Changing School Uniforms

I can understand this @Idtotallybangdreamoftheendlessnotgonnalie, we are often shaped by our background experiences. I think that you probably have lots of be proud of, in yourself and your kids too, so if one day you just don't manage to get them in a sparkling new outfit (because of a whole host of potential reasons, such as you being unwell, the washing machine breaking, etc) don't let it get you down too much either!

I think I'm more amazed that people iron so much!
Ours comes out the washing machine and either goes straight on the line or on hangers on the airer.
I occasionally use my hair straighteners on the collar of the polo if it's twisted but that's it. I only iron if stuff is left sitting in the washing machine for too long that it creases.

Exactly this.

Exactly - I think those who sell cleaning products (washing power, spray cleaners, shower gel etc) want to condition us in to thinking we really need to wash ourselves, our clothes, our environments more than we do. Of course we should all follow basic hygiene, but it's a myth that every item of clothing must be washed after every wear, airing works fine for many items!

I don't have children 🤷‍♀️

But yes, I had a bath every day as a child in the nineties.

@cinnamonfrenchtoast you make kids bath every day when they get in from school? Do you run their ruler and pencils through the dishwasher too? They'll have some tricky behaviours to untangle as adults, blimey.

How on earth did you cope during covid?

I change uniform if it's dirty, other than polo shirts that have 2 days max as close to skin.

This is to save money, housework and for environmental reasons.

I also re-wear clothes.

Neither me or my kid smell!

Six sets of everything, clean, new set of clothes on every day. Can't be doing with washing stuff mid week.
Also why would they not need clean clothes every day? Teenagers tend to be whiffy and I can't stand dirty cuffs and collars.

Also have two sets of PE kits as they gave PE twice a week. Luckily the children are both the same sex so can use hand me downs and no blazers in their uniform.

My son is 9 and wears a clean uniform every day. He is past the stage of getting food down it so occasionally, a sweatshirt may be used more than once.

However, he plays out at school and often gets muddy 🙄 or gets board pen on his jumper etc.

I wouldn't want him to go looking scruffy/dirty.

I wash it Fri night and iron for the whole week over the weekend - it doesn't take long and I do my work clothes at the same time.

I don't have a tumble dryer so no tumble drying happens.

DS 6 has 3 sets of everything. One on the child, one in the wardrobe and one in the wash.
Hes minging when he gets in from school, covered in all sorts!

Dd5 is in new uniform every day but we have 3 sets of everything with a midweek wash inbetween. I couldn't fathom having 5 sets of uniform and the cost of it all.

DD1 is just going into year 4. She wears pe kit 2 days a week. I have 2 polo shirts as come in a pack of 2 and she'll wear a clean one every day. She has multiple pairs of black leggings for pe days as she wears them for other activities but if not dirty then she'll rewear leggings. She'll have 2-3 shirts and wear a clean one every day and 2 pairs of trousers/skirts/pinafores, depending on what she chooses. She has one pe hoodie and 2 cardigans which can be cleaned if necessary and sponged off in an absolute emergency. She'll rewear these if clean enough to do so, wear a clean pair if not. I always do a midweek wash so will be able to wash ready for the end of the week. There's no way I could afford a separate uniform everyday, plus having a full uniform going in the wash every day would mean an extra load of washing a week which would add to the cost. When DD2 starts school she'll need more as they tend to get much dirtier but I'll still reuse cardigans/bottoms that are clean enough and pop a load on midweek to clean uniform from the beginning of the week. DP and I wear a clean top and underwear every day but will always rewear bottoms and jumpers that aren't dirty

Yes to clean every day but no to ironing. We have polo shirts. I’d have to rethink that if they were buttoned school shirts.

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'.

So what would you suggest for people who do wear a suit. Suits are standard in many industries. I guess you think they are all revolting and dirty people because I can assure you, no one is dry cleaning their suit daily.

I only have primary but I do 5 full sets every day and then wash at weekends. My life’s busy enough without wondering if there are clean uniforms. All hung up ready to
go so on a morning I just grab 2 hangers

@nameitagain I haven’t worn a suit to work for years. I wear a smart dress/skirt/jumper etc all of which can be washed at home. And yes, I wash them after each wear. It’s just basic hygiene. I can spend 12 hours a day in one outfit once I’ve commuted there and back so it obviously needs a a wash 🤔

DD2 has two skirts, one tie and one blazer for secondary school. She has enough shirts to wear one a day if she wants to.

I did 5 full sets for nursery and reception, but went down to 3x jumper and trousers in year 1, when it seemed to get less paint and spilled dinner. I do still insist DS takes of his jumper before tea if we're having something messy, and occasionally have to sponge of small spills.

It depends if its dirty surely? I used to have 5 sets we'd wash at the weekend and then he'd need fresh every day in KS1 but now changes polo/shirt everyday and trousers and jumper every few (or more regularly if dirty).

We've just bought 4 sets of uniform for DS going into reception, he will wear PE kit one day a week as per school policy. I will do the same OP, or actually DH will he's much better with an iron!

We both work full time and I've seen the mess he comes out of nursery in, I haven't got time for urgent washing and ironing mid week. His uniform consists of trousers, a plain polo shirt and a school jumper/cardigan. It didn't cost much even from M&S trousers were £11 per two pack, polos £16 for a five pack (although I ended up spending a little more on the 2 packs of slim fit because he is tall and thin so regular in the right length swamped him) it all had 20% off.

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

Clean ones only when the old ones get dirty. Think of the planet!

Mine have clean every day, always have.

They all have 6 sets of trousers and shirts because everything comes in a 2 pack and when they were at primary they had 3 jumpers each.
Now they are at high school they have 1 blazer, I usually spot clean them as needed and it gets chucked in the washer once a month or so because they smell like teenage boys and lynx.
They are usually covered in something even at high school, usually mud from playing football or wet from the rain so why would I expect them to wear the same dirty clothes again?

I get your point, and agree overall, however I am not sure 'standards' is necessary - just pick what works for you/you can manage/you can afford. It might even vary from week to week for some people.