Witches and Bullies

How much do you know about the Salem Witch Trials?

 

We joke about witches now; people dress up as witches for Halloween and think nothing of it. But in the 1690s, witchcraft was considered very real, and so was the punishment for it.

Do you think it could happen now? What goes on in 2018 that compares to it? It seems to me that it was a case of Ultimate Bullying.

Let's understand that at the time, the village of Salem was in dire straits economically because a lot of refugees were coming their way, both from surrounding areas and as far away as Canada. This caused a lot of friction between the rich and the poor, and strained their limited resources as well: was there enough food for all these newcomers? Where would they live? And just as importantly to them, Did they have the same religious beliefs?

                                       Here's where Salem was/is: Today it's called Danvers.

Add that to the existing extremely rigid concepts of 'right' and 'wrong', 'moral' and 'immoral,' and you have a good breeding ground for suspicion, judgment, blame, plus the fear of eternal damnation.


-Bullying tactic #1: 'Us v. Them': We have the 'right' beliefs and you do not. That gives us the right to condemn you.

At the time, although the concept of freedom of religion prompted settlers to move to America, many religions still held very severe standards and were quick to condemn anyone who strayed from their concept of right and wrong. And so, ironically, these settlers were very judgmental towards those who didn't follow the same religions as they did, rather than insisting on religious freedom for all. People depended on their religious leaders to tell them how to behave, much more than town leaders, and if anyone digressed from it, there was going to be trouble.

There was a solid belief not only in God but in the Devil, and that the Devil could control people if they didn't fight it off with prayer and other religious practices.

In the village of Salem, in 1692, the religious leader of Salem Village was named Samuel Parris. He had formerly been working at a mission in the Caribbean, and when he moved to America, he brought with him some very defined ideas. He also brought with a slave woman named Tituba; his wife; and daughter Elizabeth (sometimes called 'Betty'). There was no question in his household who was the all-wise leader.


-Bullying tactic #2: You are different, therefore, you are evil.

The records indicate that Betty Parris, who was all of 9 years old, Abigail Williams, and Ann Putnam, both age 11, began to have 'fits,' wherein they would talk wildly, dive under tables, wave their arms about, and otherwise act in a bizarre fashion. Their local doctor-not knowing how to diagnose it- declared them to be possessed by evil. It might just be they were playing some sort of silly game, and that's all it was. Their parents expressed their anger and embarrassment at this behavior.

Wanting to blame someone and avoid getting into trouble, (after all, who would respect a church leader with a possessed daughter?), the girls accused Tituba, the slave (and how could she stand a chance, she was a woman and black and a slave from a country few had heard about); Sarah Good, a beggarwoman; and Sarah Osborne, a poor elderly woman, of casting spells over them. The two Sarahs denied any such thing. Being from the Caribbean, Tituba believed in and practiced things like spells, voodoo, and what was considered witchcraft; so when she was accused, she did not deny it.


The fear spread throughout the area to the point where almost everyone suspected everyone else of being witches.

 

And sometimes, if you repeat something enough, people believe it to be true even when it is not.


-Bullying tactic #3: Don't look at me, I'm perfect. I'm not sure about you, though. Suspicion is a cover for fear.

Imagine wondering about every person you encounter on a daily basis: Are you one? Are you one?

Women, in particular, were accused of being witches left and right. Why? Because they might be poor and/or dirty; they were thought to be promiscuous; they were not attending church; they seemed to have magical healing powers (be careful if you give your child chicken soup, it might make him better); they used foul language; they were pretty and therefore tempting to men; they were too clean; they were from another country and spoke more than one language. They didn't dress like the others---not wearing black? How dare you!? Or, they didn't keep their hair tucked under their hats. Even today, when we think of a witch, it's a woman with long flowing hair, not  having it neatly wound up in a knot. And just imagine a woman who knew how to read and write-she must surely be a witch!

