I was at work today wondering what I should post about, and I had a horrifying thought.  If a disaster happened tonight, I don’t know if I’d have any clean underwear to wear.  I’m serious.  I, like most working moms, have a few piles of laundry to do at all times.  I try to catch up on the weekends, but sometimes there’s just too much to accomplish on those precious two days off.  How many of you have come home from work, made dinner (or picked something up), cleaned up, supervise homework, give baths, get everyone settled in bed and realized that you need to throw a load of whites in if you hope to have anything clean on tomorrow.  I draw the line at day-old underwear.  So, I’m thinking that I really should get on a laundry routine.  I’ll have to try a couple things I think.  Maybe one load per night during the week and then the rest like linens and towels on the weekend?  That might work if I stick to it.  It doesn’t help that my husband does maybe one load every other month.  The kids are too little to fiddle with the machine.  Maybe I’ll just stock up at the next whites sale and have three weeks worth……that sounds like a great solution!

How does this fit in with being prepared?  Disasters are unpredictable.  You don’t want to be caught unprepared, it could make your life really difficult.  We take so much for granted every day - just our daily routine.  If that changes, it’s often chaotic.  It’s hard to make big decisions during a stressful time.  Something as simple as having clean clothes can comfort you in a time of distress.

It’s always a good idea to have extra laundry detergent, fabric softener and bleach on hand.  Stock up now before prices go up anymore.  If a disaster doesn’t come, look at it as a vacation from running to Costco when you run out of Downey.  I like to have two extras - three total at all times.  I think in a pinch I could stretch that for at least 6 months, if not longer.  This could also be crucial during a pandemic as you’ll need to be able to keep clothes and linens clean. 

If you’ve never thought to stock up on laundry supplies, get some this week - even one item extra is an accomplishment!