Catching Up on Laundry and Testing a New Detergent

The laundry had piled up more than usual after last weekend, so I set aside Wednesday afternoon to knock it out. Ren had an early meeting, which meant I could run the washer and dryer without worrying about noise. I sorted everything into piles on the bedroom floor and started with the towels and sheets first since those take the longest. The towels still carried that faint trace of last week’s lavender fabric softener mixed with the smell of the park where we’d spread them out to dry in the sun, and the sheets felt heavy in my arms, still holding the cool weight of the cotton that had been crumpled at the foot of the bed.

I had been meaning to try a different detergent for a while. The one we usually buy leaves a faint smell on the towels that I don’t love, so I grabbed a new box on the way back from dropping off some fabric samples. The store in Linden Park had a bigger selection than the one closer to us. I went with the unscented version this time and measured it out carefully. The instructions said one scoop per load, but I added a little extra on the first run just to see if it made any difference with the heavier items. The powder felt gritty between my fingers when I poured it into the little tray, and I caught myself wondering whether the extra would actually dissolve all the way or leave behind those tiny white specks that sometimes show up on dark jeans.

While the first load was running, I cleaned out the fridge and tossed a few things that had been sitting too long. Ren’s lunch containers from earlier in the week got washed and put away. I also refilled the water pitcher and made a quick grocery list for later. Nothing fancy, just the basics we go through every week plus a few extra snacks. The fridge light flickered once when I leaned in, and the leftover takeout container from Monday had started to form a thin skin of condensation on the lid, so that went straight into the trash along with two wilted celery stalks that had gone soft at the ends.

The wash cycle finished faster than I expected, so I moved things over and started the next load. In between, I answered a couple of emails from clients about fabric choices for their living rooms. One project is moving along nicely, but the other keeps hitting small delays with shipping. The dryer gave off that warm, slightly metallic smell when I opened it, and I had to shake out each towel twice because a corner kept catching on the drum.

After the second load was in the dryer, I stepped out to grab a drink. The corner store near the house had that quince soda in stock again, so I picked up two bottles. It’s become an easy thing to grab when I’m out running short errands. I also got a few other odds and ends we needed before heading back. The bell above the door jingled the same way it always does, and the woman behind the counter asked if I wanted the bottles cold, which I did. Outside, the sidewalk felt warm under my sandals even though the afternoon had turned breezy.

By the time everything was folded and put away, it was already early evening. Ren got home while I was finishing the last batch of towels. We had a simple dinner of leftovers and watched an episode of the show we’ve been meaning to finish. The new detergent worked fine. No strong scent left behind, which is what I was hoping for. The towels came out of the dryer still warm and a little stiff at first, then softened once I shook them out over the back of the couch.

I might stick with this one for a while and see how it holds up on the darker clothes. The rest of the week looks pretty standard, just some client calls and a few more small tasks around the house.