Doing Laundry

This lesson introduces learners to a conversation that might happen when a mom is doing laundry with her child. It covers typical questions, vocabulary, and phrases used in a laundry routine, helping moms to better understand and manage household chores.

Mom: “Alright, we need to do the laundry. Can you help me sort the clothes?”
Child: “Sure! What do we do first?”
Mom: “First, we need to separate the clothes by color. We put the whites in one pile and the colored clothes in another.”
Child: “Okay! I’ll put the white socks in the white pile.”
Mom: “Great! Now, can you help me check if there are any stains on the clothes?”
Child: “I see a stain on this shirt. How do we get it out?”
Mom: “We can use some stain remover. Let me spray it on the stain and let it sit for a few minutes.”
Child: “Does it really work?”
Mom: “Yes, it does! After that, we’ll put it in the washing machine.”
Child: “What should we put in the washing machine next?”
Mom: “We need to add the detergent. Do you remember how much to use?”
Child: “Yes, I think we need one cup of detergent.”
Mom: “That’s right! Now, we need to choose the right washing cycle. Should we wash the clothes on a regular or delicate cycle?”
Child: “Let’s do regular. The clothes aren’t too delicate.”
Mom: “Good choice! Now, press the start button. Let’s wait for the washing to finish, and then we’ll hang the clothes to dry.”
Child: “I can help hang them outside! It’s fun!”
Mom: “Great! After the clothes dry, we’ll fold them and put them away in the drawers.”
Child: “I like folding the towels. Can I fold those?”
Mom: “Of course! You’re getting really good at folding. Thanks for your help today!”
Child: “You’re welcome! I had fun helping with the laundry.”

Vocabulary List

  • Laundry [ˈlɔːndri] (noun) – Clothes, sheets, and other items that need to be washed.
    • Example: “I need to do the laundry today.”
  • Sort [sɔːrt] (verb) – To separate items into groups.
    • Example: “We need to sort the laundry by color.”
  • Stain [steɪn] (noun) – A mark or spot, usually from food or liquid.
    • Example: “There’s a stain on your shirt. We need to clean it.”
  • Detergent [dɪˈtɜːdʒənt] (noun) – A cleaning product used for washing clothes.
    • Example: “Add some detergent to the washing machine.”
  • Washing machine [ˈwɒʃɪŋ məˈʃiːn] (noun) – A machine used for washing clothes.
    • Example: “The washing machine is on. It will finish in 30 minutes.”
  • Cycle [ˈsaɪkəl] (noun) – A specific setting on the washing machine for different types of laundry.
    • Example: “The delicate cycle is for clothes that need special care.”
  • Dry [draɪ] (verb) – To remove moisture from clothes after washing.
    • Example: “We need to hang the clothes to dry.”
  • Fold [fəʊld] (verb) – To bend clothes neatly so they fit in drawers or shelves.
    • Example: “I will fold the towels and put them away.”
  • Drawer [drɔː] (noun) – A sliding compartment in a piece of furniture for storing clothes.
    • Example: “Put the clean shirts in the drawer.”
  • Delicate [ˈdɛlɪkət] (adjective) – Clothes that need gentle care, often because they are made of fragile material.
  • Example: “This shirt is delicate. We need to wash it carefully.”

Grammar Tip:

  • Use “need to” for necessities: “We need to fold the clothes.”
  • Use “can” to ask for help or permission: “Can you help me with the laundry?”
  • Use “let’s” to suggest an activity: “Let’s sort the clothes by color.”
  • Use “after” to indicate the next action: “After the clothes dry, we’ll fold them.”

FILL IN THE BLANK

Laundry Routine with Missing Words

Mom: "Alright, we need to do the . Can you help me sort the clothes?"
Child: "Sure! What do we do first?"
Mom: "First, we need to the clothes by color. We put the whites in one pile and the clothes in another."
Child: "Okay! I’ll put the white socks in the white pile."
Mom: "Great! Now, can you help me check if there are any on the clothes?"
Child: "I see a stain on this shirt. How do we get it out?"
Mom: "We can use some remover. Let me spray it on the stain and let it sit for a few minutes."
Child: "Does it really work?"
Mom: "Yes, it does! After that, we’ll put it in the machine."
Child: "What should we put in the washing machine next?"
Mom: "We need to add the . Do you remember how much to use?"
Child: "Yes, I think we need one cup of detergent."
Mom: "That’s right! Now, we need to choose the right washing . Should we wash the clothes on a regular or delicate cycle?"
Child: "Let’s do regular. The clothes aren’t too delicate."
Mom: "Good choice! Now, press the button. Let’s wait for the washing to finish, and then we’ll hang the clothes to dry."
Child: "I can help hang them outside! It’s fun!"
Mom: "Great! After the clothes , we’ll fold them and put them away in the drawers."
Child: "I like folding the towels. Can I fold those?"
Mom: "Of course! You’re getting really good at folding. Thanks for your help today!"
Child: "You’re welcome! I had fun helping with the laundry."

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