How has experience and knowledge helped me in retirement? And what do I do differently?

As I put the washing machine on this morning I was asking myself this: how do I approach laundry now at the start of my last 20 years compared with before? That sounds dull – and it probably is. However, it is one of those things that must be done and which requires a certain amount of physical effort and quite a lot of money, both of which can be in short supply at any age but especially as we progress through our 70s and beyond.

Back when I was a teenager and into my early 20s I worked most Easter and summer breaks in a factory-sized laundry in Torquay, using huge machines to clean sheets, table cloths, towels and all manner of unspeakable items by the thousand from hotels all over south Devon. It was hot, sweaty, dirty and heavy work in 13-hour shifts, but I learned a lot and made good friends – and drank a lot of beer on pay-day! More of that in another article.

Back in my student days – and for some years afterwards – I was dependent upon the laundromat, which I coped with pretty well, although carrying giant laundry bags and remembering to take enough change for the washing and drying machines was a bit of a chore, depending on how many streets away the laundromat was. I could not do that now, mainly because the nearest laundromat is a bus-ride away in the town centre. I don’t even want to think about getting on the bus with a giant laundry bag!

Soon after moving into my first council flat I bought a washing machine, plumbed it in and loaded it up. Boy it felt good to know I would never be loading and unloading laundry bags ever again! Just a short walk from the bedroom to the kitchen. My only slight fear was – what if the washing machine leaks? Not a great concern if you live in a house but I was in a 10th. floor flat and a flood would cause serious problems for the folks living on the 9th. floor.

For much of my life I did not think much – if at all – about how much water or electricity  the machine was using, and the price of detergent did not bother me much either. I was working and earning a reasonable wage.

That all changed as I approached retirement. I moved into my present home in 2017 and bought everything I thought I would need for the new home. I was earning money and could afford to focus on quality. The idea was to buy the best that I could afford and to thoroughly research appliances like washing machines. My knowledge of sustainability and water and energy efficiency became particularly important. Only then could I be assured that my purchases would last well into my retirement, which was important because I knew there was a possibility that I could not afford to replace them. If the washing machine broke down beyond repair I would be in difficulty and might have to resort to washing by hand – not a realistic prospect as I progressed through my 70s and hopefully into my 80s.

At the back of my mind was the knowledge that after retirement I would be on a low fixed disposable income (after rent and bills) and would not be able to save for a rainy day. Or even a sunny day for that matter.

I retired in 2022 and I am pleased to say that almost 10 years after buying it, my washing machine has never broken down and is still working as well as it was when John Lewis plumbed it in for me. Thank you Miele!

Since retirement I have become more adept at using programs that wash adequately with the least amount of water and energy. I make full use of the ‘short’ wash function and of lower spin-speeds. The machine takes a big load so I made sure I had enough clothing and other items to fill it. For example, that meant buying over 30 dish cloths and 30 tea-towels so I needed to have a ‘rubbers’ wash only once a month. In the case of dishcloths and tea towels I would soak them for a day before loading them into the machine. I also have 30 pairs of socks and underpants – all dark so they can be washed together and last longer, but you didn’t really want to know that!

I use a smaller quantity of laundry powder or liquid than I used to, knowing that it is still up to the job of getting things clean. I long ago stopped using fabric conditioner knowing that it was an unnecessary fad that marketers try to convince us is essential. No; it makes my skin itch! A scoop of soda crystals is far cheaper and does the job of softening well, with the added bonus of keeping the machine free from grease and a lot of the gunk that softeners and detergents can deposit.

If the washing machine broke down I might have to resort to washing by hand, but I know how to do this. Furthermore, I would be washing clothes and bedding and dishcloths in a bowl of water that is hand-hot. Of course I would – I don’t want to burn myself! Hand-hot is 40 degrees Celsius so that is also the temperature I generally set the washing machine to. Items like dishcloths I soak in a bucket with hot water and a kettle or two of boiling water. Does the job just fine!

So there you have it. Laundry for the over 70s! The one thing I would like if I was able to find a less expensive home to rent? A utility room. And a proper old-fashioned outdoor washing line to dry clothes properly. That’s two things. Well, we can all dream can’t we?