V. It's Monday, it must be laundry day.

Laundry, there's always laundry.

Washing, drying, folding, ironing.

In all the years that I have been doing the laundry

it still amazes me that there are still things to learn.

And why didn't I know these things years ago?

Things such as...

If you accidentally shrink a wool sweater immediately soak it in cold water with a few capfuls of hair conditioner.

This allows you to gently stretch the fibres back to their original size.

If you wash your cashmere sweaters yourself...wash them in cold water on the gentlest cycle with a pair of old jeans.

This prevents the sweaters from piling...it really works.

The very best advice I can offer though is this...

Whenever possible hang your freshly washed bed linens on a clothesline outside in the fresh air and sunshine to dry.

Preferably have two young boys on hand to run back and forth through the hanging sheets laughing madly for as long as possible.

When dry, place immediately back on your bed, a light mist of linen water and a few strokes of the hand all over prevents any ironing from taking place.

You will find yourself having the best sleep ever after being wrapped up in linens filled with the summer air and the laughter of small children.

Happy Monday everyone!