The Best Way to Get the Stinkies Out

As I mentioned before, I have stinky cats. They are elderly and I think they are not overly fond of the twins - who are equally stinky, if truth be told.  I have cleaned all manner of bodily fluids (yuck) over the last six years.  One thing I have learned is the BEST way to get stink out of fabrics in the washing machine.  This works on poop, puke, pee, musty smell and cigarette smoke!

A few warnings before we start:
- If something is NOT machine washable, you run the risk that it might get thoroughly destroyed.
- Do NOT use bleach. Mixing bleach and vinegar is just not a good idea. If you need to bleach it, try that first, and if the smell is still there, run it again as below with regular detergent. I wouldn't use OxiClean type products, either. (Don't mix chemicals. It can be dangerous at worst and just ineffective at best.)

Method:

• Load your washing machine as usual.
• Put in your laundry detergent of choice. See above for recommendations of what NOT to use.
• Add half a cup to a full cup of Super Washing Soda to your load.  This isn't baking soda; it is a different formula.  If you are running a small load of 1 or 2 items, you could use 1/4 cup. A "normal" load would be about 1/2 cup, and then a large load 1 cup. This goes right on top of your laundry.
• Add plain white vinegar to the rinse cycle/fabric softener area of your machine.  It is not straight into the load - you want to use it separately from the washing soda. I have a top loader, and the vinegar goes into the top of the agitator.  When I had a front loader, there was a cup area specially for fabric softener.
• Wash!
• When you take the clothes out, give them the sniff test. Run it again with more Washing Soda if it is still bad - but honestly, I have never had to run it again!

I have put something in the wash that I had to hold an arm's length from my nose and could still smell, and taken it out, stuck my face into it and taken a big whiff, and said, "gee, I can *kinda* still smell it". And that's a win.

Many places recommend mixing vinegar and baking soda to take out smell.  That just does not work.  Use them separately, and they do - for a regular stinky load, rather than a mega-stinky one - I will throw in baking soda in the wash and the vinegar in the rinse, and it will freshen towels and clothes.

Reflections of a SAHM Going Back to Work

Motherhood is no vacation.When babies are little, their care is constant, but it doesn't get easier as they grown, your problems just become different.  Our twins are in kindergarten now and we worry about homework and bullies and making sure they are getting the support they need to flourish. That alone is a lot, on top of laundry and cooking and shopping and cleaning...

The thought of going back to work is tricky.  How will we possibly balance all of this?  I worry I won't find a good fit of a job that will let me be flexible about my hours.

On the other hand, the idea of getting back to using my brain is exciting.  I do love a challenge and being creative - and while Motherhood offers a ton of challenges and ample opportunity for creativeness, I would like something with less glue and glitter!  Professional problem solving is something I really miss - putting out a fire at work so that everyone is happy in the end.

I also miss working in a team. Some of my closest friends have come from work and Motherhood cane be lonely.  Having a team to bounce ideas around with and dive into action - that sounds like bliss!  Also, sharing the load with other people, as opposed to being the go-to person ("Mom! Where my...?") sounds like HEAVEN.

The prospect of juggling work and kids is daunting, but I think the positives outweigh the difficulties, and I am actually looking forward to finding a new job!