Here’s How Often You Should Clean All Your Stuff

1. How is it running a business as a wife-and-husband team, with five children no less!

We capitalize on each other's strengths, and we help each other grow in our respective areas. I try to get comfortable with the things that he's good at and he tries to get comfortable with the paperwork – and the things that I'm a little bit more good at, and being aware of those responsibilities. So as long as we do that, things work out well.

2. What’s a recent small win for you and your business?

My husband recently learned how to repair a lot of different things. He paid attention to what the repairmen we hired to do the work were doing. Our top loaders, our most popular washing machine, takes a lot of wear and tear. They're not the easiest to maintain. My husband has learned how to fix them. That's a small win.

The second one, because I said I capitalize on his strengths and my strengths, is I've been much better about working with accounting software. I used Verizon Small Business resources to learn how to make our books easier.

3. Who is a woman in business that you look up to and why?

My husband and I both agree that the women who contract with us for our wash/dry/fold – who we were able to springboard with support from the Verizon grant program – have inspired us because they were homeless coming out of the pandemic. They were able to come into our establishment and start their own small business, and that's something that we are super proud of these women for, for taking the steps that they did to start their own small business.

4. What's a book, podcast, or resource that has made an impact on you as an entrepreneur?

Before 2018, my husband bought this DVD set by Danny D'Angelo, the KING of Laundry, and we were able to learn about the business just from sitting down and listening to him. A few years later, my husband was on his podcast! He was really, really inspirational to us.

5. How has the Verizon Small Business program helped propel your business forward?

The free resources are always a benefit because you're not obligated to do anything other than taking the time to seek out information. We're just real people and I feel like Verizon is a partnership with us in small business, supporting us, and believing in us. We've been able to expand our business because Verizon gave us a shot to do that. And that's amazing.

Learn more about the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program and Team J&S.

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces.

Prior to buying this clothing rack, I had a larger one that featured three shelves and matched my former office's aesthetic. Unfortunately, it was damaged when we moved to our current apartment, so I took it as a sign that I needed to downsize.

After doing a ton of research on Amazon, I came across my current clothing rack — a simple, yet aesthetically-pleasing design that would match my white and gold desk perfectly!

Besides that, this clothing rack makes it 10x easier for me to wash clothes because I'm able to truly see what I want to wear for the next week or so. If you would've taken a look at my closet before I decided to find this more organized solution, you honestly would've screamed. There were clothes, shoes, and accessories covering every inch of it...to the point I'd often get overwhelmed by own my stuff. That used to make laundry day a pain in the butt, but I've put that behind me with this clothing rack!

But aside from the aesthetic, more obvious functionality, and the price (let's be real), the cute little features are truly what sold me on it more than anything. Let's get into the features and how they help me truly keep it together during laundry day.

My Favorite Features on Amazon Clothing Rack

Side Hooks

My hat obsession is real, so the first thing I knew I needed in a clothing rack is an area to store the ones I typically reach for on a routine basis. Though this clothing rack doesn't have built-in shelves on the side, it does feature two hooks that you can hang your lightweight coats, bags, or hats on.

Depending on my mood, I alternate between which of them I'll hang on the hooks. My goal is to never place more than 50 pounds on each hook, so if I have a coat on one side, I'll keep a hat and a bag on the other hook. Organization aside, with these hooks, I don't have to scramble to look for the coat I've been wearing regularly when I can easily see it hanging on the clothing rack.

Though it's under $30, the hooks on the clothing rack are pretty sturdy and haven't popped off in the year I've had it.

Sturdiness level: 5 out of 5

Two Anti-Slip Beads

My former clothing rack didn't have anti-slip beads ,so I'm going to be 100% honest when I say this: I don't think they really help me minimize the chaos of laundry day. They're nice if you're afraid your clothes are going to slide up and down your clothing rack, but I don't feel like they do anything that's groundbreaking.

Rating: 2 out of 5

Bottom Shelf

This clothing rack only has one shelf, so I use it to home the heels I tend to wear the most. I actually have a separate shoe rack that stores my sneakers and sandals, but it was mandatary to have something with a bit of extra storage — I can't help it that Carrie Bradshaw taught me how to love a shoe! Jokes aside, I'd say that the wire port of the bottom shelf isn't as sturdy as what I'm used to, but it's ability to hold platform heels upright and well definitely says a lot.

