I have been living on my own and doing my own laundry for nearly 50 years. For nearly all that time, when folding my clean clothes I automatically turned my undershirts and underpants right side out before folding and putting them away.
It was only a couple years ago that it dawned on me that there was no practical reason for doing this; it’s purely an aesthetic matter, to keep the labels or woven brand names right way round. As far as actually wearing them is concerned, there is, AFAICT, no discernable difference. But even after this epiphany, I kept doing it, mainly out of inertia.
In the last few weeks I have decided that, now that I’m 66, life is too short to waste on such nonsense, and have thrown caution to the winds and started putting on my undershirts and underpants however they come out of the dryer inside out or right way out, willy nilly. So far, the sun has continued to rise in the east and set in the west. I can only regret the thousands of hours I’ve wasted over the decades turning clothes right way out.
So what mundane pointless things have you recognized in your life, and either stopped doing or kept on doing anyway, and why?
Inside out? No, I’m sorry, that’s just wrong. Cease this madness immediately!!!
Interestingly enough, I was thinking along the same lines about… something… and for the life of me I don’t recall what it was. I think you threw my universe out of kilter with your inside-out underwear. Must find equilibrium…
I don’t wear undershirts, but i intentionally wear some underpants inside out. Some of my underwear has pronounced seams, and i realized several years ago that it’s more comfortable if i wear it with the seams out, not against my skin.
I have often left my t-shirts inside out until I’m ready to wear them. Especially dark ones. Minimizes the opportunity for cat hair to collect on the public side.
With all the extra time you have freed up, we expect to see lots of posts and possibly a very long novel by next summer.
I do this with nightgowns that have labels. And also with socks that have seams. I can’t stand that sock seam rubbing on my toes. I like shirts that have the label info printed on the fabric. At least one does not seem to encounter the hated stiff nylon thread (like fishing line) that used to be found in neckline labels. Dear God, the corner of one of those was like a needle poking you!
TBH, my whole life is pretty mundane and pointless. Currently my principal non-pointless activity is taking care of my 16-year old doggie and making whatever months, weeks she has left the best they can possibly be.
Here’s something extremely mundane: when I feed my two cats, I put their wet food in two oval dishes on a tray. One of the dishes is white with goldfish painted on it. It has no up- or downside. The other dish says “CAT” inside the rim. When I set that dish down, I always turn it so that the word CAT is rightside up in relation to the cat who will be eating from it. It just seems wrong–I dunno, insulting somehow–to turn the dish upside down even though I’m pretty sure neither cat can tell the difference. I’ve been dying to share that with someone. Thank you for providing a place to do it.
They were definitely more comfortable than conventional gloves, and I thought wearing undershirts inside out might have a similar benefit, but it turns out that my undershirts don’t fit as tightly as gloves (fortunately) , and I can’t perceive any difference.
For the sake of this thread, we can distinguish between t-shirts, which are worn on the outside, and undershirts, which aren’t. I still turn my t-shirts right side out after laundering, although I might follow @ThelmaLou’s advice if I had a cat.
I say “please” and “thank you” to Alexa. I know it’s silly. I do it just sort of automatically, out of habit- asking anyone for anything should come with a please/thank you. It’s not because I’ve carefully considered my robot servant’s feelings. That said, I figure it’s not a bad habit to have and I’m not going to put any kind of effort into stopping.
I do that with things that talk to me too, including to Waze or Google Maps when they’re telling me how to get where I need to go. Almost a reflex along the lines of “if it’s talking to me, social courtesy kicks in”.
This for so many things. I have sensitive skin and all the conditions that go along with it. I used to wear a camisole under my bra because my skin can’t take latex and they don’t make cotton bras in extra-big sizes. I turn socks inside out and buy only one brand of underwear with the seams completely covered with cotton. Oftentimes the cheap thread of the seam is what is irritating my skin. I have to be extra-careful when buying.
I used to fold underwear. It has it’s own drawer, there is no need to fold it. I used to have 3 sheet sets and rotate them. That meant they need to be folded. Now, though I do have a backup, I have one sheet set that gets washed and goes back on the bed the same day. When it gets too worn out to use, I’ll start using the backup set and go out and purchase another backup.
I still practice FIFO in the kitchen unless I just got ahold of some extremely fresh eggs which must be tasted right away.
My late husband used to call me The Princess and the Pea (not to be confused with The Princess Who Has to Pee, although that sometimes applied.)
Here are some quite painless undies–very soft everywhere. No exposed elastic or (ugh!) scratchy lace.
I would like to know your brand of undies, if you feel okay about sharing. I think I had an underwear thread once on the old board. I’ve been contemplating starting a “Comfortable Bra” thread. Where we can also discuss Yeti and the Loch Ness Monster.
Funny some of y’all are mentioning underwear. For the last fortnight or so, I’ve been wondering, “Who’s the brainchild who decided we have to wear our clothing with the uncomfortable side of the seams next to the skin?” Seriously, how did that become a thing?
In my youthful years, I was so concerned with what others thougt of me, I tried to fif in. One of the blessings of being senior is the concern is gone. I am now tempted to wear my pants and top inside out and see what transpires! Sad that this passes for adventure to me
To get away from the underwear discussion: Does talking to my cats count as mundane and pointless?
“Excuse me, Rascal. Do I climb on your chest while you’re trying to read the newspaper?” “Do I walk back and forth on top of you while you’re trying to go to sleep?”
He killed the noble Mudjokivis.
Of the skin he made him mittens,
Made them with the fur side inside,
Made them with the skin side outside.
He, to get the warm side inside,
Put the inside skin side outside.
He, to get the cold side outside,
Put the warm side fur side inside.
That’s why he put the fur side inside,
Why he put the skin side outside,
Why he turned them inside outside.
I’ve been contemplating starting a “Comfortable Bra” thread. Where we can also discuss Yeti and the Loch Ness Monster.