Relevance  A 2023 University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Community Needs Assessment noted that ‘Building Life Skills of Community Members’ was a top concern. Life skills foster independence, confidence, and productivity. This includes the life skills of implementing best practices in the laundry process and understanding clothing care – as these life skills reinforce the ability to follow directions, and support resource management. As many school programs focus on academic test score outcomes in lieu of nurturing basic life skills in children and young adults, communities may end up with those who lack understanding of the laundry process and clothing care. Coupled with the popularity of technical fabrics and new washer and dryers with infinite controls, efficient clothing care requires a bit of education!

Response  Family and Consumer Sciences Extension at the University of Kentucky developed Big Blue Book Club (BBBC) as an effort to enhance learning using an innovative online delivery method that would support social connections for clientele. (The learning program was created in response to agent concerns about general morale of clientele who had been isolated and quarantined during the Covid-19 pandemic. This learning platform still continues due to its popularity and effective reach). A BBBC topic in November 2024 was Laundry Love: Finding Joy in a Common Chore by Patric Richardson. This author has Kentucky roots and life-long experience with clothing care and teaching others best practices for positive laundry outcomes. The author was a guest presenter for this session, sharing his favorite excerpts from the book while answering questions from participants regarding laundry and clothing care. Throughout the evening, Extension Specialist Mindy McCulley and Extension Associate Jeanne Badgett engaged participants with audience response questions to provide opportunities for enhanced learning.

Results  169 people participated in the November 2024 Laundry Love session of Big Blue Book Club (BBBC). Quantitative and qualitative measures have been used to evaluate the program and confidence in the delivery method’s validity is generated by the high retention rate of BBBC participants. Evaluation data indicates that 92% of survey respondents have learned something valuable that they intend to implement and 88% report discussing book club content with someone else suggesting a social multiplier effect may exist. Online promotion through varied platforms and subsequent viewings of the recorded Laundry Love session has reached over 26,000 people.  As one participant shared, “The Laundry Love webinar has already saved me so much money - - and my clothing smells fresh. I never knew until after attending this book club that the reason my clothes smelled musty was because I was using TOO MUCH detergent. Thank you for hosting a series with practical knowledge presented in a fun way! I could have stayed on all night!”

Public Value Statement  Laundry and clothing care education supports wise resource management of Kentuckians. As demonstrated by the Big Blue Book Club, innovative programming methods can span diverse content areas and be used to address diverse interests of local communities.