...
...
...
...
SSL
All site content, including photos, © Busy-at-Home 2009-2013, All Rights Reserved, Contact Busy-at-Home for permissions
Our son is 15 this summer and has ventured into the workforce for the first time. Detasseling is a common job for teenagers in the Midwest and so, like many of his peers, he signed on with an exceptional crew and has been working about two weeks, now. Detasseling only lasts about 3-4 weeks. The work is hot, very physical and exhausting. The young men and women working in the fields are tasked with removing the tassels from every female corn plant and leaving the tassels on the male plants, so that the male plants pollinate the entire field and create a brand new hybrid variety of corn. Hearing it defined, makes it seem not too tough. The reality is, quite frankly, exactly the opposite.
Before the past week of high, high temperatures (heat indexes over 110 degrees), we had experienced unusually heavy amounts of rainfall. With detasseling, like with all farming, you can’t really decide what your schedule will be. The crops and the weather decide that for you. Once the corn begins to tassel, there is a narrow window of time (3-4 weeks) that the tassels can be removed before pollination occurs. So, even though the fields were completely saturated, detasselers still got into the field. Fields aren’t always flat, so at the top of a hill, a row may be dry, yet, down at the bottom of the hill, there may be standing water. One day, in particular, our son worked through an area where water was up to his chest. Another day, the mud was so thick and deep it sucked the shoes right off his feet. Even on days when it is dry and hot, the corn is still covered in dew when they first start working in the mornings. (That explains the garbage bag over his shirt in the pictures. He just peels it off when the dew has evaporated.
- This is how I send our son off each morning at 5:30 a.m. The white sticking out from under his sleeves is our makeshift tube-sock wrist guards. You can’t see the Wal-Mart bags on his feet because they’re inside his shoes. The garbage bag is, of course, obvious. .
Dressing for detasseling is a sort of comical, and yet, necessary task that must be handled with great care. Corn leaves are sharp and even as tall as my son is, the plants are often well over his and his coworker’s heads. Dressing to protect themselves from cuts and corn rash is a critical part of their early morning routine (We’re up at 4:30 to get ready and drive to meet the bus.). Every inch of skin has to be covered, even when he pulls off the waterproof gear once the dew is gone. His first layer is a t-shirt and long shorts with tube socks as high up on his leg as they will go. Then we cut the tops off tube socks to make “knee protectors”, since his socks just won’t reach that far. We cut the tops off a second pair of tube socks that he wears around his wrists. Then he puts on a pair of waterproof wind pants, a cotton, button-down shirt and a garbage bag with head and arm-holes cut out. Finally he ties a wild-west “robber style” bandana around his neck to protect his neck from the sharp corn leaves. The detasseling company provides him with gloves and a cap that has strong mosquito netting to protect his face. He also wraps duct tape around his feet, over his socks, to help prevent blisters, and then ties Wal-Mart bags over his socks to help keep his feet dry. Then he is ready to put on his shoes. Phew! What a process! I’m not gonna lie. He’s a sight! But, fortunately the entire crew looks just like him, so there is no issue with anyone “standing out” in the crowd.
At lunchtime, our son peels off the wind pants and then continues to work in the long shorts and “tall” socks, underneath. You can imagine what his shoes and socks look like at the end of the day of trekking through, mud, muck and mire, not to mention an occasional “wash-off” from a livestock feedlot. As soon as he gets on the bus, he peels off the button-down shirt, muddy shoes and socks and stuffs them all in a bag. When I pick him up in the afternoon, he is a muddy, smelly, exhausted mess. He slides on some sandals and rides to the pick-up spot, so I can pick him up and drive him home to bed. lol If I would let him, he would collapse into his bed, mud and all. But, while he is cleaning up, I’m left to empty the bag of mud-caked clothing and get it ready for the next morning.
