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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:
Bignanna · 13/07/2024 11:47

YellowphantGrey · 13/07/2024 10:40

So you do a pants only wash?

How wasteful.

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It’s fine to wash clothes together, but not mix clothes, especially underwear, with tea towels- can you not see that?

Bignanna · 13/07/2024 11:45

IncompleteSenten · 13/07/2024 03:53

I'd feel more sick at the thought that there are some people who don't know how to properly clean their arse after a bowel movement tbh

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However well you clean it, there will be bacteria remaining from faeces and urine. It’s impossible to clear them 100%. If you like that on your tea towels- fine!

Bignanna · 13/07/2024 11:40

rubyroola · 12/07/2024 21:29

It’s gross to wash tea towels with clothes.

It is, and I’m amazed that anyone thinks it’s ok to do it!

DavidRosesEyebrows · 13/07/2024 10:47

I do: whites, light colours, bright colours, darks, towels and bedding and tea towels/cleaning cloths. But then there's six of us so there's always mountains of washing - I'm never struggling to find things to make up a full load!

I don't think I'd do tea towels and knickers together, but I wouldn't bat a eyelid at someone else doing it.

YellowphantGrey · 13/07/2024 10:40

Fangisnotacoward · 13/07/2024 10:04

Eww no. I wash my tea towels with stronger detergents as I use them to wipe up spills and probably more likely to ha e pathogenic bacteria on them.

I wouldn't wash my underwear with them, cause I don't want my knickers swished around with sour milk water and I dont want my tea towels swished around with knicker water.

Yes, yes, I know it all comes out clean and rinsed and it's doesn't REALLY matter, but still...bleugh.

So you do a pants only wash?

How wasteful.

LemonySnickets · 13/07/2024 10:29

I do

-light wash
-dark wash
-hot wash for gym gear.

That's it.

YellowphantGrey · 13/07/2024 10:09

Moonlightdancing · 12/07/2024 22:26

Thanks. I am aware of the recommendations, but I prefer to clean my meat. I know this is controversial and i know restaurants dont wash meats etc. I am very careful and disinfect the sink , worktops.

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So let me get this straight. You ignore guidelines about washing meat, which is likely to make you unwell.

Yet think everyone who washed their pants and tea towels together on a 60 degree wash are filthy and unhygienic?!

But your poo partical pants are acceptable to be washed with pjs on a 60 degree wash.

What do you think is happening in a 60 degree wash with pants and pjs that isn't happening with teatowels in there?

And how do you know you've cleaned every single bacteria splatter from the meat? Have you seen how far they travel?!

Fangisnotacoward · 13/07/2024 10:04

Eww no. I wash my tea towels with stronger detergents as I use them to wipe up spills and probably more likely to ha e pathogenic bacteria on them.

I wouldn't wash my underwear with them, cause I don't want my knickers swished around with sour milk water and I dont want my tea towels swished around with knicker water.

Yes, yes, I know it all comes out clean and rinsed and it's doesn't REALLY matter, but still...bleugh.

YellowphantGrey · 13/07/2024 10:03

Inmydreams88 · 13/07/2024 09:49

Genuine question what do you think will happen if you dry a dish with a tea towel that’s been in the wash with your knickers? Are you afraid of getting sick?

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I think they think that their washing machine only washes the pants and not the tea towels. Even more weird as the OP says she washes tea towels at 60, pants at 60, pjs at 60 but can't combine the wash because of poo particals and bacteria going onto the tea towels and not getting cleaned.

I'm still trying to work out why it's OK tk wash said pants with pjs. Even though there are still poo particles on the machine and the op has a sparkly clean bum hole because she uses toilet roll, moist wipes and bidet.

ShesRunningOutTheDoor · 13/07/2024 09:59

Pants and towels together at 60 degrees

YellowphantGrey · 13/07/2024 09:59

Sherwil16 · 12/07/2024 21:54

I separate laundry totally by this colour scheme:
Whites
Black and grey
Blue and green
Pink and red
Yellow ( this pile takes a while to build up)
Other colours have to fit in somewhere
No separation by type

Why that colour scheme? That's two loads of washing you've turned into 5

YellowphantGrey · 13/07/2024 09:57

Moonlightdancing · 12/07/2024 21:17

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.

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So if you wash your tea towels at 60 and your pjs and pants at 60, why can't they be washed together?

Inmydreams88 · 13/07/2024 09:49

Moonlightdancing · 13/07/2024 09:20

I think people don't get that your arsehole is not sealed. Wipes spread sht around. Particles are not seen, doesn't mean there aren't there...imagine you had hands covered in sht and use a wet wipe to clean them. I wash my arse everytime and still choose to do knickers separately. According to your logic , as clean as my bum is, I probably shouldn't even wash my knickers.

