One day, the automatic washing machine broke down. Dad immediately started repairing it. Sasha approached and asked:
Dad, what's behind this door?
Nothing special. Mum loads dirty clothes in there, and a couple of hours later they come out clean.
Oh, how interesting! I bet there are little washerwomen working in there?
Don't make things up! — Dad laughed, — The machine handles it all on its own. It's just that something went wrong this time…
Dad spent a long time repairing the machine: cleaning, tightening parts, checking… In the end, unable to figure out what was wrong, he went to bed. Night fell — time for the whole family to rest… But not for Sasha! When everything in the house had gone quiet, the boy quietly got out of bed, went over to the washing machine, opened the mysterious door and peeked inside. There he saw his dad's shirt (Mum had forgotten to take it out). The shirt waved its sleeve at the boy:
Sasha, I invite you to the Land of Cleanliness! Come along with me!
What kind of place is that? — asked the boy.
Come in and see! — the shirt replied with a laugh.
Sasha boldly stepped inside the machine and found himself in a wonderful land! Instead of people, clothes walked about on the streets: blouses chatting enthusiastically with each other, grumpy trousers with an old stain that wouldn't come out, little socks hurrying somewhere, and many other items.
Sasha asked his dad's shirt:
Who is in charge in your land?
Oh! Our ruler is King Washing Powder. He keeps everything clean.
Where can I find him?
His palace is in the dispenser, but you can't just walk in. The palace is guarded by Fabric Softener and Bleach, who only let through those who can answer difficult questions.
I'll do my best with the questions. Thank you, shirt!
Sasha quickly found the King's palace, but the guards blocked his way:
Who are you?
I'm Sasha.
What brings you here?
I want to speak with the King.
First answer 3 questions. First: "Why do we need washing powder?"
That's easy! Washing powder is used for washing clothes.
Second question: "What stains are hardest to remove?"
Mum told me not to spill coffee and tea on myself, and not to lie on the grass when I'm outside, because those stains are hard to wash out.
Correct! And the third question: "Why can't you wash coloured clothes together with whites?"
I suppose it's because the coloured clothes might dye the white ones with different stains?
You know the answers to all the questions! Go through. The King is waiting for you.
Sasha found himself in the royal palace. A small grey-haired old man with a crown on his head came running towards him:
How glad I am that you've come! You see, in our Land of Cleanliness we have a problem — your mum constantly forgets to add water softener to the powder when washing, and that's why the heating element in the washing machine has broken!
So that's why the machine isn't working! — said Sasha, — I need to tell Dad right away!
Yes, yes, hurry! Otherwise all the clothes will stay dirty!
Sasha ran home… and woke up!
Dad was already up early, racking his brains over how to fix the washing machine, and couldn't find the answer.
Dad! — called out Sasha. — You need to clean the heating element - it's got limescale on it! Then the machine will work again.
How do you know? — asked Dad.
The king of the Land of Cleanliness told me — Washing Powder.
Of course! How didn't I think of that before! Well done, son!
Dad fixed the washing machine very quickly, and Mum immediately loaded the clothes into it. Sasha watched the drum spinning, and suddenly saw his old acquaintance — Dad's shirt. The shirt waved its sleeve at the boy in gratitude.