Remember that wonderful, deep wash basin sink I shared with you in my previous post? It is perfect for this task! I empty the muddy mess into the bottom and start rinsing the clumps of mud away. I snapped a few pictures of what that experience is like. Yikes!
- That is mud caked on the sides and bottoms (and insides) of his tennis shoes after the first rinsing. See that black blob in the corner? That is his white tube socks and all the protective arm and knee guards we cut from white tube socks, wadded into one muddy mass. Yuck!
- Makeshift wristbands, cut from white tube socks, and rinsed as “clean” as I can get them before throwing them in the washing machine.
- Dirty socks and gloves, rinsed and ready for the machine.
I really didn’t hold out any hope that the socks would ever be white, again, but I’ve been testing Arm and Hammer Power Gel with OxiClean for the Switch and Save Challenge, so I decided to invest a little extra effort and see how it handled detasseling dirt. I rubbed the blue gel directly into the dirty cloth on our son’s gloves. I could see it breaking down the dirt, already, and the dark discoloration was already lightening before I put them in my washer.
- See the gloves are already somewhat lighter after massaging some Arm and Hammer Power Gel with Oxi Clean into the fabric.
I used the regular amount of detergent for my washer, but I also put a small amount of Arm and Hammer Power Gel with Oxi Clean into the prewash dispenser, too. Then I set my washer to wash in hot water and for heavy soil.
- I filled the detergent dispenser to the max fill line and added a little detergent to the prewash dispenser.
- This mess definitely needs hot water and heavy soil treatment.
I was so pleased with the results when the load was complete. Arm and Hammer Power Gel with Oxi Clean certainly didn’t get those grubby things “out of the bag” white again, but they were so much cleaner than I had expected. My only disappointment, initially, was in the gloves. I was lamenting to my son that I didn’t expect to ever be able to get them anywhere close to white, again, and he started laughing at me. “Mom, the gloves are gray. They were gray when they gave them to me.” lol
As I said, I had no illusions that these socks would ever be “white as new”, again, but I was pleasantly surprised at the results. That is much, much whiter than I had ever expected to see them. Arm and Hammer Power Gel with Oxi Clean definitely did its job! What a great surprise!
I have one more. Arm and Hammer is sponsoring another $25 VISA Gift Card Giveaway! I can’t believe how incredibly generous they have been. One of you will benefit from that amazing generosity.
Giveaway Rules:
You must be 18 or over and a US resident to enter. Winner will be selected in a random drawing using random.org. Deadline to enter is midnight (CST), Sunday, August 14, 2011.
Mandatory Entry:
What is the most challenging laundry mess your family has ever created? Leave your answer in a comment below.
Optional Additional Entries:
- Like Arm and Hammer on Facebook and leave a comment to let me know you’ve done it.
- Follow Busy-at-Home on Twitter. Leave a comment letting me know you’ve done it.
- Like Busy-at-Home on Facebook. Leave a comment letting me know you’ve done it.
- Follow Busy-at-Home on Google Friends Connect by clicking the Join Button in the right-hand side bar. Leave a comment letting me know you’ve done it.
- Subscribe to the Busy-at-Home Newsletter with this link or in the right-hand sidebar. You will receive an email confirmation with a link that must be clicked to confirm your subscription. Once you click the email link to confirm your subscription, leave me a comment to let me know you’ve done it.
- Tweet this giveaway (maximum of 1x per day, please). The world’s yuckiest laundry – cleaned with Arm & Hammer Power Gel PLUS win a $25 VISA Gift Card @busyathome @bhg http://ow.ly/5M9W2 Leave a comment below with a link to your tweet.
- Post this giveaway on your Facebook page. The world’s yuckiest laundry – cleaned with Arm & Hammer Power Gel PLUS win a $25 VISA Gift Card @busyathome @bhg http://ow.ly/5M9W2 Leave a comment below with a link to your post.
