Why Every Tired Gardener Needs Washable Slipcovers

At last the sun has finally returned and we’re having some lovely sunny weather.  As a keen gardener, I get a bit down in the dumps when it rains day after day.  So, as soon as I woke up and saw the ray of sunlight shining through the gap in my curtains, I knew I had no time to waste.  I gulped down a coffee and slice of toast and had a quick shower, then put on my old “gardening clothes” - I have a worn out T-shirt and pair of shorts that I wear especially for gardening, as I invariably end up covered in dirt!

Well, the good weather held and as often happens when I garden, time slipped away and before I knew it, it was late afternoon.  I’d got so caught up pottering amongst the veggies and flower borders, that I hadn’t realized the time.  Anyway, I felt exhausted once I’d stopped and as soon as I got indoors I poured myself a long cold drink and collapsed in a heap on the sofa.  Bliss.  It was so nice to lie back, relax and reflect on such a pleasant day’s work. 

I stretched out my legs and I must have been tired as pretty soon I nodded off.  I was awoken a while later by a knock at the door.  It was my sister.  I’d completely forgotten she’d said she was calling in to talk about the party we’re planning for our mother’s birthday.  I leapt up off the couch and let her in.  I then noticed that I was still dressed in my outdoor clothes and my bare feet were a filthy black color – that’ll teach me to wear sandals whilst digging!  Then to my horror, as we both walked back into the living room, we both saw at once the big muddy marks on the arm of the sofa, where my feet had been resting.

“What’s happened to your beautiful sofa?” exclaimed my sister, “those marks are disgusting!” she continued.  Although embarrassed, I’d got over the shock by this point – after all, it was only my sis that had seen me and my home in such a mess.  But the main reason I was feeling so calm, was I knew that my “beautiful” couch was actually nice and clean – it was protected by the pretty sofa slipcover I like to use during hot weather.  So I knew all I had to do was find a spare set of slipcovers and throw the dirty one in the wash.

I was glad to have my sister there to help.  Whilst I went and washed the mud off myself, she got to work removing the dirty sofa cover and the matching chair covers – they could probably do with a wash too.  Then she covered my furniture in another set of clean stretch slipcovers. In the time it took me to freshen up and get changed, she’d managed to completely transform my seats.  Next time, I’ll try to remember to clean the mud off my feet before I curl up on the sofa – but if I forget, at least I know it’s protected by a slipcover!