While there were men accused of witchcraft or harboring a witch, most of the accused were women. Why? Because men were keen to keep control of all things-especially 'their' women- and to maintain their superiority. And yet, women agreed and were just as complicit in accusing and punishing other women, none of which had any basis. One man expressed doubt that any of this was witchcraft, and was accused of practicing witchcraft himself.



                                 
        It appears that what we think of as witches' clothing is just an exaggeration of typical Puritan fashion of that time. Notice one woman (with a pointy hat, no less) is smoking a pipe, and it seems perfectly acceptable.


Fear of the religious leaders and of the courts kept many silent when they knew it was wrong.


It was during this time that a court could try someone based on "spectral evidence"; this practice was later disallowed. Spectral evidence included thoughts or dreams someone might have in a situation such as this: Someone's daughter died, there was no cause known, but the father had a dream that some man cast a spell over her that caused her death. The man seen in the dream would then be charged with consorting with the Devil and put on trial.

.
Scientists have since wondered if the girls who originally reported odd behavior, Betty Parris, Abigail Williams, and Ann Putnam, may have eaten foods contaminated with a fungus that caused their behavior, called ergotism. The fungus was common in rye and wheat, and rye was a staple food in that area at the time.

It's possible that one or more of these girls actually had what we would now call a mental illness, which would not have been understood in those days. It's unlikely that they all had exactly the same illness at the same time, however.

 

Eventually, 19 people were put on trial and then put to death for witchcraft. They were generally hanged, not burned at the stake. One, a man named Giles Corey, was executed by having heavy stones piled on him until he was crushed to death. If an accused person did not 'admit' his or her guilt, they were automatically found guilty; there were no attorneys for the accused-our present day system of trying people for crimes was not yet in place. Accused people had to face the judge, who would decide their fate largely based on what the crowd was saying.

 

Once the hysteria had subsided, what was left of the 200 people held in jail were released. It's interesting to note the word 'hysteria' from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary: 
New Latin, from English hysteric, adjective, from Latin hystericus, from Greek hysterikos, from hystera womb; from the Greek notion that hysteria was peculiar to women and caused by disturbances of the uterus

 Trial Transcript, September 10, 1692.  Hard to read,

but notice the words "that diabolicall art of witchcraft"

in the middle of the page.

-Bullying Tactic #4: I don't want to call attention to myself, so I will say nothing. Someone else can deal with it.
It must have been the goal of many people to 'fly under the radar', that is, not to get involved at all, whether to defend people against these ridiculous claims, or to show any interest, lest you would be considered guilty as well. The fear that must have pervaded the lives of these people must have been enormous. And yet, it's generally considered being 'a good Christian' to defend the innocent and give shelter to those in need.

 

   

 

Marker for one of the executed persons

 

Bullying Tactic #5: I am in control. You have no power. I dictate your punishment.

Keep in mind that these strict religions required twice a week attendance at long church services and did not allow music, dancing, toys and especially dolls, no holiday celebrations, and no interaction of children with any adults, certainly not religious leaders (there is an old saying: children should be seen and not heard). So much of the atmosphere was about who was in charge.

 

We can also imagine three young girls, bored, with nothing else to do, decide to make up a game that had them act like they were crazy, it got out of hand, but they were enjoying the attention...and then they couldn't admit what they had done so they blamed others. Since their fathers were prominent town leaders, the courts and religious leaders ran with the idea to the point where people were put on trial and executed. Think what would have happened to these girls by the time it reached a point of mass hysteria: That woman I accused? Sorry, just kidding. Oops.

Do you see how this instance of bullying resulted in disaster? How have things changed, or do bullies still operate the same now? Why does it matter that we remember and understand the Salem Witch Trials?