…
This is a sponsored post for Church & Dwight Co., Inc, the maker of ARM & HAMMER branded products, who is compensating me to try different products. Save $1.00 on any 2 ARM & HAMMER Laundry Detergents. And be sure and head over to The Switch & Save Challenge for the chance to win $25,000.
 |
Vomit has been the biggest laundry challenge ever.
I follow you in GFC
I follow you on Twitter (mami2jcn)
I like Arm & Hammer on FB with my username Mary Happymommy.
I like you on FB with my username Mary Happymommy.
I subscribe to your newsletter.
Chef Boyardee Spaghetti-O’s!
Grass/mud from camping and sports
Like Arm and Hammer on Facebook
Jessiekatie S.
Follow Busy-at-Home on Twitter. @tcarolinep
Like Busy-at-Home on Facebook.
jessiekatie S
Follow Busy-at-Home on Google Friends Connect
Subscribe to the Busy-at-Home Newsletter
tweet.http://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/98424628246093825
Posted on FB.http://www.facebook.com/#!/tcarolinep/posts/1971598405758
My son was playing in the mud and put his damp, muddy jeans in the hamper. I started smelling something “strange” in his room within a few days.
the spagetti laundry mess would have to be the worst, we had a party and things got outta control with the sauce and noodles it was a huge mess, but thank fully my washer cleaned it all right out! (:
“like” Arm and Hammer on FB
following you on TWitter
“like” you on FB
i follow busy at home on twitter!
my twitter: pandaxaly
following w/GFC
email subscriber
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/LKARambo/status/98432128865419264
Believe it or not, oranges and watermelon leave the worst stains on my kids clothes and they seem to dribble the juice from them onto their clothes every time they eat them.
i tweeted about this giveaway!
>http://twitter.com/#!/pandaXaly/status/98432217340051457
i posted this giveaway on my facebook page! http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=200009910056114&id=100001413198135
I liked Arm and Hammer on FB.
I follow busy at home on twitter. tia3
I like busy at home on FB.
I follow busy at home on GFC.
I subscribe to your newsletter.
I posted on FB. http://www.facebook.com/index.php?lh=a1457228ba876c73bbfd30a0692e4b84&#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=113350075430315&id=546085091
The most disasterous would be when visiting my parents and the kids decided to swim and dunk every part of their bodies and clothing into the mud puddles. It was fun but I think they still have some stains on clothing
I Like Arm and Hammer on Facebook
I Like Busy-at-Home on Facebook.
I Subscribe to the Busy-at-Home Newsletter
the most challenging mess was when we had christmas eve at my house and there was a ton of food and drinks spilled on our white tablecloths
i like arm and hammer on fb as amanda sakovitz
follow you on twitter @aes529
i like you on fb (amanda sakovitz)
gfc follower mandy83
email subscriber
http://twitter.com/#!/aes529/status/98457267862634496
https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=246702152018594&id=1355040978
my biggest challenge so far was my DH working construction
Thank you for hosting this giveaway
Louis
pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com
I like Arm & Hammer
on facebook (Louis Here)
pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com
Google Friends Connect – following you publicly as (Louis)
pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com
I like your blog on facebook (Louis Here)
pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com
following you on twitter @left_the_stars
pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com
I am an email subscriber
pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com
I tweeted your giveaway
pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com
I shared on my Face Book
pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com
My greatest laundry challenge now is when I work outside doing lawn work and gardening my clothes get covered with a lot of ground in dirt which can really be a challenge to get out.
I follow you on twitter.
I like you on fb.
I follow you on Google Friend Connect.
I subscribe to your e-mails.
I tweeted – http://twitter.com/joycemlinek/status/98535758356422656
I posted on fb – http://www.facebook.com/#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=213975668650950&id=100000939396841
our biggest challenge is grease from farm machinery and black from rubber
Debbie Jackson
djackson1958 at hotmail dot com
emailsub
Debbie Jackson
djackson1958 at hotmail dot com
gfc debijackson
Debbie Jackson
djackson1958 at hotmail dot com
fblikeu as
Debbie Jackson
djackson1958 at hotmail dot com
twu as jacksondeb
Debbie Jackson
djackson1958 at hotmail dot com
Your post said the deadline was Sunday July 31st, but you sent this e-mail Aug. 2nd. Since others are entering, I’m thinking this was a typo?
