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AIBU?

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Changing School Uniforms

170 replies

wingingit1987 · 20/08/2023 23:39

Having a chat with a friend today and I mentioned ironing the uniforms tonight for the week ahead. I said I iron a fresh uniform for each day of the week and my friend says she recycles a uniform for a few days then swaps it out. Am I giving myself more work than I should be?

fresh uniform daily- YANBU
recycling it for a day or so- YABU

OP posts:
Sirzy · 21/08/2023 09:18

EhrlicheFrau · 21/08/2023 09:11

It isn't 'minging' to wear a skirt, trousers or a jumper for more than one day.
Basic care doesn't have to mean washing every item after every wear.
'Setting them up with good personal hygiene', in terms of clothing, includes pointing out what needs to be washed after every wear, what might or might not need to be washed, and what probably wouldn't.

Exactly.

ds is a teen now so does wear a clean shirt every day but trousers last 2 or 3 days easily. Same for home clothes.

he is under a number of medical teams and reports often include comments on his appearance (well kept, clean etc) or comments on the site of his feeding tube and how clean and tidy it is. So I don’t think wearing a pair of trousers for two days is turning him into a minger!

this idea of washing everything so often is very new really, and especially at the moment those who can afford to are in a very lucky position to have the means to be able to afford to!

yomellamoHelly · 21/08/2023 09:17

Depends on the child. Daily change essential with my eldest. (He's still like that as an adult.) But I could always make clothes last longer with dd.

Hercisback · 21/08/2023 09:12

@EhrlicheFrau i completely agree.

EhrlicheFrau · 21/08/2023 09:11

Balloonhearts · 21/08/2023 08:45

I'd not wear the same clothes for days, that's minging, so neither would my kids. You wouldn't need 5 sets though, not unless you only wash clothes once a week. 3 or 4 would work fine. One on, one ready and one in the wash.

In my mind it's basic care to make sure they wear fresh clothing every day. Plus it's not exactly setting them up with good personal hygiene for later in life is it? Now we know where all these revolting DHs who never wash or change clothes cone from. 😂

It isn't 'minging' to wear a skirt, trousers or a jumper for more than one day.
Basic care doesn't have to mean washing every item after every wear.
'Setting them up with good personal hygiene', in terms of clothing, includes pointing out what needs to be washed after every wear, what might or might not need to be washed, and what probably wouldn't.

MrHopsPortal · 21/08/2023 09:07

At primary I would only pop them in something clean if they had visible grub on that item (fresh socks and underwear everyday obvs). Everything from that week in the wash on a Friday.

Secondary (mine didn’t start going through puberty until Y7 or later) clean shirt every day, PE kit washed once a week (if they remember to bring it home - that’s another a story!) and other items washed as needed.

Pretty much how I dress - I certainly don’t wash every item of clothing after a single wear.

EhrlicheFrau · 21/08/2023 09:07

Pottedpalm · 21/08/2023 08:48

I agree.
What really jars with me is nursing/healthcare staff who travel to and from work in their uniforms.

In roles where a clean/hygienic uniform is part of the job (healthcare, food handling etc) then I'd definitely expect to change into that uniform only for work and wear other clothes for travelling.

Bornonsunday · 21/08/2023 09:06

Guiltridden12345 · 21/08/2023 09:02

I have enough so I do one big dark and light uniform wash on friday evenings so it’s ready for Monday. They outlay was initially greater but they last so much longer as they aren’t being worn as much.

You probably fine they last less long because you are washing them so much. I don't think I've every had a pair of trousers/jumper wear out before they were outgrown.

Guiltridden12345 · 21/08/2023 09:02

I have enough so I do one big dark and light uniform wash on friday evenings so it’s ready for Monday. They outlay was initially greater but they last so much longer as they aren’t being worn as much.

Guiltridden12345 · 21/08/2023 08:59

titchy · 20/08/2023 23:43

You mean they have a new pair of trousers/skirt and new jumper every day? What a waste.... new shirt every day yes, but the rest should last a few days.

We do clean everything. Their trousers are pretty tight and skin close. They are pubescent, sporty, quite sweaty and walk 2 miles to and from school. They don’t smell but if they wore stuff twice I fear they would. fresh on daily. Simple state school uniform, polo and quick drying marks/next/new look trousers. easy peasy.

Bornonsunday · 21/08/2023 08:59

We have 6 of us - all teenagers or adults. If we all washed trousers/top/jumper every day that's 126 big items per week on top of underwear!

IMO tops need washing every day for teenagers but other stuff when dirty. Pure wool jumpers can go ages for me as I'm not smells.

LlynTegid · 21/08/2023 08:58

Not everyone can afford to have five sets of uniform shirts etc, and indeed that is part of the reason why uniform should not be branded items. OP as you are able to, you are being considerate of others.

