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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How do you separate laundry?

357 replies

Moonlightdancing · 12/07/2024 19:32

So.. need some honest opinions here. I posted a comment on a previous thread mentioning that washing tea towels together with knickers is gross IMO. Received quite a few comments telling me I'm uptight and bizarre. I honestly think that even if you wash them at 90 degrees, you still shouldn't mix tea towels and underwear. Am I in minority then thinking this? Genuinely curious.

OP posts:
Original poster
Moonlightdancing · 12/07/2024 21:28

TwistedSisters · 12/07/2024 21:20

I cant speak for you but I don't have poo particles in my pants!

Show quote history

See below:
The average adult undergarment has about a tenth of a gram of fecal matter,” Dr. Charles Gerba, renowned germ researcher and professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona, told CTVNews.ca by telephone earlier this month.
“By my estimations, a week’s worth of dirty underwearwould amount to about an airline peanut-sized amount of fecal matter.”
Gerba, an environmental microbiologist best known for his research in water quality, turned his attention to household laundry a decade ago thanks to a rise in energy-saving cold-water washing.
According to his research, Gerba says dirty underwear and jeans are among the worst offenders for collecting bacteria when it comes to our clothes.
But hand towels remain the number one culprit for containing fecal bacteria, with over 80 per cent testing positive.

Directory | Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health

https://publichealth.arizona.edu/directory/charles-gerba

OP posts:
JC03745 · 12/07/2024 21:27

OP- Is it a cultural thing for you?
Some cultures see it as a taboo to wash undergarments with other clothes.
Edit- This stemmed from long before washing machines were available and it was all hand washing.

DappledThings · 12/07/2024 21:21

Mystro202 · 12/07/2024 21:16

Hopefully this thread will make people think twice next time they put a wash on!! I actually feel sick at the thought of peoples poo particles spinning round with their tea towels 🤢

What's so special about tea towels? If you don't think your washing machine actually works so it's just spreading poo particles over whatever is in it then surely you're also horrified about tje same particles remaining on your underwear and anything else in the wash.

It's totally illogical.

TwistedSisters · 12/07/2024 21:20

Mystro202 · 12/07/2024 21:16

Hopefully this thread will make people think twice next time they put a wash on!! I actually feel sick at the thought of peoples poo particles spinning round with their tea towels 🤢

I cant speak for you but I don't have poo particles in my pants!

Original poster
Moonlightdancing · 12/07/2024 21:19

Mystro202 · 12/07/2024 21:16

Hopefully this thread will make people think twice next time they put a wash on!! I actually feel sick at the thought of peoples poo particles spinning round with their tea towels 🤢

From the comments so far...highly unlikely. Apparently, washing tea towels in a nappy wash it's also a good idea.

OP posts:
Maraudingmarauders · 12/07/2024 21:18

Whites / non-whites / dog stuff /towels / bedding
Usually 40c but towels at 60. However the only thing I try and be strict about is keeping whites separate and doing the dogs stuff alone in a bag otherwise it all comes out hairy.

Really couldn't care less about pants and tea towels.

Original poster
Moonlightdancing · 12/07/2024 21:17

Gogogo12345 · 12/07/2024 21:12

Why? They are all clean once they come out. I generally do towels and tea towels together but I'm failing to see the issue ( apart from ruining lacy underwear at high temperature)

Show quote history

Washing at 40 degrees or less doesn't kill any bacteria. Mixing tea towels most people use on dishes with underwear and washing them together it's just gross IMO. You have people moaning that's it's all clean anyway , but the same people will say you shouldn't wash your meats for fear of spreading bacteria. Make it make sense.

OP posts:
Mystro202 · 12/07/2024 21:16

Hopefully this thread will make people think twice next time they put a wash on!! I actually feel sick at the thought of peoples poo particles spinning round with their tea towels 🤢

Tigerbreadbum · 12/07/2024 21:15

I do whites separately when I can be offered, otherwise everything together apart from towels. I do towels on a hotter wash and they fill the machine anyway

Gogogo12345 · 12/07/2024 21:12

Moonlightdancing · 12/07/2024 19:32

So.. need some honest opinions here. I posted a comment on a previous thread mentioning that washing tea towels together with knickers is gross IMO. Received quite a few comments telling me I'm uptight and bizarre. I honestly think that even if you wash them at 90 degrees, you still shouldn't mix tea towels and underwear. Am I in minority then thinking this? Genuinely curious.

