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For many doing the laundry involves throwing a pile of clothes in the washing machine followed by the drier.
The French, however, according to writer Danielle Postel-Vinay in her book Home Sweet Maison: The French Art of Making Home, the chore is approached with a thoughtful attitude.
Here are five things the French know about doing laundry
Not all stains are the same
According to Danielle, the French treat each stain individually. “Grass stains are not the same problem as ballpoint pen ink, and olive oil is utterly different on a silk blouse than coffee. How could one expect to remove all these different stains with the same chemical?” she writes.
Avoid the dryer
Despite its convenience, not everything should be tossed in the dryer. In fact, Danielle writes that it should be avoided if possible. Instead, take the time to air-dry clothing.
Iron everything
While many skip this step (the creases will fall out, right), Danielle says her family used to iron everything, from the napkins to the bed sheets after air-drying.
Turn your clothes inside out
Anyone who says they’ve never turned clothing a nice shade of pink is probably lying. The French take the time to carefully sort their laundry, checking each pocket and turning jeans and shirts inside out. That way, no stray red socks or garments can slip in unnoticed and your clothes will be protected from the washing machine.
Fold everything
It turns out there is a right way to fold items. “Of course, the most assiduous ironing job in the world will be useless without proper folding techniques,” writes Postel-Vinay. To help you out, here’s a tutorial on how to fold a fitted sheet. As for your towels, pick a method and stick to it.
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