Before I actually started placing my overflow of shoes here, I used the bottom shelf as a place to store my dirty clothes so I'd know what needed to be washed. I'd fold them so they weren't thrown haphazardly in my laundry basket so I could see what was being washed in case I wanted to do an outfit repeat (no judgement!).

Rating: 4 out of 5

Sywhitta Clothing Rack on Wheels

Overall, I think this is a great clothing rack that budget and space-friendly! It's not going to give you all the features that a more expensive one will, but don't count it out! It'll help you keep track of your favorite clothes and accessories while making laundry day less chaotic.

Twohy’s been a TJ’s fan ever since she was little, where she remembers joining her mom on grocery trips to the very first Trader Joe’s store in Pasadena, California. Since then, her love for the Trader Joe’s ‘treasure hunt’ (AKA finding fun, new products to try) hasn’t wavered.

In developing The I Love Trader Joe's Cookbook: 15th Anniversary Edition, Twohy said crafting the collection of 150 recipes took years.

“Many were tested and debuted when I had a cooking school in CA,” she said. “Now that I live 3 hours round-trip from the closest Trader Joe's, the drive can take longer than the recipe testing! I don't pay much attention to the clock when honing a recipe, because it's so much fun.”

When asked about her favorite items to pick up from TJ’s Twohy was quick to give her best recommendations! Some of her go-to’s include: puff pastry, fennel, the Umami Seasoning Blend, the Corn and Chile Tomato-less Salsa, frozen garlic cubes, creme fraiche, and 10 Minute Farro – and, of course, the entire cheese section.

“If you are a ‘can of this, package of that’ sort of cook, TJ's products are great because they don't use artificial colors, preservatives and all that stuff,” Twohy offered. “Not only [are they] time saving, but good for you, too.”

We were lucky enough to get a peek at some recipes from Twohy’s cookbook: One-Pot Pesto Pasta, Potatoes, and Green Beans and Linguini with Leeks, Shrimp, and Arugula. Scroll on for the deets!

Recipe: One-Pot Pesto Pasta, Potatoes, and Green Beans

"The first time I heard of this classic Ligurian dish, I thought it sounded so strange," Twohy writes. "Talk about carb overload! But the flavors, textures, and colors couldn’t be more perfectly paired, and you’ll be converted to the pasta-and-potato combination with the first bite."

Ingredients:

• 1 large boiling potato (or two small ones)
• 1/2 pound green beans, trimmed and cut into 3-inch lengths
• 1/2 (16-ounce) bag thin pasta, such as capellini or spaghetti
• 1/2 cup Trader Joe’s Pesto alla Genovese (in the refrigerated section)
• 2 ounces Trader Joe’s Chevre Goat Cheese, softened
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, scrub the potato and cut into 1-inch cubes. Place the potato cubes in the boiling water and cook until barely tender, about 7 minutes. Scoop the potatoes out of the water with a slotted spoon and set aside.
2. Add the green beans to the same water and cook until just tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and add to the potatoes.
3. In the same water, cook the pasta until tender. When you drain the pasta, reserve 1⁄2 cup of the cooking water.
4. In the pasta pot, combine the pesto, goat cheese, and 1⁄4 cup of the water, then add the cooked pasta and toss. Add the potatoes and green beans.
5. If a saucier consistency is desired, add a bit more of the reserved pasta water. Adjust seasonings to taste with salt and pepper.

Recipe: Linguini with Leeks, Shrimp, and Arugula

"I’m a sucker for the pink-and-green look of this dish," Twohy writes. "The leeks, arugula, and shrimp get all tangled up in the long pasta strands, and the grated Parmesan provides a nutty saltiness I just love."

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 leeks, cleaned and thinly sliced
• 2 cubes frozen crushed garlic
• 1/2 cup vegetable broth
• 1/2 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 (16-ounce) bag linguini (or another long pasta), cooked and drained
• A handful of arugula
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

1. In a medium sauté pan, heat the olive oil and butter. Sauté the leeks over medium-high heat until tender, about 5 minutes.
2. Add the garlic and sauté 1 to 2 minutes, until fragrant.
3. Add the vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, until the sauce is slightly reduced.
4. Add the shrimp and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until pink.
5. Toss the leek-shrimp mixture with the cooked pasta. Add the arugula and toss.
6. Add the grated Parmesan, toss, and adjust seasonings to taste with salt and pepper.