Ok, so in my mind, clothes can be in one of two categories. They are either dirty or clean. Seems clear enough, maybe even goes without saying. But for Charlie (and many others of you I am sure) clothes can also be in a third category: the "not quite dirty enough to be washed yet but too dirty to be put back in the drawer" category. He is unwilling to put them in the dirty clothes basket, because then, you know, even if he could fish them out later, it would be too late, they would already have become contaminated by all those other dirty clothes. Unwearable. But he also can't put them away in his drawer, because then the partial dirtiness would contaminate all those other clean clothes. Or maybe its just that he wants to know before he chooses to wear them again that they are on their second run, so he must have a third area to keep everything strait: a filing system for his clothes, of sorts. Charlie is a very clean person, cleaner than me for sure. And so he is always consistent in where he chooses to file his not-quite-dirty clothes. And I, being a not-quite-dirty person, promptly remove them from said area and put them where I believe they belong: in the dirty clothes basket or back in the drawer. It can, occasionally become a source of frustration for both of us.
On a side note that may seem unrelated, one time I went to an education week lesson where the speaker talked about doing more of what works, and less of what doesn't. He gave an example of a wife who was tired of cleaning up her husband's socks from the foot of the bed, and nagging didn't do anything but increase tension. She finally made a special dirty clothes bin at the foot of the bed for him, and they never had any problems with it again. Sounds applicable to my situation, doesn't it? Well, ever since i heard this lesson, I have really tried to find a solution that works for us both. I can't use a special bin for him, because he feels too much like it is a dirty clothes bin and so he won't use it. I've also tried a special hanger, but then its too close to his other clean clothes. Its quite a delema. And, obviously extremely important to our future, perhaps to the future of humanity. I still don't have the perfect answer. Anyone out there found something that works for them? Fess up, I know there are some of you with a not-quite-dirty clothes category out there. Have you found a solution that might be universally applicable?
Other side note, in case there is some worry, this is not really a source of contention for Charlie and I. Sometimes, it means some intense under-the-breath grumbling. Mostly, its just silliness.
7 comments:
I think there are LOTS of people (mostly men) who like to save their slightly soiled clothing for future use, and keep it separate from the clean or dirty clothes. In our case, it is usually just some sweats; not a lot of clothes pile up in this category. I haven't given Tom a special place for these items, but I think a nice basket near the place where they are usually thrown does sound like a good idea. Tom puts (throws) his on a shelf in our closet. He can see them, and since they look messy to me, I close the closet door.
I totally have a third category! But it is just throw it on the floor of my otherwise organized closet. I usually get back to the clothes in the next couple of days (I cycle through the same outfits a ridiculous amount) so it doesn't get too crowded or obnoxious. Unfortunately, what I do still doesn't find you a solution. Sorry, friend.
This is great! Oh the joys of being married right? and having to deal with us husbands!
By the way, you should start putting more pictures on too (for all of us that don't get to see you anymore!).
Thanks!
I am like Charlie. I like to wear clothes more than once if they're not dirty. So I have an over-the-door hanger where I hang the clothes I want to wear again. Keeps them off the floor and keeps them from getting all wrinkly. Try it!
One place that works perfectly in our room is the treadmill. Just hang any type of clothing over the top of it, and it looks like you are getting ready to put them on so you can exercise. As a bonus, it keeps the treadmill from getting dusty. As a general rule, when I am ready to do laundry, I gather all clothing not clean and wash it.
Oh, and when I pick up his socks off the floor wherever he left them, I go buy myself some flowers for the dining table. Then I smile when I walk through the house, rather than grumble seeing his socks on the floor or feeling like a maid picking up after him. The flowers also keep my spirits up as I clean the toilets every day.
Usually these things are draped over a chair or exercise equipment, or draped over the side of the laundry basket, so they are not committed to being totally inside it.
Post a Comment