BISMILLAHI RAHMANI RAHIM
In the Most Holy and Righteous Name of Allah

As-Salaamu ‘Alaikum Beloved and Beautiful Sisters!

As the woman of the house, we are responsible for the maintenance of our family’s wardrobes. It is our duty to ensure our family members always have clean and pressed clothes to wear every day.

We are taught in THE LAW OF THE M. G. T. CLASS: “Girls and women must be taught how to please their husbands, by keeping herself and her home unsurpassed by others. Meet her husband with a smile. Please him with that he desire both cooking and laundering. Let no woman beat you in anything when it comes to intelligence.”

We should find joy and pleasure in doing our family’s laundry. Even as we are planning to do our family’s laundry, we should be filled with thoughts of gratitude and happiness over the fact that Allah has chosen us to be His People and that He Has Blessed us with the means to wear beautiful garments to cover our nakedness.

Like everything, laundry should be done in The Name of Allah. Before we begin, we should say, “Bismillah” (In the Name of Allah) to ensure that as we go about our Divine Duty of Laundering, we are able to complete our tasks competently and efficiently. Also, so that we will be able to maintain our composure and patience if we are interrupted by our children or other matters that may arise.

Personally, I hand wash all of my family’s laundry. It is more economical and practical than going to the Laundrymat. I can do Laundry at my convenience and without having to lug a heavy sack full of dirty clothes out of the house. And I save about $40 per month.

Hand-washing is very relaxing and therapeutic; like kneading dough. I listen to The Messenger (Peace Be Upon Him) or play some good music, and as I submerge my hands in the soothing, warm and clean-scented water, rhythmically and purposefully “kneading” the clothes, I keep in mind that because of my noble work, I am going to be rewarded with fresh-smelling and sparkling clean garments for my family to wear. 

Now, you may be wondering why I have a picture of “Ivory” soap on display…. Well, it is because Ivory is the soap that Our Beloved Messenger (Peace Be Upon Him) told us is “The Best Soap”. So that’s what I use to wash my family’s clothes. Yes, “Ivory” soap. No, they don’t make “Ivory” Laundry soap. I learned when I was living in a shelter that you can use any kind of soap for any kind of cleaning. I once saw a Sister use shampoo to wash her dishes! So, I use the “Ivory” bar soap to launder my clothes. I just put a couple bars into some hot water with a little washing soda and let the clothes soak for about ten-fifteen minutes. Then I wash them. It gets my clothes really clean.

Laundry detergent is extremely overpriced and full of toxins, so I started looking for “greener” alternatives a few months ago. I found plenty, but they were exorbitant to make and called for questionable ingredients (Borax). So, I decided to just save myself the time and effort and just threw the whole bar of soap in the tub. Now, I use a couple full bars and maybe a few that are too small for any other use, and I can truthfully say I am completely happy with the results.

After I wash each item, I put it in the sink, so that the soap residue still in the tub won’t get on the clean clothes. When I’ve finished washing the entire load, I drain the tub and refill it with cool water and about a cup of vinegar. Vinegar is a natural fabric softener, removes soap scum and brightens colors. It also prevents yellowing and static cling (if you use a dryer).

I don’t use a dryer. I hang the clothes on my back awning so they can dry in the sun. Undergarments I spread on the bed and turn on the ceiling fan. By the end of the day, usually sooner, everything is ready to be folded or ironed.

Pre-ironing your family’s clothes makes so much more sense than ironing right before you’re ready to get dressed! You can take your time and do a thorough job. Just do it when you have time. If everything is already pressed, your family will have a selection of clothes to wear everyday. This makes everybody happy. 🙂

Dear Sisters, we should cultivate The Love of Doing Laundry. It was Divinely given to us as part of our responsibility of Keeping House. If you plan to do laundry well before you run out of clothes, you will not stress over anything. You can relish in the time you spend keeping up your family’s “image” and take pride in the fact that they look so good due to the love and effort you put into something as important, yet simple and easy as Doing the Laundry. Learn to Love it!