155 Comments
User's avatar
aharon levy's avatar

As your financial advisor, ew.

Anne Kadet's avatar

Okay, but we still need to discuss the tax deductions.

aharon levy's avatar

Thongs are, technically, a dependent!

appleton king's avatar

somehow laptop wont allow me to like this comment but its funny as hell

Maria's avatar

Anne I didn’t even read this yet but I can tell you confidently you can make a lot more selling your dirty underwear to strangers rather than washing theirs for them.

Equilibrist's avatar

That is exactly what I came here to say! She’d probably make at least triple!

Anne Kadet's avatar

$48? I feel oddly flattered, EQ!

Equilibrist's avatar

$48? You could make $100 or more if they’ve been worn for an, um, more extended period. (Disclaimer: I have never done this, but I know some women who have!)

Therry Neilsen-Steinhardt's avatar

What, you're not posting a link?

Maria's avatar

Then the follow up to that for all the Buddhists out here: does selling worn underwear to VERY willing strangers constitute sexual misconduct? 🤪🤔

Anne Kadet's avatar

To be discussed on Thursday!

Anne Kadet's avatar

LOL thanks Maria!

Liza Blue's avatar

For your promo pictures, perhaps wear the outfit chosen by the thrift store staffer (see previous post).

Anne Kadet's avatar

Liza, you're right, HUGE missed opportunity. I think the tangerine sparkles would have played much better on Clotheslyne!

Samuel Clemenstein's avatar

One crusty sock and I'd be done being a clotheslyner forever.

Anne Kadet's avatar

My load was sock-free, Samuel! Guess I got lucky.

JEBNYC's avatar

Great piece as usual, but it made me really sad for everyone really trying to hustle in this gig economy. Going back and forth on public transportation and washing and folding other people's underwear and boohoolemons. "And do it WITH LOVE so the privileged client bestows a not entirely humiliating tip!"

But not to be a downer, I am pleased to report that you don't have to be rich to have an in-unit washer/dryer in NYC - just lucky as all get-out! The rich send their clothes out anyway, why waste real estate on an unsightly W/D when you can put a tasteful heirloom in that darling little nook...

Anne Kadet's avatar

JEBNYC it is true that whenever I embark on one of these little adventures, it is a bit of an exercise in make-believe. While I DO need the money, I don't really need the money, if you know what I mean. I'm sure it wouldn't feel like a lark if I was doing this for a living. On the other hand, given the right spirit, who knows?

Also as I'm sure you know, an increasing number of new condo development is featuring in-unit washers and dryers. Another diabolical effort to water down NYC culture and Americanize the city!

Amran Gowani's avatar

I think your profile photo SHOULD show you jamming laundry into a dishwasher. That's certain to generate more unliveable wages for you.

Anne Kadet's avatar

That would be too close to real life, Mr. Gowani.

Jack Armstrong's avatar

Your facial expression on the zoom call cracks me up.. maybe you should have a New Yorker style caption contest for pictures from your exploits!

Anne Kadet's avatar

Haha I had a bunch of screen shots to choose from Jack and I chose the one I did for that exact reason. :)

Alice Griffiths's avatar

Hi Anne! Please tell Clotheslyner Amber T. on the app to add 1/4 to a 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar to the cat-piss laundry. Gets the smell out every time! (I have a cat who thinks that anything left on the floor is fair game!)

Anne Kadet's avatar

Alice that's so funny. Clotheslyner Amber T. was also complaining that the customer wanted her to add a whole GALLON of AC vinegar to the load, and didn't that seem excessive?

Alice Griffiths's avatar

OMG, how much pee was on those clothes? Is she putting clothes in the litter box? lol

Maria's avatar

PS. You also could have come over to use our machine… would have saved you $4.10 and a lot of time. And if you were willing to bike with a giant backpack you wouldn’t have needed the bus fare. Plus, I probably just feel really sorry for you and drive you back. But that wouldn’t have made as good of a story.

