I just think this is crazy! Do I need to stop being such a mum?

[michelleseashell]

One of my friend's washing machine is broken so I'm helping her out by doing her washing. Rather than waiting around, she's just left me with two big bags of mostly baby clothes.

The thing is about 95% of the clothes are ruined! They're all gray and absolutely covered in bobbles. This is baby clothes so they can't possibly have had time to get in such a state. They've obviously just been put in with darks, jeans, on really hot washes etc.

I just don't understand it! I am literally aghast! Why would somebody do this? Isn't it just a terrible waste of money? These are all Next and Gap but even supermarket stuff can be kept in good condition, surely? A charity shop would throw these clothes out.

I put on a 'white' wash with a stain remover pouch and a colour catcher and the colour catches came out dark gray.

Aghast!!

[Tee2072]

Your mumness is fine. Your obsession with laundry is your problem.

[Tortington]

seriously you need a hobby

[TheMagnificentBathykolpian]

I suppose since babies throw up all over their clothes and even the best nappies can't hold in those poos that end up all up their back and in their hair, that it doesn't really matter what state the clothes are in. they're just going to be covered in vomit and shit over and over and over again.

Most of what my children wore as babies was a right state. They had their nice going out stuff, but the day to day stuff was old and greying and bobbly and even had holes in.

Babies don't care.

And if you're not going out - neither do you.

[culturemulcher]

I'd be very nervous using a stain remover and colour catcher on babies clothes - I wouldn't want to risk irritating the baby's skin.

[ImperialBlether]

Oh god, this will be my daughter's baby's clothes (when she has one!)

[helewele]

There is no excuse! I feel exactly the same about my washing, unfortunately my SIL does this. Lots of beautiful pink dresses and babygros are now a lovely shade of grey because she refuses to separate the washing! She says that is what colour catchers are for

[michelleseashell]

I do need a hobby. I've been holding up my sparkling clean whites next to her clothes and shouting to my husband, 'Is she just NUTS???'

It's not sick or poo or your traditional baby stains though! It's dark clothes dye. It's just slovenly!!

[HarrietJones]

We've not had trouble with colour catchers.

[PrincessScrumpy]

Maybe the clothes are second hand - mumness is not your problem, your judginess is.

[TheMagnificentBathykolpian]

Ah well. I've yet to find a baby who gives a damn if the clothes s/he is wearing are grey and bobbly.

I wouldn't worry about it, if I were you.

[Sirzy]

Everyone has different approaches, and as long the child is clean and cared for it doesnt really matter.

BUT I do hate it when clothes start to look aged and faded and do try to look after them!

[michelleseashell]

I don't know, do you just lose all perspective of the difference between white and gray after a while?

Or have I just lost all perspective of what matters in life?

Ugh no, it's crazy! It's madness!!

[muriel76]

What's a colour catcher?! Does it get the grey back out or something? I need a few of those for my sons' school shirts. They are not really white any more.

My mum pointed out that putting them in the wash with the blue school jumpers might be the problem.

[peppapighastakenovermylife]

Aghast at clothes being bobbly and grey? All I can say is you must lead a very sheltered and privileged life

[michelleseashell]

No I don't mind second hand clothes at all. My son has third hand clothes. In fact this is the only thing that has really irked me about it- you couldn't pass these clothes on.

[pictish]

This a wind up. Got to be.

[oiwheresthecoffee]

You are mad. Why on earth do you care ? Its not hurting anyone.

[LineRunner]

michelleseashell, I only do one househould chore 'right' and that's the laundry. So even as a slovenly mother, I do sympathise with your aghastness. But only moderately so.

I'd be more hacked off that I was left doing the laundry on my own.

Although possibly loving it in a Monica kind of way??

[Bloodymary]

Do not worry OP you are not alone, I am exactly the same myself.

I am far from 'green' when I do my laundry (what with adding whiteners etc) but my whites are white, and my colours are bright!

[malovitt]

I agree OP.
I'm very particular about my washing and it bewilders me when people can't be bothered to sort it properly. How long does it take?

And the 'babies don't care' argument is ridiculous; my father has dementia and doesn't care what he wears but I wouldn't let him go out like a tramp.

[TheMagnificentBathykolpian]

Grey clothes don't matter. Let me put your mind at ease on that score.

In the grand scheme of things, grey clothes don't matter.

When you look back on your life, as you lie on your deathbed, you will not be rejoicing in the whiteness of your babygros

Whiter than white whites are not life and death outside of detergent advertisements.

Particularly not on babies!

[michelleseashell]

There're not a little bit gray- they're GRAY. They're dark gray.

They're beyond rescue. Colour catchers are prevention rather than cure but I banged one in because I was worried about the dark dye leaking out of the whites.

It's just strange to see someone ruin their things. You know if someone lent you a dvd and it was all scratched and you'd think, why don't you keep in the case?? You've paid for this!

[TheMagnificentBathykolpian]

If you are going to call me ridiculous, bloody read properly.

Most of what my children wore as babies was a right state. They had their nice going out stuff, but the day to day stuff was old and greying and bobbly and even had holes in.

Babies don't care.

And if you're not going out - neither do you.

[elmofan]

It's ok to think these things about your friends laundry but don't mention anything to her to embarrass her .