 

The topics above are topics that are still relevant today;

• Us Vs. Them: What is our concept of anyone different, such as people who don't line up with our way of thinking?
• Different=Evil. Is different wrong? Are we too rigid in what we can accept when it comes to differing points of view? How is our tolerance level these days?
• It's Not Me: How much do we blame others when we might be a part of the problem?
• I'm Not Getting Involved: If you never speak your mind, how will anyone know what you think? How will you find others who feel the same? How will you open up to other ideas?
• Control: Who do we allow to control us? Why?
• 'My religion is the right religion, you have it wrong and you're going to hell for it'

How much are women still viewed as less than, untrustworthy, or having some ability to cause havoc, or are suspicious, simply because they are women? Will that ever change?

                                      It's not easy being green.

Here are sites giving more information about the Salem Witch Trials:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/brief-salem.html

http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/SALEM.HTM

http://historyofmassachusetts.org/the-salem-witch-trials/

http://home.alphalink.com.au/~umbidas/why_does.htm explains why 'f' looks like 's' in old writings.

http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/2000_fall/salem_witch.html

                                                

Thanks For The Check, Grandma. How Do I Turn It Into Cash??

Has someone ever given you a check, written on paper? Did you know what to do with it?


The traditional thing to do is take it to your bank, endorse it, and give it to a bank teller. The teller can than either give you the cash or deposit your check into your account.


How do you endorse a check? Turn it over and at the top of one end will typically be some lines for you to sign your name. Sign it just as it was made out. Then hand the check with your ID to the teller if you only want cash. If you want it put in your account, fill out a Deposit Slip which the bank will have on hand. You'll need your account number. If the check is made out to more than one person, then everyone needs to endorse it.

There may still be times when you need to write a check in payment for something. How do you write a check?
Make out the date, who it's to, and then write the amount in numbers. Then 'write it out' using words. Cents are written as below: 45c is 45/100.  Sign the check. In the 'memo' line you can note what it's for, or put an account number if it's to pay a bill.

Parts of a check

The Routing Number identifies your bank. Eventually this money will be 'routed' to the 'home' bank.

The Account Number is your personal account.

What about depositing a check online using your computer or phone?


On the phone, you'll need the app from your bank (if it offers this service). You follow their directions, but generally, take a picture of the front and the back, upload those pictures, and tell the bank which account to place this money in. Some basics here: https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2014/10/pros-and-cons-of-mobile-check-deposit/index.htm

Sometimes, your bank may hold the whole check for a few days to be sure it 'clears,' or that it's a good check. Ask about that, because you don't want to make a purchase thinking your account has that money in it only to find it wasn't credited yet.


After a couple of weeks after the check was successfully deposited, shred it so that no one can attempt to cash it again.


Are there any problems with depositing a check this way? Yes, there are some to think about: https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/2012/10/09/how-to-deposit-checks-with-your-smartphone


Some other tips about banking:
*Set up online banking so that  you can check your balance and which expenses have been taken out (checks cashed, online bills paid) and which deposits have been credited. Go to your bank's website and follow their directions. Check your account daily: if anyone hacks into it, you'll see it early on.
*Assuming you have a checkbook, use your check register to write down all the times you use your account, whether it's just for your debit card, or if you write checks sometimes. It's one way to track where your money goes, and it gives you the numbers to check and see if they match your account online.

*Use different passwords for different stores/services. If you use the same password for everything, that will cause a major headache if someone discovers it and can get into your checking account and/or credit cards.
*Be sure you know if the ATM you are using charges a fee. Those who honor your bank's card will not charge any extra to use it.
*You may need to actually go to the bank once in a while. Do you know where it is, and what their hours of operation are? Not every bank is open evenings.
*Just because your bank offers you a credit card does not mean it's the best deal you can get. Shop around for the lowest interest rate and other fees. They are often hidden in 'the fine print,' literally tiny words that are hard to read. All credit cards charge fees for various things, like an annual fee which can be $50 or more.
*If you sign papers for a credit card, you will then have that credit card until you cancel it, whether you use it or not--and you'll pay their yearly fee (if they have one) whether you use it or not.
*You can set up automatic bill paying from your account. That way, your bills will be paid on time...but if you sometimes run low in funds, you may want to pay the bills yourself when you are ready.
*An overdraft is when you write a check for more money than you have in your account. Ironically, most banks now charge you $35 every time you do that......which comes from an account that's already empty. Usually you won't even know something got messed up until you already have several of those $35 charges on your account. When you try to cash a check without having enough money in the account, it may come back marked "NSF," which means Non Sufficient Funds.