Justin Difazzio's avatar

Ooooh have fun on vacation. Or relax! You know what, do whatever you want, I'm not the vacation police. This issue was *chef's kiss*. From the ironic trash heap to the fresh folded laundry (irony is the opposite of wrinkly), everything made me smile. Sorry it looks like your laundry schlepping journey won't amount to much, at least now we know that sort of service exists. If I had a house and a washer, I might consider doing it.

Anne Kadet's avatar

I'm going to have so much fun on vacation, Justin, including my annual trip a trip to the "Cleanerly" laundromat in Pulaski, NY!

https://shorturl.at/n6Y1V

Michele Linehan's avatar

This reply made me laugh. My daughter worked at a dry cleaners. On a recent trip to Chicago she had to visit the world's largest laundromat. It was pretty impressive. We're making a visit to a unique sites part of all our trips. We've seen the Salt & Pepper Museum in Gatlinburg and the Blue Whale of Catoosa just outside Tulsa, to name a few. Great conversation starters! Enjoy your vacation, Anne😎

Michele Linehan's avatar

This reply made me laugh. My daughter worked at a dry cleaners. On a recent trip to Chicago she had to visit the world's largest laundromat. It was pretty impressive. We're making a visit to a unique sites part of all our trips. We've seen the Salt & Pepper Museum in Gatlinburg and the Blue Whale of Catoosa just outside Tulsa, to name a few. Great conversation starters! Enjoy your vacation, Anne😎

Anne Kadet's avatar

Oh wow I'd for sure go to Chicago just to see that, Michele!

Thanks for your sweet wishes!

mordy l's avatar

AAA++++ newsletter! Thank you!!

I hope you have a wonderful restful and fun vacation.

(btw - In the screenshot Camden appears slightly more trustworthy then the other Zoom participants....just saying....but you make up for it in the outtake laundry pics.)

Another bright and beautiful and optimistic Monday thanks to your newsletter....Bon voyage.

Will do double duty w the therapist next two weeks until you return.

Anne Kadet's avatar

Thanks for the old-school eBay-style grade, mordy and your kind wishes!

John Jacob's avatar

What an Adventure! Who’d have thought doing laundry could be so informative yet so economically unsound 😉

Anne Kadet's avatar

Much like my primary occupation as a journalist, Mr. Jacob!

Gérard Mclean's avatar

I'm loving the laundromat-themed newsletters! Do they pay out extra for fitted sheet folding skills?? Cause I got them 😀

Anne Kadet's avatar

Gerard, please share your secrets! Every time I try to fold my fitted sheet, I just give up and fold it into a ball and shove it in the back of the closet!

Also I am trying to come up with a good laundromat feature. Wish me luck!

Gérard Mclean's avatar

😀 The trick is that wrist flip on the corner joins, like how a gaffer wraps cables, a bagel maker flips that dough ring or a baker shapes a baguette… do enough of them and it’s all muscle memory… long end, join corners, flip inside out, join the opposite corner, flip… now you got a square.. flat surface, fold long end, fold, fold to thirds.. done.. easy-peazy… balls are good!!!

Good luck on the laundromat feature! Can’t wait to read that one.

Emily Groveman's avatar

I LOVE your promo photos! Would you ever consider doing a Cafe Anne calendar? Then readers could relive your adventures all year long <3

Anne Kadet's avatar

Emily, I DID do a CAFÉ ANNE calendar. It featured a different Weird Trash Heap for every month of the year. It didn't sell well, and was a lot of work, but I was glad I did it!

https://annekadet.substack.com/p/tree

So happy you enjoyed the promo photos!

Jillian Hess's avatar

Anne! I literally laughed out loud! And I could just imagine you laughing as you did the laundry. Those images are priceless. You definitely deserve more than $4.07!

Anne Kadet's avatar

The EXPERIENCE was priceless, Jillian, and I'm glad it made you laugh!

Rob Stephenson's avatar

The gig economy has truly jumped the shark, or earned its stripes as they say in soiled tighty whities circles. Time to double your subscription prices.

And the discarded copy of "The Waste Free World" is just too perfect!

Anne Kadet's avatar

Double my subscription prices! Of course! Why didn't I think of that?!?!