*affiliate links used
{Olin black striped rug/all other kitchen pics and sources}
I loved hearing from so many of you about my paper organization post yesterday! I know sorting, purging and filing papers isn’t rocket science, but seeing how others organize always inspires and motivates me to get things done around my house and I’m thrilled it did the same for some of you! I’ll definitely be sharing more about how I organize ALL of our paper in upcoming posts. I’m on a roll! :)
Chatting about a few random things today! First on the agenda are my kitchen rugs.
I get so many questions about how I keep these rugs clean! Really how I keep all of my white/light colored rugs clean.
Here’s the deal with my striped rugs. You are NOT supposed to wash them. But I can’t have kitchen rugs that I can’t wash. My kids are not kind to my rugs in any way, shape or form and they get trashed daily. So I knew when I bought these rugs that I was going to ignore the label and wash them anyway. (Such a rebel.)
Clearly I’m a fan of these rugs since aside from my kitchen, I also have one in my laundry room and two on my front porch. You all know that when I find something I love I buy multiples. :) I toss them in my washing machine (one or two at a time) and put them on either the gentle or hand wash cycle (I’ve done both and don’t see a difference between the two). Then I shake them and let them air dry.
The rugs in this picture look faded but they aren’t.. that’s just because I took this picture by the window. The rugs don’t fade when you wash them BUT! The first time I washed them they did shrink a little. Maybe an inch all around? I didn’t even notice at first but when I went to lay them on their rug pads, the pad was bigger. I just cut it smaller to fit the rug and they haven’t shrunk again since that initial first time I washed them. (I’ve washed my kitchen rugs each 4-5 times now.) One time a little bit of the black bled into the white (just a tad!) on one of the rugs but it doesn’t bother me. I’d rather have rugs that are a tiny bit smaller or have colors that have bled a little and look clean! I figure I’ll wash them until they don’t look good anymore and then buy new rugs. I have to get new kitchen rugs every 2 years or so anyway because they take so much abuse. We really aren’t careful with them at all! And I’m a hot mess when I cook in my kitchen. Things get spilled daily. I’d love to blame it all on my kids but the truth is that I’m most part of the problem. :)
I do the same thing with my favorite white bathroom rugs. Toss one at a time in the washer on a gentle cycle and then lay them out to dry. These come out so nice and clean! I do have large, fairly new washing machines so that might make a difference. It’s risky washing rugs that aren’t supposed to be machine washed, but for me it’s either do that or I just have to find a new rug anyway because like I said, I have to be able to wash them.
I don’t know what will happen to your rugs if you wash them! You may or may not have the same experience, so machine wash at your own risk! I would feel awful if you ruined your rugs because of my advice. But I get asked this question so much and wanted to share the honest answer. I break the rules. I machine wash rugs that aren’t supposed to be machine washed and deal with the consequences.
Because for me, at the end of the day, CLEAN wins.
Every time. :)
Speaking of all things laundry.. you guys! I was cracking up a few days ago! I shared this on IG stories so sorry for the repeat for some of you but oh my word. I have to document this. :) I walked into my kitchen the other day and went to my sink to wash some dishes and about jumped a foot because there was something large and red hanging just outside of my window. It seriously scared me at first! Then I thought wait minute.. is that my husband’s shirt!? Hanging from our outdoor light fixture!?
Um yes. Yes it is. My husband rarely does laundry.. I do it all so this was a first. I don’t why but it just cracked me up! There are so many places he could hang his clothes to dry inside our house (including built-in drying racks!) but why use those when you can use outdoor light fixtures instead. Ha ha! Hanging clothes outside isn’t a bad idea.. and I’ve tossed things over chairs before to dry, but something about seeing his clothes hanging from these large light fixtures was just so funny to me. Points to him for being creative! And taking the initiative to do some laundry. (Although I think I’ll take it from here babe.. not sure I want to see what you come up with next time. Our neighbors still like us at this point..)
{Lewit Puff Sleeve Dress/Halo Strap Sandals/Purse/Earrings}
Ok.. back to talk about wearing clothes instead of washing them. I was so excited to wear this new dress from the Nordstrom sale last week! I snapped a pic so you could see it in better lighting. I don’t usually go for busy patterns but I just love the flowers on this dress. Clearly! They match my yard. :)
{Cashmere Sweater/Pleat Detail Midi Skirt/Tanner Bar Necklace}
I also had to dress up for an event a few days ago and wore this fun new skirt I bought.
I paired it with this Leith Rib Wrap Sweater (that I also have in green) and my new open toe mules. So cute!
- Chelsea28 Ruffle Midi Dress 2) Rebecca Taylor Fit and Flare 3) Lewit Puff Sleeve Dress 4) Tahari Pinstripe 5) Tahari Lace Inset Fit and Flare 6) Tie Waist T-Shirt Dress 7) Eliza J Ruffle Sleeve Dress 8) Chelsea28 Crepe Fit and Flare 9) Tory Burch Crossbody Bag 10) Tory Burch Wallet 11) Sara Leather Wristlet 12) Faux Leather Tote Bag
Honestly the dresses were one of my favorite things on sale this year! Above are all of my favorites. (Minus this favorite dress because it sold out so fast!) I have a few events in September I have to dress up for and was thrilled to find so many cute options. I ordered several dresses from the collage above and can’t wait to try them. I wasn’t as impressed with the purses/bags on sale this year. Did you find one you love? I ordered this purse for Fall (so cute and a great price!). The other three in the collage were options I love but didn’t buy because I already have purses/wallets that are similar.