*If you are under 18 you may need a parent to co-own the account with you. This means that your parent can observe any account activity, too.


Checks are used less and less, but it's good to know how they 'work.' Especially if you receive one!

Ruh Roh!! I'm on Probation/Suspension....

You get this letter in the mail that says......

 

You have been placed on Academic Probation or Suspension.

 

What????

 

What does it mean?
To some extent, the college does want you to succeed and do well with your studies towards a degree. Most professors want their students to understand and enjoy the learning process. But, also there is this: Colleges want to be able to point to their completion rate, frankly, and they prefer not to have students who don't care about their education and/or who are doing failing work. Here is Anoka-Ramsey's policy regarding being in good standing academically, from the website: https://www.anokaramsey.edu/about-us/policies-disclosures/policies-procedures/policy-2c1-satisfactory-academic-progress/  If you scroll down you will see the policy regarding suspension.

You are placed on probation or suspension based on both your grades and how many courses you have completed (completion rate). If your GPA is less than 2.0 (C average), you may be placed on probation.


How to avoid it in the first place:

• Be careful not to over-schedule yourself between classes, work, and other activities.
• Track how you're doing: Ask your instructors about your grades at least by mid-term or earlier. You probably know which ones you are struggling with, but it doesn't hurt to check on each class just to be sure-you may be doing better or worse than you think. Make note of your instructors' office hours so you know when you can meet with them.
• If you need some help with tutoring, visit the Academic Support Center and get scheduled with a tutor. Be clear on what you don't understand or need help with.
• Don't try to 'fake' your way through a class.
• Don't assume your class will get you an 'Easy A.'
• Ask your TRIO advisor what you can do to stay afloat.
• Are you putting in enough hours of study? Are you organized? Do you get enough sleep? Are you eating well? Be sure you're doing everything you can to succeed.
• If you are truly struggling, ask your advisor if you should drop the course rather than stay in and possible get an F for your grade. That will stay on your transcript until you re-take the course and get a better grade. However, don't drop a course without checking with your advisor. It can affect your financial aid status.

You will receive a letter from the college if they are placing you on probation. There is at least one form to fill out in order to appeal. Ask your TRIO advisor to assist you with it.

Things the appeals committee might ask, in person or in writing:

• What happened to cause you to be on probation or suspension?
• How has this situation changed, or how have you become better able to handle it?
• What kind of support do you have to pursue your education?
• What will you do if this same stress continues or shows up again?
• Why should we take a chance on you? 

Whether you're talking in person to the appeals folks, or writing a letter to explain your situation, remember these tips:

• Prepare: know what you're going to say, and do your best to be organized with your thoughts.
• If in person, be sure you appear dressed like this meeting means something, because it does.
• Be honest. What happened that sidetracked you?
• Include details. Instead of "It just got to be too much," add that it was because you had a death in your family, or your car conked out and you had no way to get to school reliably, or you broke your leg and couldn't get around as well.
• Tell them how you plan to do better if you get another chance. Have a real plan: I will use my time better. I have transportation all lined up and a back-up person as well. I am dealing much better with my home situation now, and school is my absolute priority.
• Be polite and mature as you write or interact.

 

 

 It doesn't have to be the end of your college education. You can do it!

 

https://www.thoughtco.com/academic-dismissal-appeal-questions-786222

Learning About Deafness

Do you know someone who is deaf or hard of hearing?


