Extremely Boring Laundry Question...

[picklypopcorn]

Apologies ladies but I'm in need of wisdom :)

I find after 1 wear my clothes dont really need a wash, so at the moment I dump them on the floor and hope for the best hang them back up.. however, for the next wear they don't smell as good as fresh washed. Is there such a thing as laundry freshener spray? My idea is to have it in the wardrobe and to give clothes a quick spray before they go back in so that they are fresher when worn for the second time.

Is this a thing or am I being gross and lazy?

[DreamingofItaly]

I do this. My top tip (and I do this when ironing too) is to put some fabric conditioner in an old spray bottle with water. I spritz the clothes/sheets/etc and it's fresh as a daisy.

You're not gross, you're doing your bit to save the planet by not doing laundry when things aren't really dirty!

[Mozismyhero]

Fabreeze is your friend here!

[Whataboutwhathuh]

Bit of febreeze?

[gamerchick]

You wear worn clothes straight from the floor?

The iron thing would probably work quite well.

[picklypopcorn]

gamerchick apologies you probably haven't seen my other threads.

I'm recovering from anxiety and depression and for the last 2 years and a bit have been living in a complete tip. Not quite channel 5 documentary standard but not far off

6 weeks ago I took a completely unexpected turn for the better when I set about cleaning one tiny corner of my kitchen (on top of the microwave). About 46 hours, nearly 50 bin bags and a hell of a lot of work later, my house is now spotless and my anxiety and depression is (so far) showing no signs of coming back

So you see I'm just finding my feet and feel a bit like I'm discovering how to live properly for the first time as a 'normal' adult. I finally feel 'worth' a clean house and to wear freshly laundered clothes.. It's hard to explain.

I've kept on top of the house so far by giving myself a little jobs board and setting myself jobs each night, but the final thing to sort out is my wardrobe which is overflowing!

Currently in the process of taking everything out and only putting back the things I actually intend to wear, but I want to put the stuff back having had a spray of something nice if that makes sense?

I bought febreeze fabric on my way home, thanks ladies as always!

[Whataboutwhathuh]

That sounds so positive. It's breaking it down and taking tiny steps to keep it going that really help.

I have a floordrobe and regularly re wear from the floor.

[wobblywonderwoman]

So delighted for you prickly

[Trooperslane]

WOWSERS

You are a total trojan!

Well done xxx

[pimmsy]

Hi Pickly

First of all, well done you!

I know all how well how easy it is to get overwhelmed by mess and end up in a tip!

For fresh smelling clothes I would recommend getting a cheap empty spray bottle and adding 1 part white vinegar to 2 parts water and a couple of drops of essential oils, then just spritz away, the vinegar smells a bit strong but the smell fades within 5 minutes and I feel that it's less of a "I haven't washed my clothes, just spritzed them" give away than the febreeze smell.
Also, I have been known in times of desperation, after opening windows etc to boil a pan of vinegar+water and once it's reached a rolling boil put in on the floor ( on a cork mat ) in the middle of the room.
You can also spray your curtains!

Best of luck for your fresh start, and congratulations!

[gamerchick]

Wow well done you man , like seriously, pat on the back!

I wash towels after one use so probably am no help, but if your wardrobe is overflowing it probably could do with a good clear out. In your own time, you've done amazingly.

[picklypopcorn]

Thanks guys :)

Yep it's one little baby step at a time and that's all you need :) they soon add up!

It was actually Mumsnet that showed me the way forward. I posted about my house and everyone was completely lovely and supportive and just told me to crack on... So I did

Best advice I got was to just start small. One tiny bit of the house then see how I felt..

I thought I'd hate every second of it but it kind of becomes addictive! Once one room is clear and clean you want to get the next one to the same standard and before you know it your mum pops round and bursts into tears because it's clean

I didn't realise how much of an effect my mental health was having on the rest of my family. Mum knew that my house was just an extension of what the inside of my brain looked like and the house was a massive signal to her that something was very very wrong. When she walked in and smelled bleach and could see the kitchen counters it was all a bit much for her bless her!

I have a lovely DP who lives with me but he's grown up in a cluttered house so didn't really mind the mess and bless him he did try and clean as much as he could. We both work full time (managing to hold down my job through the worst of it is my crowning achievement) so it all just got on top of us, especially me.

Anyway, less of the past! The future is looking much brighter and it smells of clean washing

[picklypopcorn]

I'm getting there :)

Shelves are all labelled, 3 bin bags of clothes have already exited the building (taking them to the tip tomorrow morning) and I'm working through the rest of the pile pretty fast so should be done and dusted by the time the olympics starts at midnight

[AnnieOnnieMouse]

That's fantastic!

[Whataboutwhathuh]

makes me very happy to read. You have done a fantastic job, you should feel so proud. Onwards!

[pimmsy]

looking good! bravo!

[AliceInHinterland]

Do you have a garden? I would hang it out on the line.

[AliceInHinterland]

By the way, what you have achieved is absolutely inspirational.

[gamerchick]

Ah I feel quite chuffed for you OP. Bless your mother, she'll be feeling a lot of relief as well I know.

[JenLindley]

OP the best thing I've found is to hang the clothes overnight or for a day on a hanger from a curtain pole at an open window, even better if you can hang it outside. It really freshens them rather than covering smells with chemical smells.

[seahorse106]

You can buy some lovely room and fabric spray from Avon only 99p each at the moment xx

[paulapantsdown]

Labelled shelves!?! That's almost going too far 😀 Bloody well done you.

I find everything goes to pot here when I'm feeling low, but the satisfaction of a clean work surface or a shiny mirror lifts my mood no end.

[ColdFeetAndHotCakes]

I'm a big fan of those in wash scent boosters at the moment, my jumpers and sheets etc smell loads nicer for longer and no need to spritz. You can also get wardrobe scent pockets and drawer liners and stuff from t x max which are so potent, much better than my homemade lavender bags, give clothes that lovely just washed smell even if they're not "clean on". Love the idea about the vinegar/water/essential oil spray though, use a similar concoction in the kitchen with a bit of dishsoap to clean the work surfaces and once the vinegar smell dissapates my kitchen smells fab.

Props to you though for sorting your house out, massive achievement!

[picklypopcorn]

Thanks everyone :)

Yes labelled shelves!! We don't do things by halves in this house!

Real reason is ive found if everything has a place to go it takes out the pondering where to put things that really throws my brain out and makes me not want to do anything. It's like with the jobs board, if I don't have to think about what jobs need doing it takes the brain load off. Again this probably doesn't make any sense to people with functional brains but it keeps my little broken head happy!

[picklypopcorn]

This is how many clothes are off to the tip tomorrow

[AliceInHinterland]

It makes perfect sense, like Steve Jobs and Einstein wearing the same clothes every day so they could use their massive brains for more important things. Are you moving towards a capsule wardrobe? Be still my beating heart! Have you heard of project 333?