The Home Front meets Covid-19

MoneySeeker1

What would be useful on here is tips as to how to do the washing if there isn't a bath.

I know the thought struck me (after seeing the local laundrette closed for the duration) of "There goes my fallback if temporary need arises" and now thinking "Just what fallback do I have? One bathroom and it was too small to put a bath in, as well as the shower".

So it's the typical HUGE big-enough-for-2 type modern shower with typical shallow shower tray.

Handwashing of smalls is obviously possible, but I'd quail at the thought of how to wash my king size bed sheets. Right now the only options I could see would be "Who wants to earn a bit of money surreptitiously on the side putting my machine right?" and blow neighbours noticing (as they certainly can't talk with their unnecessary visiting I see going on) or Option 2 of "Just go dirty for the duration".

[Deleted User]

Yes to the dreams, very realistic and more muddled than frightening and usually with the family in too.

basketcase

MoneySeeker1 said:

What would be useful on here is tips as to how to do the washing if there isn't a bath.

I know the thought struck me (after seeing the local laundrette closed for the duration) of "There goes my fallback if temporary need arises" and now thinking "Just what fallback do I have? One bathroom and it was too small to put a bath in, as well as the shower".

So it's the typical HUGE big-enough-for-2 type modern shower with typical shallow shower tray.

Handwashing of smalls is obviously possible, but I'd quail at the thought of how to wash my king size bed sheets. Right now the only options I could see would be "Who wants to earn a bit of money surreptitiously on the side putting my machine right?" and blow neighbours noticing (as they certainly can't talk with their unnecessary visiting I see going on) or Option 2 of "Just go dirty for the duration".

  I must admit, the 'what if you've only got a shower' question did cross my mind.  Difficult.

(Before I write any more, is it only me who finds the US spellcheck annoying?  The word 'neighbours' in the quote has the red, wiggly underlining and it keeps catching my eye.  Really irritating.  I keep wanting to yell "No it isn't $%&&*! wrong!"  Anyway...)

  Do you have/can you get hold of one of the large plastic storage containers?  Preferably with a flat bottom, if not something to support it.  Then I'd maybe half-fill it with buckets of water and detergent, leave the sheets to soak for a while and do a bit of 'grape treading'.  Tip the container over (slowly to avoid flooding!) and use the same draining method as in the bath.  Then I'd maybe run a cold shower to rinse, let the clean water drain off, wring and hang wherever you hang washing.  Outside if possible, either on a line or some sort of laundry maiden?

  Not ideal, but better than honking sheets!

Bet someone's got something better though...

basketcase

Pyxis said:

Sayschezza said:

And I have an old household book too. It explains how to replace the gusset in knickers when worn out. But as they suggest replacing with a knitted piece I will give that one a miss.

😱😂😱😂


That reminds me of reading about knitted woollen swimming costumes. Well before my time, thank goodness! 
But how on earth did that work? Surely the costume would be around your knees by the time it was water-sodden? 😱

  I agree with your reaction to that Pyxis.  I was unlucky enough to miss out on those joys too...

Sayschezza - any chance of a few ideas from the book you've got?

jinny

MrsLurcherwalker said:

Yes to the dreams, very realistic and more muddled than frightening and usually with the family in too.

Ive been on anxiety uk and the lockdown can cause ptsd 
i only read the news summary about an hour after i wake up and had a strong cuppa across me lips.   Then the 5pm announcements.  Were doing ok tho.  My oldest son has a severe mental health condition.  However, coping ok, he doesn't go out anyway.  Im wearing bluetooth headphones so he can contact me anytime.  He wont use skype or anything.  His brother is going to see him on way to work, he is a key worker  Rings him talks to him  from a window, then leaves supplies on his doorstep.  Really missing him.

basketcase

jinny said:

MrsLurcherwalker said:

Yes to the dreams, very realistic and more muddled than frightening and usually with the family in too.

Ive been on anxiety uk and the lockdown can cause ptsd 
i only read the news summary about an hour after i wake up and had a strong cuppa across me lips.   Then the 5pm announcements.  Were doing ok tho.  My oldest son has a severe mental health condition.  However, coping ok, he doesn't go out anyway.  Im wearing bluetooth headphones so he can contact me anytime.  He wont use skype or anything.  His brother is going to see him on way to work, he is a key worker  Rings him talks to him  from a window, then leaves supplies on his doorstep.  Really missing him.