How does deafness occur?
Several factors can be involved-

• Damage to the inner ear
• Ear infections
• Tumors
• Ruptured eardrum (this may be temporary as the eardrum can repair itself)
• Age: The older you get, the more likely you are to have hearing loss
• Loud noises, over a long period of time or in a sudden blast
• Occupational noises (if you operate machinery such as a jackhammer)
• Medications
• Illnesses, such as meningitis or measles
• It can be hereditary: "Runs in the family"
• Some people are simply born deaf, with no known cause
• Ear wax can build up to the point where your hearing is affected (this is also usually temporary: Clean it out and your hearing is fine)
• Sometimes, swimmers get so much water in their ears, it can impair their hearing.

Did you know the loudness of a rock concert is similar to a chain saw or a loud motorcycle? True story. People who attend rock concerts many times over a period of years will often have a hearing loss.


How do your ears work? Here's a good explanation: https://www.entnet.org/content/how-ear-works

How does a hearing aid work?

A hearing aid is basically a microphone that can amplify sound and make it easier for hard of hearing people to hear. The drawback is that it is simply a microphone-it doesn't filter out the sounds you want to concentrate on, it makes everything louder. A person wearing a hearing aid can control the volume to some degree, but many times people really dislike a hearing aid because of all the other noises they have to hear.

  The mechanics of the hearing aid rest behind the ear.

How does a cochlear implant work?
An implant works better than simply amplifying sound: it actually tries to help your brain 'hear.'


However, a cochlear implant does not magically give a person back their hearing, making them 'like everyone else.' There are varying degrees of success, depending on how long the person has been deaf and if he or she has ever been able to hear. It will involve surgery to implant, ongoing fine-tuning, many hours of speech therapy, and the implants are expensive without insurance. It also separates some deaf people from their group of friends: if you were deaf and had found a community of deaf people, and now are inserted into the hearing world, that can be difficult. Some people who might benefit choose not to try an implant. https://www.quora.com/Why-dont-all-deaf-people-get-cochlear-implants-Is-it-only-a-financial-problem-or-do-cochlear-implants-only-work-for-some-types-of-deafness

What is a TTY phone, and how does that work?
TTY phones are still in use in some areas. The phone has to be specially equipped so that people can type in a message; the message then appears on a type of screen for the recipient. Now, people simply text oor use online scheduling to set up a repair person to come out or make an appointment, as examples. Voice-To-Text apps can also be helpful.

What is Closed Captioning?
This is the same as subtitles: the words being spoken appear at the bottom of your TV screen. With a recorded DVD, the captions are embedded into the disc, and that's considered truly 'closed' captioning. Sometimes with closed captioning or subtitles, they also describe what's' going on to give some context to the story. In some cases, the words are transcribed 'live,' as the show occurs, for such things as sports games and news shows. When the 'translation' is done using a computer program, however, there will often be misspelled words and incorrect terms: that's usually not caused by human error but rather the perils of Autocorrect. Sometimes, a court stenographer will transcribe what's being said using similar equipment they use in court.

Is it hard to find a job if you are deaf/hard of hearing?


It can be, even though there's no reason for that. Here's a restaurant run by deaf people:


https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2018/09/06/640893326/deaf-owned-eateries-forge-path-to-fight-joblessness-among-those-with-hearing-los?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=news




What about sign language?


People in the U.S. use ASL, American Sign Language, and ASL was created by a French person. British sign language is different than American Sign Language, incorporating more finger-spelling. In fact, did you know other countries have their own unique signs?


There are signed languages in other countries (e.g., Italian Sign Language, Chinese Sign Language, Swedish Sign Language). American Deaf culture centers on the use of ASL and identification and unity with other people who are Deaf. A Deaf sociolinguist, Dr. Barbara Kannapel, developed a definition of the American Deaf culture that includes a set of learned behaviors of a group of people who are deaf and who have their own language (ASL), values, rules, and traditions. -Gallaudet University

It's very important to watch the facial expression of a person signing; it gives more meaning to the conversation, and not everyone signs exactly the same. Signing is best done for a crowd by someone wearing a solid color shirt, so eyes can focus on the person's hands as they sign, and the facial expressions.

