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Would you rather do a load of laundry every few days or 2-4 in a row over a day- or two

109 replies

washerr · 09/02/2025 16:52

Just having this discussion with my mum.

She's the type to always want an empty laundry basket and it bothers her to have a full one / or anything in it really.

I let it build up and do it all over the weekend. It would stress me out to be constantly doing laundry / putting away laundry.

We have enough clothes to do this and I use a dryer. For example this weekend, I've done 4 loads of laundry. My mum would have done that during the week. It makes no sense to me because I like to have all my DD's school uniform clean for the week ahead.

OP posts:
crackfoxy · 09/02/2025 20:22

I do at least 1 wash daily. Hate having piles to sort out! 4 of us.

RedRumRoams · 09/02/2025 20:14

I would love the ability to leave it but absolutely no chance. I pretty much have to wash every day at least once.

Onlyvisiting · 09/02/2025 20:14

I run a load whenever I have one. Do back to back loads to catch up with towels/sofa covers etc as convenient. Do everything I can find when the forecast is good enough to dry outdoors!
I don't have enough clothes to save it up for too long, also Sods law I'd that if I do the machine will break/power cut etc.

I don't iron and rarely fold though. Most my clean washing lives in doom piles except for when I have a flurry of organisation every so often and get it put away.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 09/02/2025 20:11

Is this on the genre of...?

'Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses or 1 horse-sized duck?'

stayathomer · 09/02/2025 19:03

Daily so can hang out and use tumble dryer as little as possible (it’s my vice!)

Baggyprincess · 09/02/2025 19:00

And occasional additional washes as life demands - such as when I was with an ill child, so everything needed washing afterwards to reduce the chance of infection.

Baggyprincess · 09/02/2025 18:59

Work full time and clubs on Saturdays. Both DC like a PJ day on a Sunday, so it’s become wash day too by default. Clothes are all done on a Sunday, bedding and towels as people ‘produce’ them!

Louise121806 · 09/02/2025 18:54

I do one load a day, first thing. Then leave it in the maiden to dry whilst I'm out. Finish in dryer and put away. Having said that, still got 3-4 loads to do at the weekend with bedding, bathroom mats, towels etc so mine is always on. Can't win 😭

pootleondown · 09/02/2025 18:52

A load every other day simply because I don't use the tumble dryer unless it's desperate and it would be too much washing to have on the airer (assuming it's damp outside which is a very common occurance)

On a warm blowy day I'll wash everything in sight 😂

Thisismeme · 09/02/2025 18:47

I do two loads of laundry for two days a week and get it all done. Occasionally I’ll run a quick wash of work stuff on a Friday too

Shubbypubby · 09/02/2025 18:43

There's too much for me to do it all at the weekend/ it would be overwhelming. I do the bulk at the weekend but also some mid week to keep on top of it.

Ihavenoideahowtodressforthisinterview · 09/02/2025 18:29

I do a wash most days, 5 of us plus a dog and DC do messy sports. I do bedding at weekends but the rest gets done as soon as there’s enough to justify a load.

LindorDoubleChoc · 09/02/2025 18:27

I've always done laundry at no more than one load per day pace. I can't stand using the tumble drier. I suppose I might do a load of clothing and a load of bedding on the same day if it's one if those extraordinarily rare things - a warm and sunny weekend day. We probably only had about 3 or 4 of those last year 😬.

Panda89 · 09/02/2025 18:23

I tend to do a load every 2/3 days.
There are only 3 of us and I prefer to use the heated airer (or outside line) rather than the dryer so it works better to be spaced out. I WFH so it’s hardly even a chore, just put it in the machine and hang it up when done, takes 10 mins max.

We are often busy or away for large chunks of the weekend so doing all at the weekend would not work for us.

PonkyPonky · 09/02/2025 18:22

My family must create more laundry than most because I do about 10 loads a week so if I left it all until the weekend I wouldn’t be able to leave the house! Clothes get washed all through the week here then bedding and towels at the weekend along with at least one more load of clothes

chattyness · 09/02/2025 18:20

I don't have set day to do it , I just get it done when the weather is good enough to get it outside for a little so it's not hanging around in the house for so long. This weekend has been lovely, so double spun everything before hanging out and it's all finished and put away already.

obsessedwithfreshbread · 09/02/2025 18:11

I like to wash and tumble everything on a Saturday and iron it all on a Sunday.

DSC know all their washing has to be off their floors and in the basket by the time I get up on Saturday or they have to do it themselves!

If we are away for the weekend I get it all washed and dried during the week and do double ironing the following weekend.

If anyone is desperate for a particular item of clothing outside this they sort it themselves!

Whimsicalgrape · 09/02/2025 18:11

I do loads on the weekend. Friday is uniforms and work gear, that hangs on the line. Saturdays is usually bedding, towels and the bathroom mat and shower curtain (towels, bath mat and shower curtain are done in two separate washes at 90°). Then I do another load on a Sunday.

Except for this weekend. It all went out the window as DS had a birthday party yesterday and my routine went to pot. Currently got sons wedding in the dryer, a load of towels on 90° wash at them mo, and the bath mat and shower curtain waiting to go in. Did a load of general clothing today and have ironed all uniforms for tomorrow.

nahthatsnotforme · 09/02/2025 18:08

I watch the forecast and time it for when it'll dry outside

NoWordForFluffy · 09/02/2025 18:05

We do it as we go during the week, depending on the forecast, as we dry outside (or try to!) all year. Our third wash today is almost finished, ready to go out overnight and get darked on!

lazyarse123 · 09/02/2025 18:04

I used to do one load during the week and the rest Friday or Saturday. Now I'm retired and there's only 2 of us I do maybe 2 loads a week depending on when there's enough. We both have going out clothes, lounging about clothes and pyjamas so wear things more than once.

BashfulClam · 09/02/2025 17:57

I keeo on top of it through the week. I rarely iron (think I last ironed 6 months ago) and I don’t use my drier unless it’s really necessary as it’s so bad for the environment. If I keep on top of it then at the weekend I just do bedding and sheets.

Bristolinfeb · 09/02/2025 17:56

It depends on your life style. One a day works best for me, although some times it’s more than one a day.

XjustagirlX · 09/02/2025 17:55

Monday - whites
tuesday - darks
wednesday - alternate between wool or jeans as they build up
thursday - bedding
friday - towels
saturday - nothing
sunday - swim stuff

i WFH so put the load on in the morning. At lunch I put most in the tumble drier and hang the items that can’t be tumble dried. After an hour ish I put away or put in the ironing pile which my cleaner does on a Thursday.

edited to add that in spring and summer I hang outside instead of using the tumble drier.

Snowpaw · 09/02/2025 17:55

I have to do a load a day - DP's job involves a lot of mucky kit which in itself is two loads a week, then there's normal clothes, DD's uniform, towels and bedding. I also wash a load of cleaning cloths once a week too. So it adds up and I couldn't get it all done in a weekend.

In the week I put it on first thing in the morning, hang it to dry with the dehumidifier in spare bedroom when I get home from school run. Put the dry clothes on the spare bed then I use the weekends to put it all away usually. I work from home so its no big issue doing the loads during the week.