why, friends? Why does he do these strange things? How exactly does one decide, "Hey. I think I will stuff all of my dirty jeans into a tiny drawer"?)
So. After throwing a major mommy tantrum about the state of the laundry (which included, of course, the one and only pair of jeans that fits me), I proceeded to call every mom friend and family member I have, surveying everyone's thoughts on how to clean the clothes AND the dryer.
The clothes turned out to be a fairly simple affair, if you disregard the part about carrying a forty pound basket of dripping wet clothes across the house. I ran a tub of hot water, added a very liberal amount of OxyClean powder, and soaked the clothes for about 4 hours (thanks, E!). Then I attempted to wring them out (denim does not wring out well), washed them on hot with detergent and more OxyClean, and presto! Stains gone, completely GONE! I am amazed. I am also a bit winded, as I can no longer breathe in aforementioned jeans.
However, the purple dryer barrel was another affair entirely.
Magic Eraser? Apparently crayon in the dryer is the one thing these don't remove.
Windex? No. I was halfway inside the dryer scrubbing furiously when the fumes started making me feel a little funny, like maybe I wanted to crawl inside the dryer and take a short nap.
Oops Stain Remover? No. Again with the fumes, and possibility of my dryer bursting into flames when I turned it on.
Toothpaste? Nope. Turns out, it only whitens your teeth.
WD-40? This is what the Crayola and various cleaning websites recommend. We do not own any. And again with the possibility of burning my house down right before the holiday season.
Prayer? Still trying.
Put Old Wet Rags In Dryer With Heat On High, Hoping The Rags Would Soak Up The Residue? It was a last, desperate attempt, people.
When I ran the wet rags through, no purple came off on them. So I went ahead and threw a load of wet laundry in, and they also came out fine. I am perfectly willing to live with a purple stained dryer. It gives it character. Also, I am unbelievably lazy. (I dust like four times a year. Do you really think I am going to spend hours scrubbing the inside of my dryer?) However, I do get a little jolt of panic every time I open the dryer and see the glaring purple stains.
And just when you think that was all the fun I could handle for one day...while I was making the phone calls, soaking the clothes, and attempting to de-crayon the dryer, my children were apparently unrolling two spare Giant Rolls of Charmin down the stairs. We will be wiping with strips of toilet paper from HA-HA an enormous trash bag for the remainder of the week.
Oh, and lest I forget, they also spilled a large Sprite on the floor, wrote on the wall with a crayon found under the couch, unrolled the remainder of toilet paper in both bathrooms, changed clothes three times, dumped two bowls of BooBerry cereal (minus the marshmallows, of course) over the stairs, and made some ketchup and chocolate syrup sandwiches.
Note to self: Stop letting children eat only freeze dried marshmallows for breakfast. Could be source of problem.
14 Comments:
First!
And,
Oh holy crap!
I have no idea how to get that out of there. I would be cool with it too, provided the purple didn't randomly decide to come off on a load of clothes.
Also, there is never a dull moment in your house, is there??
That was quite the day. As for the jeans stuffed in the drawer, I think it's a boy thing. My son gives me clean clothes to wash and leaves the dirty clothes on the floor. His idea of cleaning is sticking anything- be it clean or dirty- in any place I can not see. Drawers work well.
Now I must go read your post about politics because unlike sillyhily I loooove politics. Even though I totally don't understand your system.
Your kids have a lot of energy! And you have a lot of patience. :)
Note to self: If I ever have a question or problem that has anything to do with kids, ask Stacey because there is a 99.99999% chance she has "been there and done that." Girl, I don't know how you do it.
Hilarious. Maybe Crayola should employ you as a consultant on how to rid marks off of various items.
Holy Crap Stacy! How have those kids not tied you up and rampaged yet, lmao. My children are little angels apparently. Here's hoping it gets better.
Another 'My Oh My' for you! My goodness.
I guess I should feel lucky whenever I pull rocks and sticks out of our washer / dryer after doing a load of kids clothes. However, after reading this I will make sure to remind myself each and every time that I do laundry to check pockets. CHECK POCKETS!
Anything is possible. Holy Crap.
Stace, next time SOAK IN WASHER!!! No need to burn 5,000 calories, trucking 300lbs of soaking wet jeans across the house and then trying to wring out the water. LOL, My chilren are the same way and no there is never a dull moment, but when we are old and gray we will have something to look back on and laugh about. As for G, just wait until he is 8, and thinks if he hasn't worn his clothes for 3 days nor brushed his teeth, that it is all good and there is no need to put on clean clothes. Smelly, stinky, loveable boys. Have a good week
Erica
This is precisely why I went back to work after a year at home with my two terrors. :) You have much more patience than I do!!
I am sorry Stacey, but I laughed out loud when I saw your pictures. I knew that we were in for another adventure with your two lovely children.
In case, you do not read your new comments to your old posts. I loved your discussion about politics.
You rule. I feel so much better now (because I got a good laugh, not because I am enjoying your misery) and I needed that. 'Cause, um... 'cause I did. :P
Stacey, I think you need a break. Put in a good kid movie and duct tape the kids to the couch. Then have a glass or 3 of the wine of your choice. As much as they drive you crazy you know you love the great posts they give you!
Stacey, I have a similar stain in my dryer. I know - I don't have kids, but I do have a husband who had a ballpoint pen in his pocket once. It was a lost cause with that load of laundry, but that's really exciting that you were determined to get those clothes clean and you did!!! Now, I feel like I should have at least tried to do it.
Whoa, I feel for you. Kids are great, lol. I am lucky not to have had any crayons in the dryer, but have had hard candy left in their pockets that cemented the pocket together, ugh! I hope your week gets better.
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