The ASL alphabet. Most words and phrases have signs, spelling is just one part of ASL.

Lip reading is a skill some hard of hearing people use, as well, and is not easily learned. Check out this video and see if you could lip read what people are saying. http://mentalfloss.com/article/72800/what-its-really-lip-read

 

There are plenty of myths about deaf people, the most popular being that they can't drive. Not true, and here are some other things you might not know:  https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=deaf+culture&view=detail&mid=781CC6D70E61E0E313E8781CC6D70E61E0E313E8&FORM=VIRE

 

 https://owlcation.com/social-sciences/Deaf-Culture-Facts

 

Here are some things deaf and hard of hearing people want you to know:

• Deafness does not mean a lack of intelligence.
• Some deaf people speak, some don't speak often. Imagine trying to learn to speak when you can't hear yourself or your teacher.
• Some, but not all, deaf people can sign or lip read.
• Deaf people enjoy music. Here's "Happy" by Pharrell Williams, signed: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=song+happy+with+sign+language&&view=detail&mid=E813870FE2C9E1B74274E813870FE2C9E1B74274&&FORM=VRDGAR
• There are degrees of deafness, and sometimes a person may be fully deaf in one ear but not the other.
• If you are going to chat with someone who is deaf, choose a place with good lighting. It makes it easier to sign and to infer the conversation with facial expressions, etc.
• Look right at the person as you speak so they can understand you fully.
• Speak directly to the deaf person whenever possible, and don't use their friend or relative as a go-between, referring to the deaf person as "does she want tea?" or "is she ok?" when the deaf person is sitting right there.
• If you have a question about deafness, just ask. 

 

 

How To Adult: I'm Out of Clean Clothes

Do you think your top/pants/socks could stand by themselves because they're so dirty?
Are your friends avoiding you because you smell?
Does an article of clothing look like it's changed color, when in fact it's just dirt?

You're going to have to wash some clothes.


If you haven't before, never fear: We can walk you through it....


First, sort the clothes into separate piles: Whites, light colors, dark colors, and hand washables. Hand washables include fabrics that may snag when thrown in with others, 'fancy' fabrics such as those with trims like sequins or delicate designs, or items that might 'bleed.' These items you can wash in the sink and dry carefully separate from the clothes you put in the dryer.


Why separate them? Mostly because colors can fade ('bleed') into whites and make the whites look more gray. There's no hard and fast rule about this; sometimes you'll just want to throw all of it in one load, and it will likely be OK. Just be aware that over time, the whites will look less white and the light colors will also look faded or discolored. They pick up small amounts of dyes, as well as tiny bits of lint or thread from each other, thus causing the colors to be less bright.

Red sock + white sheets=pink sheets

If you wash all the darker colors together, then even if they do 'bleed,' it won't be as noticeable. You may have an item that's never been washed. If it is red, black, or any dark color,  you might want to wash those separately and notice if they do bleed. Even a black or dark color may bleed--any color can, because fabrics are many times over-dyed--frequently blue jeans are over-dyed.


See a stain on something? There are products to 'pretreat' stains, but a simple way is to pour some detergent directly on the stain. You can also try bar soap or dish detergent. Ink sometimes comes out by using hair spray. Sweat stains can come out using lemon juice. Vinegar also takes out some stains. Try to catch stains as soon as possible, and remember, once you've put the item in the dryer, the stain won't come out anymore.

You may also want to separate towels from clothes because they take longer to dry.


