Laundry, again

I really shouldn't complain. After all, it's just me and the dog when it comes to producing dirty laundry, and really her's is more of a wash-when-you-think-of-it regarding her various sleeping pillows. I don't hold a candle to what my friends with husbands/kids/combination thereof can produce in a day.

But lately the horses have also been contributing. Yes, those outdoor creatures. I have spent the last four weeks doctoring some leg lacerations. I'm to the point in the process where I can use re-useable materials for the outer bandages, so they get stained with wound "ooze" from the skin side and all things "organic" on the outside. Which means I'm washing lots of leg wraps from the daily bandage changes. And barn towels from the daily leg scrubbing. And jeans caked with damp shavings dust and mud (from where I don't know since we are in a drought). And sweatshirts with various ointments and medications smeared on the sleeves thanks to the not-so-patient patient. And t-shirts covered in lip prints from the old horse who feels the need to nudge me after finishing his meal of "soaked slop" (since he can't chew regular pellets anymore).

I've learned a few things, and have had time to ponder many more, as I plan my laundry loads so the right items are available the next time I need to tend to the herd. First, blood and wound ooze is actually not that hard to get out of things, provided of course you launder it quickly, use the "autosoak" feature on the washer, throw in two Tide Boost packs with the detergent no matter how small the load, and cross your fingers behind your back while walking backwards in a circle three times. Second, wearing the same pair of jeans for chores two days in a row may spare your good jeans, but they can practically walk themselves to the hamper when you shed them. And finally, just because you don't see anything on your t-shirt when you come in from the barn doesn't mean it won't sprout barn-induced stains later in the evening (where did that feed smear come from?).

Spin cycle just finished, time to throw things in the dryer. Hopefully I picked out all the shavings this time so they won't plug up the lint screen.