To want to cry at my sister's washing?

You are doing a lovely thing for your sister. It’s what I would do for mine and what she would do for me. No shame between sisters. Mine has helped me many times, especially when my kids were wee. My mum would have done the same

spot on.

Hi there, I’m curious as to body doubling is and if you have a few minutes I’d be happy to know more about it. Thank you.

I read your thread title without my reading glasses on and thought it said wedding, not washing! But when I read on, that made sense too. You're a lovely sister.

@summeroccupation you are doing such a lovely thing for your sister. On a side note, in regards to the kids toys and hoovering, if your sister can afford a robot vacuum they are life changing.

Getting my dd to pick up her toys and put them away was a monumental battle. I got a robot vacuum and dd named it. She absolutely loved watching the robot vacuum doing its thing.

Now all I have to say to her is: (nickname for robot vacuum) would like to vacuum your bedroom today. Would you please pick up your toys so (nickname for robot vacuum) can vacuum? And no battles or push back. She’s more than happy to pick up the toys for robot vacuum.

Your sister’s kids may or may not respond the same way as my dd. But it could be worth a shot.

You are doing a lovely thing for your sister. It’s what I would do for mine and what she would do for me. No shame between sisters. Mine has helped me many times, especially when my kids were wee. My mum would have done the same.

You've done nothing wrong posting on here either - nothing particularly outing about the info you’ve shared either.

My advice would be to just do what you can. If you aren’t working while house sitting then just do a little tidying and cleaning while each load is in the washing machine.

Well done OP

Not read everything but I would do 20 min washes at 30 degrees. Quicker and more efficient. I'd use a washing line or airer. How many clothes do they have!!! I wash every day or 2 but if. Miss a couple we start to run out of clothes 😂

I would be taking multiple loads to laundromat and washing and drying them as it would be the only way to get through everything.

They usually have higher capacity machines.

There is only so much you can dry on the line and the clothes horses.

I suspect some of the clothes have been outgrown and will be thrown out anyway.

Sort everything so you can visually see how many loads need doing.

Don’t over fill the machine.
Wash everything on 40 and on synthetic's (so you don’t have to waste thinking about it).
I would only use the dryer for towels (buy dryer balls to speed dryer times).
The rest gets dried on the line, the advantage of line drying is that it’s better for your clothes, faster and you don’t have to be physically present when it’s on the line (dryers really shouldn’t be run when no one’s home).

Climbing Everest without a plan will always be overwhelming.

I'd start with the pile of underwear, that's the only thing you can't really wear two days like you can with other clothing.

Then I'd start with the larger sizes and work to the smallest. This is because kids grow and if the washing has been hanging around for a month or two then the smaller stuff may not fit.

I was wondering though- why a house sitter when she’s simply gone on holiday? Who does that? Is there a pet or something?

There is a cat that needs medication.

It’s really kind of you but don’t take it on if it’s too overwhelming. Or maybe just do some of it ur the whites.

I was wondering though- why a house sitter when she’s simply gone on holiday? Who does that? Is there a pet or something?

Sorry should have added. Op, you’re very sweet for doing this.

I grew up in a house where the dining table and sofa were constantly covered in washing. The chaos it caused was ridiculous - could never find anything I wanted to wear. The horror of leaking whilst on my period and trying to hunt down a clean knickers. No way to live.

What is a forecourt washing machine? Washing machine at a petrol station?

I used to have that washer, please don’t use the 15 min wash for a load bigger than 1 KG as per the manual. It can break like mine did and be out of warranty.

Found this online, possible user manual, but not sure if it's the right model,
But does seem that it takes 1 or 2 hours 😅

https://hisense.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Quick-Guide_HWFE1014.pdf

I'm ND too, so I also get quite overwhelmed when chores pile up and don't know where to start, so procrastinate to the point that need help from someone else to get me back on track.
That's a really lovely thing that you are doing to help your sister.
Hugs.
Xx

If you are going to use a dryer for anything make it pants and socks. More effective from a hanging out pov speed and time etc

My washing machine is also about six months old, and I usually set to a 30 minute wash, (I think the most rapid wash is 15 minutes) but the full load setting takes 45 minutes. But it depends how dirty the laundry is, if it needs longer.
Mine doesn't dry the clothes though. After a spin, I hang up on an airer bu the window.
If she has a conservatory, that's a great place to dry clothes, where it gets lots of sun, but not affected by rain.
xx

You're doing a fab thing for your sister and I bet she'll really appreciate it when she comes back!
Going forward, how would your sister respond to the idea of getting a cleaner in once a week / fortnight to help her keep on top of everything?

Do you have very high standards of cleanliness and order @summeroccupation

My friend had three children under three the washing got away from her sometimes. She would set aside time to wash everything now and again, then sort because some was, faded, misshapen, outgrown. It's human nature. I need a really good sort out myself to whittle down my wardrobe 🙈

No - google it.

I’d put the heated airer on to hurry things along, it costs about 2p an hour.

I've never heard of body doubling before?

Does it mean responding well to praise/reassurance?

The fastest way to work through a backlog is to presort. Don’t just sort by color. Once you have that, break it down further by person and even type of clothing. Obviously only run full loads.

on the other end, if you are only folding pajamas or only sorting socks, it’s much faster.