Pottedpalm · 21/08/2023 08:57

And our PE kit had to be left at school in a specially embroidered bag 😬. Taken home at half term for washing 😏

Pottedpalm · 21/08/2023 08:55

It seems a huge amount of washing is done these days! I had one skirt and one ( striped, hideously expensive) blazer for my entire secondary career; it was bought large. These were dry clean only and would be cleaned at half terms/end of term. Three blouses for the week, clean underwear daily. Jumper and cardigan washed every couple of weeks maybe. Any stains were sponged off as necessary.

LucyAnnTrent · 21/08/2023 08:54

I have three kids and quite frankly I have better things to be doing with my weekend than washing and ironing fifteen sets of school uniform (not to mention PE kits). Obviously they all have clean undies daily, but I wash skirts and blazers weekly (unless visibly dirty), and blouses and cardigans generally last two or three days (I sponge-clean small marks). One of my DC is getting to the sweaty stage, so she has a fresh blouse daily. But really, if their clothes aren't dirty or smelly, why do they need washing after one wear? I don't wash my clothes (barring undies) after every use. It's such a waste of resources to be doing unnecessary laundry.

Lovebeingamummy2 · 21/08/2023 08:50

Op my children get a clean uniform everyday with the exception of maybe the cardigan which may last for 2 days if they haven't really worn them.

I don't know why people wouldn't change the uniform everyday wearing something for 7/8 hours a day by the time it's been on travelled to school spent the day at school and then travelled back home again definitely requires it to go into the washing basket 🧺

Pottedpalm · 21/08/2023 08:48

EhrlicheFrau · 21/08/2023 08:00

It's perfectly possible to practice good hygiene without washing all of your clothes every day - yes I would wash underwear or anything which directly touches my skin, plus anything which got really dirty/smelly, but if something looks and smells clean then it can be aired and worn again! Please don't suggest that those who don't wash every item of clothing after every single wear are not following 'good hygiene'.

I agree.
What really jars with me is nursing/healthcare staff who travel to and from work in their uniforms.

LunaLoveFood · 21/08/2023 08:47

I've got 5 sets of uniform (but don't iron). The dc have fresh uniform every day and I do 3 washes at the weekend one for each child and one whites. It's just what works for us.

Balloonhearts · 21/08/2023 08:45

I'd not wear the same clothes for days, that's minging, so neither would my kids. You wouldn't need 5 sets though, not unless you only wash clothes once a week. 3 or 4 would work fine. One on, one ready and one in the wash.

In my mind it's basic care to make sure they wear fresh clothing every day. Plus it's not exactly setting them up with good personal hygiene for later in life is it? Now we know where all these revolting DHs who never wash or change clothes cone from. 😂

Merryoldgoat · 21/08/2023 08:44

I have fresh uniform for each day as my children are feral.

Pottedpalm · 21/08/2023 08:44

NeverDropYourMooncup · 21/08/2023 07:41

From 10, you begin to smell which parents won't give their child clean clothes everyday.

No you won’t. Clean shirt, underwear and socks daily, but skirts, trousers, blazers, knitwear do not smell if worn more than once. Cotton ( or high percentage cotton) shirts and dresses are more comfortable than polyester, and jumpers/blazers with wool also.

Peony654 · 21/08/2023 08:44

A full new set everyday seems excessive, your electricity bills must be so high. I’d only change trousers / jumper if dirty or smelly but fair enough a clean t-shirt each day.

floribunda18 · 21/08/2023 08:42

I actually do wash DD2's blazer once a week with other dark colours and it washes very well. Depends on what they are made of.

Jellycatspyjamas · 21/08/2023 08:39

I think I'm more amazed that people iron so much!

I prefer clothes to be ironed, takes an hour on a Sunday to iron for me and the kids uniforms, I don’t iron casual or play clothes but my work stuff and their uniforms get ironed.

Jellycatspyjamas · 21/08/2023 08:37

Younger they are the more they need. I wouldn't be able to afford 5 secondary school blazers, for example.

Thats ridiculous though, my kids don’t have 5 outdoor jackets (which is essentially what a blazer is). Outdoor coats, jackets and blazers get sponged down and washed when needed.

Clothes close to their skin get washed after each wear, can usually get 2/3 days out of skirts but tights, pants, socks, polo shirts all changed daily.

They have enough uniform for a clean set each day because trousers come in packs of two (so two packs) and polo shirts in packs of 5. My DD wears black skirts, I buy 3 new each year and she wears the previous years that are still ok now she’s not growing so quickly.

floribunda18 · 21/08/2023 08:34

Also I never iron school uniform- or anything else. Shirts are non-iron, I hang everything up as soon as ithe machine finishes and nothing needs ironing.