Why? They are all clean once they come out. I generally do towels and tea towels together but I'm failing to see the issue ( apart from ruining lacy underwear at high temperature)

Hankunamatata · 12/07/2024 21:11

White towels, white teatowels, bedding (90°c)

Coloured towels, cleaning cloths, coloured flannels, floor cloths (60°c)

White clothing (40°c)

Colored clothing (40°c)

ForKeenLimeOtter · 12/07/2024 21:09

Towels, bedding, flannels etc all washed separately. Better to wash them hotter and with no conditioner/softener.

Original poster
Moonlightdancing · 12/07/2024 21:09

Bignanna · 12/07/2024 21:00

You’re not alone! I’m the same.

Show quote history

I am quite surprised by all the answers here. I mean...I wasn't expecting it. But I'll keep staying bizzare and uptight, and keep up with my cleaning habits.

OP posts:
Offcom · 12/07/2024 21:06

I thought this thread would be about whether a Breton top goes in the lights or darks!

shellyleppard · 12/07/2024 21:06

Towels, cleaning cloths, tea towels, sheets and my underwear go through on a 60 wash, everything else is a 40 .

TwistedSisters · 12/07/2024 21:04

WorriedMama12 · 12/07/2024 20:57

Can you wash whites at 60 even if it says 40 on the label? I've always been tempted to try but worried about shrinkage.

Show quote history

I always do and it's never been a problem....I find the tumble dryer the worst for shrinkage!

Mystro202 · 12/07/2024 21:03

Omg totally with you on this. It's absolutely disgusting to think people put underwear in with teatowels and then dry their cutlery and dishes
And then eat with/from them, ewww!! I only wash tea towels by hand, if anyone uses them to mop up a spill they go in the cupboard as cloths instead. I'm very strict lol

Bignanna · 12/07/2024 21:02

WorriedMama12 · 12/07/2024 20:57

Can you wash whites at 60 even if it says 40 on the label? I've always been tempted to try but worried about shrinkage.

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Depends on what the fabric is. I would with towels, but not with tops, dresses, trousers.
Sometimes I add Napisan to the white wash, if stained.

Bignanna · 12/07/2024 21:00

Ponderingwindow · 12/07/2024 20:24

I know I am uptight about separations. Cleaning cloths, tea towels, bathroom towels, knickers, etc all go in separate loads. I just make sure I have enough of everything that I can run a full wash when I do run them.

You’re not alone! I’m the same.

Bignanna · 12/07/2024 20:59

IncompleteSenten · 12/07/2024 20:27

Do you find 30 and 40 are enough? I ended up having to rewash things so now everything apart from wool and delicates gets done at 60.
What washing powder do you use? I use Tesco tropical sunshine. Maybe I need to swap to a better one.

Show quote history

They’re fine. Mostly use 30. Occasionally 60 for towels/ tea towels if mucky. I use good old Lidl or Aldi, maybe a famous brand if on special offer. Don’t believe in paying a fortune for it. I also use own brand laundry disinfectant.

WorriedMama12 · 12/07/2024 20:57

TwistedSisters · 12/07/2024 20:54

Whites - 60 wash
Darks - 40 wash
Brights - 40 wash
Bedding - 60 wash
Towels usually separately as several towels together are a full load. Never separate underwear but I did generally do all cleaning cloths separately on 60 or 90.

Can you wash whites at 60 even if it says 40 on the label? I've always been tempted to try but worried about shrinkage.

JC03745 · 12/07/2024 20:55

Darks/colours and lights/whites- all at 40'

I have a dishwasher and handwashed kitchen cutlery/plates/cups etc are left to air dry- so I don't dry them with a tea towel.

WorriedMama12 · 12/07/2024 20:55

I do:

Whites

Darks

Colours (I try and separate lighter colours and darker colours but if I don't have that many then just stick them all in together).

Towels

Bedding

TwistedSisters · 12/07/2024 20:54

Whites - 60 wash
Darks - 40 wash
Brights - 40 wash
Bedding - 60 wash
Towels usually separately as several towels together are a full load. Never separate underwear but I did generally do all cleaning cloths separately on 60 or 90.

PennyPugwash · 12/07/2024 20:52

In this house it's:

Towels at 60 and linen fresh Zoflora
Bed linen at 60 and linen fresh Zoflora
Darks
Whites
Colours
Wools (in winter)
T-towels, cloths etc