.....Is that my washing powder........

Every so often a teenager comes out with a comment that makes the job such a joy.

I'm currently teaching the 16 year olds a Unit called Chemical Economics...really exciting (not) stuff about how chemical plants have to work to certain conditions to achieve the best yield...so pressures and temperatures have to be calculated according to the percentage of product made....and the process has to be continuous for some things and batch for otherzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

You get the idea.

In the middle of all this is a module about detergents, that examines what's in washing powder, washing-up liquid etc.

Today the lesson involved some information sheets about washing instructions, and a comparison of clothes washing in Japan, USA and UK...looking at the size of the machines, the temperature, the time for a cycle and on and on.

As I was giving out the sheets I made a throw away comment about not really understanding much about this because I'd bought a couple of machines to do it all and the Boss being in charge of this sort of thing!

The girls in the class all bristled ....and one of the really quiet ones asked "So what do you do with all your clothes then?" So I replied "Well, when I take them off I put them in a basket in the bedroom". She persisted, " Yes but what happens then?" So I said " No idea, but about three days later they appear hanging up in the wardrobe all nice and clean".....she kept going "So you don't wash them then?"....."Nope!"....on she went " What about washing up?"...." Oh there's a machine for that...stack then up in the kitchen and next morning they're all back in the cupboards sparkling!"

There was a pause....and I was just about to launch into the components of a washing powder and what each one does...when I saw her turn to her friend and heard her, quietly, say " If I was married to him, I'd just get his clothes out of the basket and hang them straight back in the wardrobe!"

I nearly fell off my stool laughing...I love it when kids come up with lines like that.

Das vidanya moy padruga.

p.s. I did put her right later...I do obviously take my share of household duties...In fact I sometimes think I'm the only one who knows how to load and empty a dishwasher.