Laundry?

[Jenny Elwood]

I only dress away from home, and my stash is kept at the office (nothing at home). I have an interesting time managing the washing, since I can't run to a laundromat all the time. I was just wondering how do you who are closeted, manage this without raising suspicion or getting caught?

[BillieAnneJean]

Jenny,
In the USA we have places we call Laundromats. They have rows of clothes washing machines and rows of clothes driers. We can take every washable clothing item we own and by using multiple washers and driers, do everything in one cycle time. No doubt South Africa has similar.

Usually in these places they have an attendant who needs something to occupy their time. They do what we call "wash and fold". It is a service, usually priced by the pound, which does just as it sounds. This is a drop off one day and pick it up another time frame.

I have not made it to South Africa but I bet you have similar services there also.

Have FUN!

[Kelly DeWinter]

I have a friend who is in the same situation. Keeps her clothes at the office. Her ritual is simple. Stays late once a week and washes cloths by hand in a sink, then hangs them in her office to dry at night. Locks her office door and arrives early the next day to fold and put her things away. She has been doing this for years.

[Jaylyn]

If you have a dry cleaners ( what we call them here also) you take the clothes in and they give you a claims ticket. Everything will be hung and folded for you. You just swing by and pick them up. They even iron and starch if wanted. Y'all might have one there also. Usually when I have my Sunday best jeans done I'm the only customer in the shop as they are usually small buildings.

[Krisi]

I wouldn't be hanging my laundry in my office at work. Too much risk of discovery and questions. Crossdressing and work should remain as far apart as possible unless you work at a crossdressing store.

Jenny, look for a place that does laundry service. You drop the clothes off and pick them up later washed and folded. Drop them off after work one day, pick them up on the way to work another day. Not as cheap as doing it yourself but it solves your problem.

[Beverley Sims]

Probably by not having my stash at work.
Sorry jenny.

[Jilmac]

I was closeted for too many years and am out now, but all the time I kept my clothes hidden in my basement. Laundry was fairly easy for me because I would volunteer to do the family laundry. I could wash and dry mine along with all the rest, fold and store it all back in hiding and go about my daily routine. For items that required dry cleaning, I would keep them among the tools in my truck and use a dry cleaning service near the shop where I worked. Now that I'm out I have no laundry worries and no longer have to hide my clothes.

[Deedee Skyblue]

...since I can't run to a laundromat all the time.

I would take a chance doing the laundry at home rather than keeping my clothes at work...

Deedee

[Launa]

Its time to get caught then you can do it all at home.

[Andrea Chenowith]

Definitely concur with not mixing dressing with work. I tried that once with near disastrous results. The place I worked had a shower, and I walked into a very bad situation - the person I replaced was months behind schedule - so I was able to convince my wife that it was a good idea for me to come into the office between 5 and 6 a.m. for an 8 a.m. start. I was guaranteed at least an hour of solid, uninterrupted dressing time every day, and with the ability to hide the telltale signs of wearing a wig by hopping in the shower, it was amazing. I had the added benefit of being the main receiving clerk, so shipping new wardrobe items to work was easy.

But...

I almost got caught on three occasions by coworkers arriving early, and after a restructuring, my position was eliminated and I was told to clean out my office immediately. Since I'd taken to using public transit, I had to have my wife come and pick me - and my boxes full of assorted stuff - up from the office.


Don't do it. If you need to hide stuff, get a storage unit.

[RADER]

I do all mine at home; have a real nice washer and dryer, and it works great.
Rader

[Gardener]

I only underdress, and not every day. My wife knows and tolerates it but every now and then makes an adverse comment. I have been used to putting the clothes out for washing in the usual way but have now told her that I will separate my feminine items and see to washing them myself, to save her being so upset by the sight of them. Then she was put out because it might interfere with her clothes washing regime!

[donnalee]

Jenny,
In the USA we have places we call Laundromats. They have rows of clothes washing machines and rows of clothes driers. We can take every washable clothing item we own and by using multiple washers and driers, do everything in one cycle time. No doubt South Africa has similar.

Usually in these places they have an attendant who needs something to occupy their time. They do what we call "wash and fold". It is a service, usually priced by the pound, which does just as it sounds. This is a drop off one day and pick it up another time frame.

I have not made it to South Africa but I bet you have similar services there also.

Have FUN!I believe she also mentioned that laundromats present a problem in the OP and adding people to the mix might cause even more difficulty. Each of us lives a different life and mostly in different places, it is very unlikely that you would know what is normal and what is unusual in a place so far away.

[Deedee Skyblue]

If you need to hide stuff, get a storage unit.

If you can afford it, a storage unit might be a really great choice Many have power and are big enough to walk around in - you could even dress and take pictures in your unit.

Deedee

[MsVal]

My admittedly tiny wardrobe is kept in a super secret location at home. I have been doing the laundry for quite a while and it is no problem for me to put my stuff in with the rest.

Regarding work: Due to security issues, people where I used to work are commonly escorted out with little advance notice while security, supervision, and human resources monitor the process. OUCH! Aside from being horribly humiliating to everyone involved and everyone nearby, it's a sure sign to everybody to leave their personal life outside the building walls.

Best wishes
MsVal

[Tracii G]

I don't have that problem but I have used the small dry cleaner close by to clean a few things like leather skirts and jackets.
I took my work uniforms to them too and actually an old friend worked there and he never said anything about the womens clothes I brought in from time to time.

[Stephanie47]

I would not keep anything concerning cross dressing at work including accessing this website. Before I retired I took a 'therapy day' every so often. 'Therapy day' was an en femme day which included catching up on laundering and ironing. Of course you can keep buying fresh undies to wear. Once you have a hundred pairs you can launder once every three months-just kidding. If you're talking about dresses, skirts and blouses there is always dry cleaners. I cannot imagine you do not get the house to yourself for several hours sometime???