*2006 post*
There is a household task I cannot seem to figure out. I have determined, over and over again, to complete this task. And yet no matter how many different ways I've tried it, no matter how many times I've done it, it evades me. My attempts to complete this task result in utter frustration on my part. And 9 times out of 10, I end up calling for my husband to come and take over.
Are you curious?
It is this: Putting The Duvet Cover On Our Down Comforter. The task itself sounds simple enough. I assure you, it is not. This task is not for the faint of heart. (Thus, not for me, apparently, since I always end up giving up in exasperation.)
And yet. I begin confidently, every time. I even give myself a little pep talk as I proceed. This is very simple, Stacy. What we're going to do is this: Hold onto the left-hand corner of the comforter, and reach into the duvet cover. When you get into the corresponding corner, grab both corners (comforter and duvet) and hold tightly. There. Now go for the other corner. Grab both of those corners. Hold very tightly. Now, shake it out.
It is at this point that I realize that while my first reaching for the corner attempt was successful, my second corner attempt was not. I always end up with the wrong corner of the duvet.
For a visual, imagine the diagram below as my duvet cover. I am standing at the foot of our bed, near the C and D corners. My goal is to reach for corners A and B. However, I invariably end up holding on (for dear life, I might add) to corners A and D. The B corner is the problem.
A B
C D
What is it about this seemingly simple task that I cannot seem to wrap my brain around? Is it the sheer size of these two items? Do I need longer arms? A map?
Don't even suggest the whole turn-it-inside-out approach. Do you think I haven't tried that? I saw those step-by-step directions in a Martha Stewart: Living magazine years ago. I pored over those directions. Probably even tore out the page and brought it into the bedroom with me, consulting it as I went along. IT DOES NOT WORK. Not for me, anyway.
If I weren't so attached to my down comforter, I would toss it out for a quilt in a heartbeat. But I happen to be very attached to my down comforter, so the problem persists.
Last night, I gave up again in exasperation. Mark dutifully came in to rescue me. I came back into the room as he was finishing The Awful Task. So I asked him, "What do you DO?" He began to carefully explain his procedure. He started by saying that he turns the cover inside out. I rolled my eyes. And then he said this, "..and then I climb inside with the comforter." I had just taken a drink of water and I literally spit it back into my cup I was laughing so hard. The image of my husband- all six feet, six inches of him- climbing inside our duvet cover has me shaking with laughter even now. How could I have missed this event so many times? Now I can't wait for the next installment of Putting The Duvet Cover On Our Down Comforter. I plan to snag a front row seat.
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Sep. 27, 2006 - It works!
ReplyDeletePosted by Mark
Hey, I'm sure it looks a little silly to see the comforter standing on end on the bed, but it works. Of course, it does help that I have a long wingspan, so I would suggest you t-rex types not attempt this. Simply picture a big Y in that diagram. And once I'm inside the cover, I can easily spot any hangups as I shake it down. And honey, if you want to see the process, you better not blink, because for all the trouble you make it out to be, this job is a snap. So happy I can help out.
- Mark
***
Sep. 27, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Rebeca
I can totally relate to your duvet cover frustration! We love ours too, but trying to put that cover on makes me never want to wash it. (Gross!) My approach could be called Teamwork and Safety Pins! I gave up trying to do it myself, so Erik and I each grab a corner, like you do, one hand on the bottom corner of the duvet and then reach up into the cover at the same time. With our outside hand we grab both of those corners and fasten them together with a safetly pin. Then as we work the rest of the cover down the two layers stay together. Better yet, the whole thing stays together better no matter how much tossing and turning you do.
But hey, if you have to call your husband in for reinforcement, you might as well just let him do it since it sounds like he's got it down to a science!
Bless you,
Rebeca
***
Sep. 27, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
I really don't have a comment I just wanted to tell you that totally made me laugh out loud.
Let me know what you think of the muffins:)
Carrie
***
Sep. 27, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jengresak
I am one of those in the "turn it inside out" camp. But my real trick is that I convince my little children to climb inside and stuff it into all the corners. They can pretend it's a cave or something - lol! But it earns a quarter a piece : )
***
Sep. 28, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cutzi
I also do the "turn it inside out" thing and it totally works for me. Sometimes I need Justin to come in and put it down. I turn it inside out, hold on to the corners away from the opening and then pull it through. The other thing Martha suggested that also works is to sew ribbon on the inside (same corners as above) and sew ribbons on the down comforter. Then, you do the inside out method but you don't have to hold on.
The funniest thing about this is that I am very picky about duvets being on correctly. I am convinced that you cannot "fix" a comforter once it is in the duvet and has gotten messed up. (You know, scrunched up in one end or something) The only way to get it in there properly again is to take it all the way out and put it in again. I'm also this way about sheets. My husband loves this character trait in me. Especially when it's one in the morning and I sleepily say to him, "The sheets are all messed up...."
Sep. 27, 2006 - It works!
ReplyDeletePosted by Mark
Hey, I'm sure it looks a little silly to see the comforter standing on end on the bed, but it works. Of course, it does help that I have a long wingspan, so I would suggest you t-rex types not attempt this. Simply picture a big Y in that diagram. And once I'm inside the cover, I can easily spot any hangups as I shake it down. And honey, if you want to see the process, you better not blink, because for all the trouble you make it out to be, this job is a snap. So happy I can help out.
- Mark
***
Sep. 27, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Rebeca
I can totally relate to your duvet cover frustration! We love ours too, but trying to put that cover on makes me never want to wash it. (Gross!) My approach could be called Teamwork and Safety Pins! I gave up trying to do it myself, so Erik and I each grab a corner, like you do, one hand on the bottom corner of the duvet and then reach up into the cover at the same time. With our outside hand we grab both of those corners and fasten them together with a safetly pin. Then as we work the rest of the cover down the two layers stay together. Better yet, the whole thing stays together better no matter how much tossing and turning you do.
But hey, if you have to call your husband in for reinforcement, you might as well just let him do it since it sounds like he's got it down to a science!
Bless you,
Rebeca
***
Sep. 27, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
I really don't have a comment I just wanted to tell you that totally made me laugh out loud.
Let me know what you think of the muffins:)
Carrie
***
Sep. 27, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jengresak
I am one of those in the "turn it inside out" camp. But my real trick is that I convince my little children to climb inside and stuff it into all the corners. They can pretend it's a cave or something - lol! But it earns a quarter a piece : )
***
Sep. 28, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cutzi
I also do the "turn it inside out" thing and it totally works for me. Sometimes I need Justin to come in and put it down. I turn it inside out, hold on to the corners away from the opening and then pull it through. The other thing Martha suggested that also works is to sew ribbon on the inside (same corners as above) and sew ribbons on the down comforter. Then, you do the inside out method but you don't have to hold on.
The funniest thing about this is that I am very picky about duvets being on correctly. I am convinced that you cannot "fix" a comforter once it is in the duvet and has gotten messed up. (You know, scrunched up in one end or something) The only way to get it in there properly again is to take it all the way out and put it in again. I'm also this way about sheets. My husband loves this character trait in me. Especially when it's one in the morning and I sleepily say to him, "The sheets are all messed up...."