One of my biggest laundry challenges was red lipstick on a gray skirt.
nineteen19 at blackfoot dot net
e-mail subscriber
nineteen19 at blackfoot dot net
like U on FB under shana cummings williams
nineteen19 at blackfoot dot net
GFC follower
nineteen19 at blackfoot dot net
Well there was once a late-night food fight during a slumber party that involved fries, katsup, and salsa. That was a challenge!
My 16 year old’s baseball uniform – ground in dirt and red clay on white pants is so hard to get out
msboatgal at aol.com
like arm & hammer on fb
msboatgal at aol.com
like you on fb
cheryl s
msboatgal at aol.com
follow on gfc
msboatgal at aol.com
Puke blankets and clothes are definitely not fun to launder.
Follow you on Twitter
Like you on FB Lee-AnN L
Follow
Tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/leeanncrazylife/status/98567483811835904
When my son and dh go dirtbiking, they always make a huge mess, but they have so much fun.
http://twitter.com/LuckyDuckyToo/status/98568040676995074
I spill my food all over my clothes.
Gfc follower danaj
Email subscriber
stains!!
follow you on twitter
follow you on facebook
subscribe via email
http://twitter.com/#!/HappyTina0115/status/98578771942178816
I can’t think of any laundry stain that has been beyond terrible.
following you on twitter (@aandj8804)
following on GFC (Mandy and Justin)
My husband’s work clothes are my most challenging laundry mess, they could have anything from hydraulic fluid to grease or oil to paint on them.
Like them on FB, Michelle Sharp
tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/aandj8804/status/98580467292446720
follow you on Twitter @88MichelleS
Like you on FB, Michelle Sharp
Follow you on GFC as Michelle S.
subscribe as buckyandtux at gmail dot com
tweet http://twitter.com/#!/88MichelleS/status/98582485813833728
“Skid marks” and dried food on my husband shorts! Every pair Every time!
Like Arm and Hammer on Facebook
Follow Busy-at-Home on Twitter as astroqueen67
Like Busy-at-Home on Facebook
Subscribe to the Busy-at-Home Newsletter
Follow Busy-at-Home on Google Friends Connect as astroqueen67
Most challengin mess was when the top flew off the blender and the contents went all over the kitchen including the ceiling and walls. Cleaning the floor was the easy part, the rest required a ladder.
challenging
follow u on twitter @maynekitty
Like u on FB – Kitty
email subscriber maynekitty///at///live///dot///com
Eric says the worst laundry messes he ever created were in boy scouts, lol. (+1)
I follow busy-at-home on Twitter and Facebook and Google Connect (+3)
I receive the busy-at-home newsletter (+1)
Love all the pictures of Mow-kul! <3
The most challenging laundry mess would definitely have been when my daughter was in the ‘blow-out stage.’ Gross.
b(dot)cardone(at)hotmail(dot)com
follow you on twitter bcardoo79
b(dot)cardone(at)hotmail(dot)com
like you on fb bethany cardone
b(dot)cardone(at)hotmail(dot)com
gfc follower
b(dot)cardone(at)hotmail(dot)com
https://twitter.com/#!/aes529/status/98791293261582336
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/LKARambo/status/98846065675079680
We recently planted a fruit and vegetable garden and had to deal with soil and grass mess.