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Genuine question what do you think will happen if you dry a dish with a tea towel that’s been in the wash with your knickers? Are you afraid of getting sick?

Original poster
Moonlightdancing · 13/07/2024 09:20

IncompleteSenten · 13/07/2024 03:53

I'd feel more sick at the thought that there are some people who don't know how to properly clean their arse after a bowel movement tbh

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I think people don't get that your arsehole is not sealed. Wipes spread sht around. Particles are not seen, doesn't mean there aren't there...imagine you had hands covered in sht and use a wet wipe to clean them. I wash my arse everytime and still choose to do knickers separately. According to your logic , as clean as my bum is, I probably shouldn't even wash my knickers.

OP posts:
Luxell934 · 13/07/2024 09:18

Moonlightdancing · 13/07/2024 09:13

I guarantee that my bum is cleaner than most. I use a bidet every time I go toilet, we all do in our household, so ....

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Might want to visit the GP if your shits are that sloppy you need to do this, when I wipe there’s nothing on the toilet paper as mine are completely formed.

Original poster
Moonlightdancing · 13/07/2024 09:13

wendywoopywoo222 · 13/07/2024 05:55

As Yorkshire tea biscuit points out

If you use moist toilet wipes and properly cleaned yourself after a poo you wouldn't have this issue.

Hope that helps.

I guarantee that my bum is cleaner than most. I use a bidet every time I go toilet, we all do in our household, so ....

OP posts:
Original poster
Moonlightdancing · 13/07/2024 09:08

Gogogo12345 · 13/07/2024 07:33

Or a bum gun

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We also use bidets in my household so bums are clean all around, that's for sure. People keep presuming things....

OP posts:
PassThePeaceAndQuiet · 13/07/2024 08:12

Moonlightdancing · 12/07/2024 19:42

Pyjamas and pants are usually washed together in a hot wash. Bedding and towels together. The rest based on colours and needs (delicate, etc). I really thought that's common sense. Apparently not.

It's not about common sense. In a small household that might be way more loads, some nearly empty so basic separation is all you manage.

We do regular loads and I'll just manage a whites and lights every other week!

Growing up we had a weekly reds/purple load because we had some towels this colour and wore a lot of that in my house in the 90s.

Gogogo12345 · 13/07/2024 07:58

IncompleteSenten · 13/07/2024 07:39

Or a wash-dry toilet. That's what mine is. It is plumbed in and plugged in (cable hole drilled through wall into next room) and it's got a wall mounted squeezy thing. It shoots warm water up then when you stop squeezing the water turns off and you get your nethers blow dried.

I challenge any scientist on earth to find poo crumbs in my pants! 🤣

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Ah the Japanese toilets.

thatstakingalongtimetoboil · 13/07/2024 07:54

Moonlightdancing · 12/07/2024 19:42

Pyjamas and pants are usually washed together in a hot wash. Bedding and towels together. The rest based on colours and needs (delicate, etc). I really thought that's common sense. Apparently not.

No it's not because it makes no sense. Just separate the colours that's all you need to do. It's washing...getting clean you don't need to wash pants separate u less you shit and piss yourself.

thatstakingalongtimetoboil · 13/07/2024 07:52

Darks go separate to lights. That's all.

GRex · 13/07/2024 07:43

Mostly whites vs colours/ dark. I'll split colours and dark only if there's enough washing for 3 loads.

I have a 15 min cycle that I use for cloths to rinse off dust and bleach before they join the whites wash. When DS was little and had some accidents, those also got the 15 minute treatment.

We had an awful time when the new washing machine didn't work properly so clothes were not clean, and engineers didn't accept it. Eventually sent it back and got a lovely machine that functions. If you don't think your machine leaves everything clean after the wash, change the machine.

IncompleteSenten · 13/07/2024 07:39

Gogogo12345 · 13/07/2024 07:33

Or a bum gun

Show quote history

Or a wash-dry toilet. That's what mine is. It is plumbed in and plugged in (cable hole drilled through wall into next room) and it's got a wall mounted squeezy thing. It shoots warm water up then when you stop squeezing the water turns off and you get your nethers blow dried.

I challenge any scientist on earth to find poo crumbs in my pants! 🤣

Gogogo12345 · 13/07/2024 07:33

wendywoopywoo222 · 13/07/2024 05:55

As Yorkshire tea biscuit points out

If you use moist toilet wipes and properly cleaned yourself after a poo you wouldn't have this issue.

Hope that helps.

Or a bum gun

ForGreyKoala · 13/07/2024 07:30

Mystro202 · 12/07/2024 23:27

Cmon it's s not about having nothing going on in your life. I work full time and have kids and a husband. I don't have time to worry about silly things this is as disgusting as having overflowing bins and a dirty house.

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Don't be so bloody ridiculous, it's NOTHING like having overflowing bins and a dirty house.

You have issues.