If you work full time, would you do your 17/18 year old's washing and ironing?

Completely agree. I feel some people make work for themselves. My dm was like this, she would even iron underwear, and then would complain about all of her ironing! No wonder there was a permanent ironing pile! 😂 I'm the opposite, kids uniforms only, and something needed as and when, if it looks particularly creased. Life is too short to spend entire Sundays ironing, unless it is something you really enjoy, and aren't complaining about. No ironing piles in this house.

No let her do her own stuff. Learning life skills won't hurt her.

I would yes as we don't have the space for everyone to do separate washes as four of us so I organise it as Dark clothes, light clothes, colours etc. I don't iron unless need for work. I am.not asking my DS to help with anything much at the moment as I would prefer he revised for A levels which is doing all of the time!

I did it, but my DCs also did it. So it was never a case of me taking the load of the work. If mine were home and something needed done they would do it. Washing/ironing/dishes/cleaning etc - we were very much a muck in family.

i would absolutely not be doing everything for them while they did nothing.

I love ironing but expect everyone to do their fair share around the house. We don't have jobs to do but everyone knows it has to be done. Same if we're running low on something. My DS is the youngest at 16 and has autism and adhd to name a few. He would struggle to hoover because of the humming sound the hoover makes but he's brilliant at cleaning especially making the bathrooms sparkle.

My 16 year old does his own.

@RedSkyDelights that's definitely an alternative if your children don't have a full load of clothes, fortunately mine do.

Do you have any idea how many arguments I have caused when i've put the wrong GFs knickers in the wrong DSs room 😂

(sometimes I do it on purpose 😉)

Yes I do all the laundry and ironing ( although I only iron uniforms). I work 12 hour shifts though so have four full days off each week, which is more than anyone else in the house has.

She can prepare for adulthood by doing some of the washing, all of her own ironing, and some other housework - she's not a guest in the house.

No they don't, you're choosing the iron them
Hang up when damp, use the dryer,
Crease release
I probably iron once a month

Everyone has their own wash basket here so no need to rifle through other peoples pants.
When you teach kids to do their own washing they tend to take more care because they've been told about what can happen ( shrinking, colour runs, ruining fabric ) they learn how to manage their time and be considerate about when to use the machine because others need it as well.
There's lots of little lessons they benefit from doing this.

They way I see it as a parent your job is to prepare your kids for adulthood gradually.

Getting them to do their own washing is one part of that process.

I guess alternatively they can just leave home in a step change one day and have no preparation for living by themselves whatsoever.

My DC wash their own bedding and towels, which does the same job in terms of teaching a life skill without the hassle of sorting out clothes/not having enough for a load etc.

This.

I don't even iron my own clothes - but my DC (now 16) have been totally responsible for their own laundry for a couple of years now.

I work full time, disabled single mum here

I was just responding to the OP - she presumably is also a mother.

Size haha
when my dd lived at home her knickers were considerably smaller than mine!

I don't consciously separate the washing. Everyone collects dirty washing in their own laundry bin in their bedroom. There is also a laundry bin in the bathroom. I wash whatever is in our laundry bin, the bathroom one, and the smaller kids' one.

I used to empty DS1's as well and do his but frequently his clothes were all over the floor instead of in the bin so I did not wash them. As soon as we got a dryer he would basically opt to do his own washing so that he could have a specific item clean within about 2-3 hours. And that's the pattern we have settled into. It seems to work well for everyone.

Nobody ever irons - the iron gets used for hema beads.

Yes this.

I expected my DCs at that age to do a few bigger jobs around the house, such as lawn mowing or cleaning the bathroom. I made an exception in the lead up to exams .

I virtually never iron anything. My standards must be lower. I wouldn't dream of ironing a pair of jeans or any other casual thing.

@bookworm8500 I only iron my smarter shirts. I hang everything after washing and smooth out wrinkles. Shake out jeans and dry on a rack. I will iron DP’s shirts and he will do mine but basically the older I get the less ironing I’m prepared to do. My old Mum didn’t mind ironing but it’s one of my least fave jobs. Whereas she didn’t like washing up but I don’t mind it!

I don't have kids, but my Mum stopped doing my laundry when I was about 15, I think. There were a good few loads of mildewed clothes, but I soon cottoned on.

As for ironing, judging by the things people post for sale on vinted, there does seem to be a trend for wearing wrinkled clothing. It's not my style though, I gladly iron.

No but you're their mother and that is an unpaid role!

Shake stuff out and hang it up when damp.
No, it won't look as crisp as if you'd ironed it, and some materials will look awful, but most everyday things will be fine and you won't notice once you have them on.
(I think it's actually recommended not to iron jeans ...)

Surely its harder work to separate washing - plus who wants to go through knickers etc and put them in different piles!?
Ironing yes, leave it, she wants it ironing, she knows where it is, but washing, no!

I haven't done washing for my 16yo for years unless I need a few extra bits to make up a full load. And I am not in paid employment at all.