I follow you on twitter. ID: Lyndadawinda
I LIKE you on Facebook. ID: Lynda Castillo
GFC follower. ID: Lynda Del
I tweeted – http://twitter.com/#!/Lyndadawinda/status/98889366327410688
I shared about this giveaway on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/Lynda.DelCastillo/posts/2285954832785
my son found/made a mud pit in the back yard and his dad let him enjoy himself..his body and clothes were caked, as well as his sneakers
nannypanpan at gmail.com
gfc nannypanpan
http://twitter.com/LuckyDuckyToo/status/98932038572322817
the worst was after my kids soccer games in the rain, especially my goalie who would dive for the ball in the mud
pedidentalasst at yahoo dot com
GFC follower
pedidentalasst at yahoo dot com
your subscriber
pedidentalasst at yahoo dot com
http://twitter.com/#!/aes529/status/99127720025395200
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/LKARambo/status/99192807289397248
http://twitter.com/LuckyDuckyToo/status/99285010066051072
http://twitter.com/#!/aes529/status/99489673579204608
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/LKARambo/status/99557882818867201
Baby poop is the worst!
like Arm & Hammer on facebook
follow Busy at home on twitter @huffychic
like Busy at Home on facebook (Tara Huff)
Busy at Home gfc follower
http://twitter.com/LuckyDuckyToo/status/99612619706605568
My husband was a mechanic among other things. Oil, grease,and other vehicle fluids, all are very challenging to get out.
ljsin2win-at-gmail-dot-com
tweet https://twitter.com/#!/ljshores/status/99662328768901120
ljsin2win-at-gmail-dot-com
I shared on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ljsin2win/posts/191684647560910
ljsin2win-at-gmail-dot-com
http://twitter.com/#!/aes529/status/99847243640750080
crayons in the dryer caused some unfortunate ruining of our clothes once
http://twitter.com/#!/kitraz13/status/99853645910253568
The BIGGEST!!! mess was Red Chili on my favorite table cloth. Red Chili is the hardest stain to remove!!!
Like Arm and Hammer on Facebook [Geri Sandoval]
Follow Busy-at-Home on Twitter @Gerisandoval
Like Busy-at-Home on FB [Geri Sandoval]
Follow Busy-at-Home on GFC [Geraldine Sandoval]
Subscribe to Busy-at-Home via Newsletter
heartnsoulcooking[at]gmail[dot]com
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/Gerisandoval/status/99888769456537600
usually involved blood (yeah i’m a klutz)
Playing in the mud during rain!
littlegray88 at yahoo dot com
tweet https://twitter.com/#!/ljshores/status/100005776185233410
ljsin2win-at-gmail-dot-com
My biggest laundry challenge is berries. The girls love them and they leave a lasting impression on clothing if I am not quick.
http://twitter.com/#!/kitraz13/status/100217447264690180
http://twitter.com/#!/aes529/status/100263995247824896
Once a blueberry smoothie exploded in the blender – blueberry stains all over our clothes!
katherinedibello (at) gmail (dot) com
tweet https://twitter.com/#!/ljshores/status/100352685299085313
ljsin2win-at-gmail-dot-com
http://twitter.com/#!/kitraz13/status/100559302338691072
http://twitter.com/#!/aes529/status/100581783409655810
Transition from breastmilk to solids… these cloth diapers can really get filled with some interesting stuff!
Did all of the above!
http://twitter.com/#!/sjpoling73/status/100688687049883648
http://www.facebook.com/shawnee.robinsonpoling/posts/121571244605594
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/LKARambo/status/100695077877329921
My biggest laundry challenge happened recently when a pipe burst in the living room and I had to use every towel in the house to soak up the water, several times over, and keep washing all of the towels. I am glad that’s over!
