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Original poster

Unnecessary Laundry

141 replies

MyLemonWriter · 11/12/2024 12:53

A few months back I noticed whilst loading the washing machine that most things were actually clean. Has anyone else cut down on the number of times the launder their clothes?

OP posts:
Poppins21 · 11/12/2024 17:19

ThatTealViewer · 11/12/2024 17:13

Goodness. That’s a remarkable amount of laundry.

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Yes a fair amount but as I said it bedding and towels not everything. I just really love starched sheets 😀

Poppins21 · 11/12/2024 17:16

HamptonPlace · 11/12/2024 14:00

That's insane. More power to you, but you must not have anything else to do? I've never heard of anyone washing towels after one use before- even hotels now encourage you not to put towels for washing unless absolutely necessary!

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Happy in my insanity though :-) I have plenty to do but fresh bedding and towels is my thing. Doesn’t extend to washing jeans or jumpers after one wash though that’s just bonkers :-)

Devilsmommy · 11/12/2024 17:16

Workingclasslass · 11/12/2024 12:58

I have always been like that. I don’t see why people are washing stuff after only wearing it once it’s unnecessary apart from obviously pants I don’t wear socks.

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I wash after one wear but that's because I'm a smoker. I guess it depends what environment you've been in and what you've actually done whilst wearing the clothes

fungibletoken · 11/12/2024 17:14

If we've just been working from home I find most clothes just need to be freshened up after a few days - e.g. run through on a quick cycle (14 mins).

ThatTealViewer · 11/12/2024 17:13

Poppins21 · 11/12/2024 13:51

No I love the smell of fresh laundry. Towels washed after ever use, pjs every use. I wash bedding on a Tuesday and a Friday and I starch them. :-) I know life is too short but it’s worth it for that freshly washed bedding feel especially on a Friday evening after a long week.

Goodness. That’s a remarkable amount of laundry.

CleansUpButWouldPreferNotTo · 11/12/2024 17:11

GoofyGoldie · Today 13:02

I'm fed up of trying to get the message through to my stepson that he does not need to have a whole new outfit every day! I definitely don't want to do washing for the sake of it. Hubby, DD16 & I will wear clothes more than once. DSS, 18, does not. I've told him he doesn't need to wear the same outfit days in a row, but go back to it, or he could definitely wear the same jeans. The message is not getting through though.

DSS is 18 - high time to teach him how to use the washing machine. Stop doing it for him

ThatTealViewer · 11/12/2024 17:11

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 11/12/2024 13:08

I don’t agree. I wash anything after wearing for 4+ hours. Towels are washed after 2 uses, or every other day.

Really? Jeans? Hoodies, etc? Do you wear a new nightie (or whatever your sleepwear) every night?

ThatTealViewer · 11/12/2024 17:08

GoofyGoldie · 11/12/2024 13:02

I'm fed up of trying to get the message through to my stepson that he does not need to have a whole new outfit every day! I definitely don't want to do washing for the sake of it. Hubby, DD16 & I will wear clothes more than once. DSS, 18, does not. I've told him he doesn't need to wear the same outfit days in a row, but go back to it, or he could definitely wear the same jeans. The message is not getting through though.

He’s 18. Presumably he does his own laundry?

femfemlicious · 11/12/2024 17:07

Poppins21 · 11/12/2024 13:51

No I love the smell of fresh laundry. Towels washed after ever use, pjs every use. I wash bedding on a Tuesday and a Friday and I starch them. :-) I know life is too short but it’s worth it for that freshly washed bedding feel especially on a Friday evening after a long week.

Awful and very wasteful

TipsyKoala · 11/12/2024 17:07

With the exception of underwear, I only wash clothes once they smell or are visibly dirty. Waste of time and money otherwise.

Mymanyellow · 11/12/2024 17:02

I try to make trousers last two days. Undies, socks, tops daily. Nightwear every two nights.
Bedding and towels every week
Still manage to do a load a day.

Nespressso · 11/12/2024 16:59

Poppins21 · 11/12/2024 13:51

No I love the smell of fresh laundry. Towels washed after ever use, pjs every use. I wash bedding on a Tuesday and a Friday and I starch them. :-) I know life is too short but it’s worth it for that freshly washed bedding feel especially on a Friday evening after a long week.

If you’re using laundry scents or fabric softeners life may well get shorter. They are known carcinogens.

LoafofSellotape · 11/12/2024 16:56

I always have lots of laundry, gym gear x 3 people, work shirts, underwear,that's a load before you even start on bedding and towels. I won't wash items like jumpers after one use,they get multiple wears unless something gets spilled on them.

NewName24 · 11/12/2024 16:46

I have no idea which way to vote, as, obviously YANBU to not wash things that don't need it, but, like @Catza in the first reply, it's not something I need to cut down on doing, as it isn't something I have ever done.

NewName24 · 11/12/2024 16:45

That's ludicrous, and, like a pp, I want to know if you wake up in the night to change your PJs and sheets ?
What a waste of time and resources.

KimberleyClark · 11/12/2024 16:01

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 11/12/2024 13:08

I don’t agree. I wash anything after wearing for 4+ hours. Towels are washed after 2 uses, or every other day.

Your clothes can’t last very long, you must spend a fortune on new ones.

EveryOtherNameTaken · 11/12/2024 15:50

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 11/12/2024 13:08

I don’t agree. I wash anything after wearing for 4+ hours. Towels are washed after 2 uses, or every other day.

Unreal.

Do you change your sheets in the middle of the night as they've been slept on for over hours.

LimeYellow · 11/12/2024 15:42

There are so many benefits to doing less washing! Saving money, saving time, saving the environment.

876543A · 11/12/2024 15:37

So much wastage on this thread....and noise! I really dislike listening to the washing machine spinning - I like a quiet house. I do a load first thing in the morning and I don't mind the spinning noise at that time because everyone is getting up / ready and is busy at that time anyway. After that, I want a quiet house the rest of the day. I do one load a day. Family of three but DP has an active / sweaty job.

luckylavender · 11/12/2024 15:28

Catza · 11/12/2024 12:57

Cut down, no. But I never washed anything but socks and pants after one wear.

And tights

Macaroni46 · 11/12/2024 15:22

Poppins21 · 11/12/2024 13:51

No I love the smell of fresh laundry. Towels washed after ever use, pjs every use. I wash bedding on a Tuesday and a Friday and I starch them. :-) I know life is too short but it’s worth it for that freshly washed bedding feel especially on a Friday evening after a long week.

Sorry but this seems excessive. All that electricity and water too.

Macaroni46 · 11/12/2024 15:21

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 11/12/2024 13:08

I don’t agree. I wash anything after wearing for 4+ hours. Towels are washed after 2 uses, or every other day.

Why?

jolota · 11/12/2024 15:18

I used to wash things less frequently but I used to sweat very little, that changed after having a child, so now I wouldn't re wear a t shirt without washing it. Trousers get a few wears as do outer layers. We do seem to have a huge amount of washing though even with just tops & underwear being washed after every use. I do have a toddler though so sometimes my clothes end up dirty because of her and hers usually need washing after every wear.

Fireworknight · 11/12/2024 15:09

Pineapplewaves · 11/12/2024 13:08

I'd quickly run the iron over the hoodies and hang them back in his wardrobe, see if he notices!

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They’re already been put in laundery with the smelly washy, so I feel duty bound to wash them. Grrr.

Katemax82 · 11/12/2024 14:53

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 11/12/2024 13:08

I don’t agree. I wash anything after wearing for 4+ hours. Towels are washed after 2 uses, or every other day.

Same here. Especially my son who sweats like a pig