   I didn't realise it could actually cause PTSD.  I catch up on the Covid-19 situation, but I don't listen to the 5pm thing.  I just want to throw things at them.  I do watch the First Minister's announcements which are on earlier in the day.  Someone who treats the people as adults and explains why things are being done.

  Sorry to hear about your eldest.  Sounds like he's got some good support in his brother, but it's not the same, is it?  DD suffers from anxiety and depression, but it's not severe.  I had to go shopping last night and I bought some GF bread, fresh fruit and some treats for DD (who's currently at her dad's).  Took them round in the car (texted in advance and left them at the door).  We had a brief chat from a distance.  She appreciated them, but laughed and said "we're not going to starve, you know".  I realised that it isn't about that.  It's about giving her what support I can when I can't give her a hug and the usual TLC.

  Odd that you should say he's coping OK because he doesn't go out anyway.  DD remarked that one up side - about the only one -  for her was that she found she was more relaxed than usual, because everyone felt anxious so she fitted in and felt normal!

cuddlymarm

Hi guys
i hope you don’t mind me joining you.
i only have the afternoon briefing on, i do have the news on my iPad but don’t have all the news programmes on during the day. I must admit to feeling anxious at times and my clothes are definitely getting tighter. I need to at least think I am in control so work on the things I can control. So healthy eating (as much as the shops allow) is one thing I can try to control.

I made a very wartime pud the other day. I cooked 4 wrinkly apples then covered them with a few porridge oats mixed with a tablespoon of sugar and baked. OH was really happy that we have custard too. Yum 😋 I would bake but flour is impossible to get hold of at the moment. Odd food combinations will stretch what we’ve got and OH is very excited that we still have a Xmas pudding to eat at some stage.
If you’ve more than one set of bedding I’d do like my mum used to and hide the mucky ones in the laundry basket. It used to be until good weather to get them dry but I sure this counts too. We’ve no outside space but I do have a washer but I’m feeding through my washing as I get it dry on the rack.
Anyway enough of my waffling
Keep safe everyone 
Cuddles 

Pyxis

I was thinking that re. the washing issue.......if there is a garden and all else fails, just hanging them in the air and sunlight would probably ‘air-cure’ them.

Bedding only really gets sweaty, as opposed to dirty, and so a good airing, especially if it’s sunny, would probably do the trick.

jinny

PYXIS
No garden i live in a block of flats 3rd floor.  I have a balcony room with Juliet style french windows. Cant drip them over the rail as it would drip over the neighbours window.   Im doing ok tho once they drip drain i can put them on the airer in the balcony room. Its south facing so the sun when we get some dries it canny.  Its a bit like a conservatory only upstairs.  Gets too hot sometimes and i live oop north.  Also i  wear stuff that don't need ironing.  lm going to top n tail the sheets n duvet covers to save washing them.

You know i remember  there was only wash day on a Monday years ago.  

basketcase

I'm really bad a greeting people who've joined the thread.  Hope you'll let me off...

  So belated greetings to Nargleblast, Sayschezza, Pyxis, Moneyseeker1, boultdj, suki1964, Brambling and Helebore and welcome cuddlymarm.  Glad to have you all aboard.

  I'm really enjoying the posts we've had so far.  I like the mix - problems from 'now' which would usually only be a minor inconvenience but we now have to find ways to fix ourselves; advice; stories and memories; ideas; recipes and general natter. 

  I've got a couple of apples that are getting wrinkly myself.  Think I'll make an apple crumble and custard for tea.  Oats are great for baking, cuddlymarm, DD and I both have a wheat sensitivity and DS doesn't care what it's made with, so I use them quite a lot.  We did have some GF flour in stock, so not too bad. 

  My fan oven's caput, but I bought a halogen oven not too long ago.  I've never got round to using it, what with one thing and another.  Think I'll spend time today digging out the instructions and learning to use it!

  I'm also thinking that I'll look at the categories I suggested - food, housework, looking after yourself etc and try to do one small thing for each one every day.  I think I need structure to the day.  Anyway, today's 'me time' will be a nice long soak in a hot bath with the argan oil and shea bath soak I added to the last shopping order I got from Mr S.  I knew I'd need something!  And I'll hot wash the shower curtain along with my bleach wipes and tea towels while I'm doing it.

  Will also have to think about lunch and tea, I suppose.  Does anyone else feel as if they're constantly thinking about what to eat?  Or are you organised (like I'm not, but ought to be) with a food plan?

Stay safe and well.