I follow busy at home on twitter @tracylr233
I like Busy at Home on Facebook
I tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/tracylr233/status/100712191233232896
I follow you on GFC. thanks!
http://twitter.com/#!/LuckyDuckyToo/status/100742869924585473
tweet https://twitter.com/#!/ljshores/status/100750473908330496
ljsin2win-at-gmail-dot-com
daily tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/tracylr233/status/100878966159708160
http://twitter.com/#!/kitraz13/status/100930040124018688
http://twitter.com/#!/aes529/status/100956142531915776
Well at least he’s building character
What a darling site you have! Glad I stumbled over here 
And now I’m your latest follower – hope you can stop by my place and return the favor.
http://www.shaunanosler.blogspot.com/
Shauna, he really has. It was good experience for him. Thanks so much for stopping by. I’m anxious to see “your place”, too.
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/LKARambo/status/101051763083317249
http://twitter.com/#!/LuckyDuckyToo/status/101126627878113282
http://twitter.com/#!/kitraz13/status/101286668182618114
http://twitter.com/#!/aes529/status/101295958750527488
The biggest mess: probably from working in the yard.
tarter95 at hotmail dot com
GFC follower: tarter95
tarter95 at hotmail dot com
daily tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/tracylr233/status/101308706569981952
tweet https://twitter.com/#!/ljshores/status/101480536035426304
ljsin2win-at-gmail-dot-com
http://twitter.com/#!/LuckyDuckyToo/status/101497061626757120
hmmmm, i tried to like it on facebook but your link is broken???? so i’ll do it from my page, AND the biggest mess has been…hmmm…oh, a pen from SOMEONE’S pocket that burst IN the washing machine…super :~)
~G
am i supposed to be commenting with EACH thing, or jsut leaving one big comment that says all the things i did to enter??? :~) anyway, i also posted to my facebook page :~)
~G
lol – post a separate comment for each one, so you have more chances to win.
http://twitter.com/#!/kitraz13/status/101637263053701120
Grease stains from I don’t know where!?!?! Red sauce stains (tacos, enchiladas etc…)
I liked Arm and Hammer on their page
http://twitter.com/#!/aes529/status/101674644276383744
daily tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/tracylr233/status/101750015457894400
grease and gravy is usually the hardest mess to get out for me, but the biggest mess we ever had (once only) was when the kids mudwrestled in the backyard in a big muddy area after a week of rain.
chichijunk at cs dot com
following you on twitter @chichijunk
fan of yours on facebook
adrienne z
chichijunk at cs dot com
following on gfc
chichijunk
i get your newsletters
chichijunk at cs dot com
tweet https://twitter.com/#!/ljshores/status/101834643086655488
ljsin2win-at-gmail-dot-com
http://twitter.com/#!/LuckyDuckyToo/status/101846477923553281
daily tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/tracylr233/status/101932931873914881
http://twitter.com/#!/aes529/status/102029997467901952
http://twitter.com/#!/kitraz13/status/102043350592524290
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/LKARambo/status/102197597086814210
http://twitter.com/#!/LuckyDuckyToo/status/102199473735864321
tweet https://twitter.com/#!/ljshores/status/102203940866768896
ljsin2win-at-gmail-dot-com
http://twitter.com/#!/aes529/status/102379699069661185
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/LKARambo/status/102442594625265665
daily tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/tracylr233/status/102471823341535232
tweet https://twitter.com/#!/ljshores/status/102496104100282368
ljsin2win-at-gmail-dot-com
http://twitter.com/#!/kitraz13/status/102538190795186176
https://mobile.twitter.com/luckyduckytoo/status/102555107895410688
daily tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/tracylr233/status/102661732576673792
http://twitter.com/#!/aes529/status/102739255545180160
http://twitter.com/#!/kitraz13/status/102809936622403585
tweet https://twitter.com/#!/ljshores/status/102861254951055360
ljsin2win-at-gmail-dot-com
https://mobile.twitter.com/luckyduckytoo/status/102926145019838465
http://www.facebook.com/#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=234755079901891&id=520433979
I follow via google friend connect
I’m an email subscriber.
I’m a twitter follower (LuckyDuckyToo)
I’m a FB fan (Mari Doug)
I’m an Arm & Hammer FB fan (Mari Doug)