My colleague's recent post about laundromats got me thinking: What is it about doing laundry that I like so much?

Yes, I'm sure there are many out there who find laundry a chore, especially when it comes to folding, ironing, and putting everything away.

But to me, laundry is one of those 'mindless' activities that can help you de-stress. It's something you don't have to think too deeply about - you sort the clothes into lights and colours (I don't bother making a separate load for red or pink clothes), add your detergent, and start the wash cycle.

For the next 45 minutes, I'm free to play games, watch videos or take a nap. Now, I don't own a dryer (I think they make some clothes shrink), so hanging clothes in my service yard does take more effort. Straightening shirts as best I can before I hang them helps reduce wrinkles. It lessens the time spent ironing.

Image: PlanetCare, Unsplash

I have friends who absolutely cannot stand ironing. But I've always found it cathartic as well. There's a lot in this world you cannot fix, but wrinkles on clothes can be eliminated. Of course, it helps to have a powerful steam iron, which is why I bought one with a 3,000-watt output. It consumes a lot of water, but it makes the job much, much easier.

But if there's one reason that makes me enjoy doing laundry so much, it's the fact that I like the smell and feeling of clean clothes. This was one of the lessons I learnt while studying overseas. Knowing that you have clean clothes (and clean boxer shorts) for the following week is a luxury. Ditto for clean bedsheets and pillowcases.

Not surprisingly, my laundry kit includes two types of detergent (it used to be four but even I thought that too much), a whitening agent (Vanish, not bleach), and periodically, a disinfectant liquid (typically Walch). Obviously, my missus is content to leave the laundry to me and says that the service yard is my 'domain'.

As 2025 comes to a close and 2026 peeks around the corner, resolutions will be made. I resolve to start the year fresh and focus on fitness. I also want to start the year right. So, tomorrow morning, I'll be doing laundry to ensure that the missus and I start the year with clean clothes.

Happy New Year!

– Jeremy

(Main image: Waldemar Brandt, Unsplash)