It is a truth, universally acknowledged, that sliding into a freshly-made bed with just-laundered sheets is among the most pleasurable sensations the world has to offer.

Marshall has grown up in a house where access to clean clothes, hot water and dry towels are a given, and there is always something to eat. Admittedly, sometimes the hot water runs out part-way through a shower, and sometimes what's to eat is a jar of peanut butter or a bowl of dry cornflakes. But Wednesday is Syndi's day for getting her chores done, because there's nothing good on TV on Wednesday nights, and since their washing machine is ridiculously loud, Wednesday night is Fresh Sheets Night.

When he leaves the family home, Fresh Sheets Night is the first routine he establishes in his now-adult life, although it's now moved to Tuesday morning because he doesn't have classes then and the student laundromat is deserted at 9am. Also, Wednesday is two-for-one shots at the Students Union and you need to get there early if you want to sit at the bar.

When he and Dash get their own place, the sheets go in the machine on Fridays before they leave for work, because then they can spend an entire weekend wrapped in the clean-cotton-and-detergent smell, and each other.