To the Washer!!
Cold, Warm, or Hot water? The washer may suggest different temperatures for different fabrics, but clothes get just as clean in cold water as they do in warm or hot. Plus, the heat of the dryer helps kill any bacteria that may be present in the clothes; so, feel free to use cold water to wash clothes. The washer will have a dial that lets you choose what size load you are washing. If you don't have a lot, you can choose 'small' or 'medium'. This will determine how much water will fill in the machine. If you have a big load, then be sure to choose 'large,' because if clothes are crowded in the washer with not enough water, they won't get as clean.


Take a look at the tags on your clothes for washing instructions, too, as well as fiber content. Generally, most fabrics are washable.

Add detergent:  Follow the directions on the detergent. Usually a washer will say to add detergent, then put the clothes in. If you don't do it that way, don't worry. Either way works. Don't add more detergent than indicated. Too much soap will not be rinsed out completely, and your clothes will feel scratchy when they're done.


The washer will do this: Fill, Wash, Drain out, Spin, Fill again for rinse, Rinse, Drain out, and then Spin out the water again. A load of laundry usually takes about 20-30 minutes to complete.

Get the clothes out as soon as you can: in the spin cycle, clothes are flattened against the wall of the washer and if you ignore them, they'll stay wrinkled even after they've been dried.


*Note: It's not good to forget your clothes in the washer. In short order, they'll smell even worse than when you threw them in to be washed.

In the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, the wringer washer was the 'top of the line' in washing machines. You filled the tub using a hose attached to the water faucet. The machine agitated the water around. When you thought the clothes were clean enough (no timers or buzzers), then you put the clothes through the wringer (the white thing on top of the washer) to squeeze out the water (you cranked it to squeeze clothes through it). Wash water was re-used for the next loads. You would have to repeat the process for a rinse. When you were done, you pulled the plug to drain out the water. into a floor drain. Some people did the wash outside so the water could be drained onto the ground. There were no dryers as we know them until about the mid 1960s. Rainy day? No washing, unless you had clotheslines set up in the house to hang up your wet clothes. Imagine washing diapers this way. But, it was better than scrubbing clothes on a washboard!

To the Dryer!!!
Some clothes shrink the dryer, both in length and width. If you have any clothes you think may shrink, then don't put them in a dryer. Find a space with some circulation and hang them up to dry. It will probably take overnight.


For machine-drying clothes, find the lint trap on your dryer. Pull it out, take the lint off, and re-insert the filter. Look at the dryer and see which cycle applies to your clothes. At this point, if you want, you can throw in a dryer sheet. The purpose of the dryer sheet is to eliminate 'static cling' in your clothes once they are dry. Otherwise they'll stick to each other, to you, and generally drive you crazy. It's even worse in the winter when the air is very dry.


*Helpful fact: If you cut dryer sheets in half, they will work just as well as a whole sheet.


The dryer will beep or somehow signal when the cycle is done. Some dryers will toss the clothes around every 10 minutes until you come and get them, others do not. If your clothes aren't dry yet, repeat the dryer cycle. If they are just a little damp, you can lay them somewhere to finish drying.


Some clothes will definitely shrink with the heat of the dryer. That's another reason not to throw everything into the dryer and keep drying till they are completely dry.


Some clothes do well with just a few minutes in the dryer to get the wrinkles out, then you remove them and hang or drape them somewhere. You can hang shirts on hangers to dry, too.

Ever seen one of these? It's a clothes drying rack. They hold a surprising amount of clothes, and  fold up when not in use.

Towels take a long time to dry. Be patient.
If you have the opportunity, dry your clothes outside: They get softer and smell heavenly once they're dry. Sunshine will also help brighten clothes and fade stains.

You're almost done!! Time to fold.


You may have items you don't care to fold, such as underwear or socks. But, if you at least attempt to fold shirts and pants, or put them on hangers, they'll look a lot better when you go to put them on.


You just washed and dried your clothes! Much better. Notice your friends don't mind sitting close to you now. You're welcome.