Another favorite from the sale this year? The JEWELRY!
1) Oblong Drop Earrings 2) Bladedrop Necklace 3) Nadri Hinge Bangle 4) Arrowdrop Bolo Necklace 5) Arrowshift Pendant Necklace 6) KS Kirsten Drop Earrings 7) Panacea Tassel Hoop Earrings 8) KS Initial Pendant Necklace 9) Inside Out Hoop Earrings 10) Genevieve Hoop Earrings
Ahhh! Love every single things in this collage so much! I’m patiently waiting for the jewelry I ordered to arrive but wanted to share my favorites with you all before they sell out!
Aside from questions about my rugs I’ve also been getting a lot of questions about these flowers. They really took off this year! So fun seeing all of the plants in our yard finally filling in.
Here is flower info. for those of you who have asked!
Now we can all match our gardens. :)
Fun post, Erin. I really like your style. You are fun and funny. So happy the paper organizing pile has been tamed. Glad your clean rugs are under control and kudos to your hubby for getting stuff done in a most creative way. Did you ask him why he chose those lights? I’m thinking that area is the front side of your house., right? Maybe he was just trying to be funny. I’d have been scared at first, too. You look lovely in the floral outfits. And the jewelry is very pretty. Very happy for you that washing the rugs works out. Random question…what do you use on your counter tops to keep them so shiny?! They look brand new! Thanks for sharing, Erin. Your blog is such a pleasure to read. :) Happy Thursday!
You are too kind Jeanne! Makes me so happy you enjoy my blog! No.. those lights are the back of our house and he definitely wasn’t trying to be funny! I think he just figured that was a great place to dry his clothes. It just surprised me and made me laugh to wake up and see his stuff hanging out by the window like that! :) I usually just wash my countertops with a wet cloth, but maybe once a week I put Mrs. Meyers surface cleaner on them. Really it’s just the style of quartz that makes them shine! Enjoy your day Jeanne! xo
I love how you styled your new skirt with the sweater and pink shoes, so creative and looks so on trend.
I also love your yard/flowers, one of my fav things about summer all the pretty colours!
Enjoy your summer with your kids:)
Thank you so much Sandra! I’m loving that skirt! And I totally agree.. the flowers in the summer are the absolute best. Hope you’re enjoying your summer too! xo
Love seeing the pictures of your house, it’s so beautiful! Had lots of fun at the Nordstrom sale too and I’m looking forward to receiving my packages in the next few days. Have a wonderful day
You are too kind! Thank you! I hope you got some fun things! :)
Phew – I love your blog and you are always so sweet but WOW we live in TOTALLY different worlds! LOL! No way could I EVER pay over $200 on sale(!) for a dress unless it was like a ‘mother of the bride’ gown or something special like that!!
Lori I totally get it!! I was in that same situation for a LONG time too. That dress was definitely my splurge of the sale! Plus it helps that I’m a fashion blogger and part of my job is sharing all the cute things with all of you. Makes it easier to justify. ;) xo
I love your dress and the flowers! Good to know about those rugs, I might have to get the stripes when I’m ready to replace our current kitchen rugs. Question on the flowers: Do you have to cut them back after flowering? How do you care for them?
Hi Debbie! Yes! We cut them back. :)
Oh that dress was Soo pretty on you and I love the skirt too!! Great picks x
Thank you so much Heidi! xo
Thanks you so much for your post about how to clean the rugs. I totally agree with your theory. I literally was going to post on your account the other day and ask if you wash them. Sorry, quick question… what water temp do you use and do you just use the minimum amount of HE detergent??
Thanks again!!
Hi Tracy! I think the water temp for the delicate cycle is cold! Cold or warm.. I know it’s not hot. And yes! I use Tide pods for laundry so I just pop one in just like I would with a regular load of clothes. :)
It feels really good to see a part of your house and the rugs match well with the kitchen interiors. Also, I like the “LOVE LITTLE THINGS” quote, it is awesome! And… Your dress? You look perfect, Erin ;)
Thank you so much! :)
Hi Erin,
Would you mind sourcing your laundry room pendant? It is darling! I’d actually like doing laundry in that room…. almost. :)
Thank you Teresa! That light is from Barn Light Electric! :)
I had to laugh about his laundry drying outside. I dry all my tops on hangers, usually in my closet. But, on pretty, sunshine days with a light breeze, I like to dry my tops outside on the back patio (on the hangers). Drives my husband crazy! But, they always smell so clean and fresh!
Oh I bet! My mom had a clothes line in our back yard when I was little and I loved the smell of the clean clothes after they had been hung outside!