Laundry Love ⭑⭑⭑⭑
Genre: Nonfiction
US Publication: March 30, 2021
Print: 208 pages
Audio: 5 hours 2 minutes
Confetti Rating: 4 stars
REVIEW:
Yep! I read a whole book about laundry. And why not? Laundry is something I do with much regularity, and odds are you do to.
Patric Richardson, who runs a laundry camp at Mall of America (seriously) and is known as the “Laundry Evangelist,” has written a little how-to/self-help/memoir about “finding joy in a common chore.” Now I don’t know if the book successfully taught me where the joy is in washing clothes, but it did highlight some winners and losers:
Winners:
Warm water, express cycle wash for everything
Wool dryer balls and crumpled up tin foil to reduce static
Ironing (though I’ll admit I mostly skimmed this part ‘cuz I’m still not going to do it)
Vodka! Spray it on clean clothes that just need to air out odors
Natural laundry care products including vinegar, rubbing alcohol and baking soda
The environment
Well-made, quality clothing
Losers:
Tide (and anything else that comes in a big plastic jug)
Fabric softeners and dryer sheets
Bleach
Dry cleaning
Cold water wash
Fast fashion
Laundry Love is the rare book that I got from the library but am considering purchasing to have on hand for whenever I need to reference its advice on a particular fabric or stain. Plus, I find its cheerful cover just so irresistible! Maybe if I put it in my laundry room, it will actually bring me a little joy while doing this common chore. ;)
PUBLISHER SYNOPSIS:
Doing laundry is rarely anyone’s favorite task. But to Patric Richardson, laundry isn't just fun — it's a way of life. After years of running Laundry Camp at the Mall of America for thousands of eager learners, he's ready to share his tips, tricks, and hacks — bringing surprise to this commonly dreaded chore.
Facing expensive dry cleaning bills? You'll learn how to wash everything — yes everything — at home. And those basically clean but smelly clothes? Richardson has a secret for freshening those too (hint: it involves vodka, not soap). Richardson’s handy advice shows us how to save time and money (and the planet!) with our laundry — and he intersperses it all with a healthy dose of humor, real-life laundry stories, and lessons from his Appalachian upbringing and career in fashion.