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Being shouted at over the washing

264 replies

Pinktize · 20/09/2025 11:43

Last year, DH and I nearly split up. One of the things that came up was lack of help round the house (we both work full time). He said "fine, I'll do all the kids washing". And now that's his thing - he does the kids washing.

But he is now getting v angry about me putting kids clothes in the washing machine. So our youngest is having lots of accidents at the moment, and it means PJs smell of wee being left in the washing basket for days. This morning - I was doing some of my washing and shoved in some smelly PJs that were sat by the machine. He came down and said "oh you put a wash on. just your clothes right?" - i replied "oh, i put in some smelly DS clothes" and he goes mad. this has happened before. shouting at me "you're gaslighting me. i tell you jsut to do your own washing and you just don't do it. you constantly go against the system and put in the kids washing" i mean he shouted at me straight for 10 mins. i said nothign. then he said "oh you're just not going to respond. you're so immature" etc.

I am being unreasonable? I mean it's great that he wants to manage it but surely it's a bit insane to be shouted at for doing some washing. He said "you promised you wouldn't do this again. you're making me feel like i'm being ridiculous but you're messing with the system and doing whatever the fuck you want and then making me feel unreasonable for beign angry. just do yoru own fucking washing". I mean...i have promised to let him get on with it, but surely pissy smelly PJs sat stinking the place out. It seems so crazily OTT to me to be so angry

OP posts:
NomoneyNoprospects · 20/09/2025 11:57

AgapanthusPink · 20/09/2025 11:49

As a job allocation this makes no sense. Surely you shove all the coloured washing in the washing machine when it needs doing, ditto the whites irrespective of who they belong to?

This. So if you need some clothes washed and can only half fill the machine with them, do you run it on half full and ignore a load of other dirty clothes that could also go in? Your water and electricity usage must be enormous. How much time do you waste filtering through the laundry basket picking out your items? This whole setup would drive me nuts.

Sit down and have a chat and find a way to split chores that makes more sense.

Pinktize · 20/09/2025 11:57

@olderbutwiser indeed we do. indeed we do.

i just wanted to understand if others would find it as frustrating as he clearly does. that if you have a 'my job' in the house - would it make you crazy mad if your other half stepped in occassionally? do others just prefer to have jobs that they do without anyone getting involved

the issue is i am not desparate to do laundry. but i feel like i'm losing my mind to live in a house where i can small pissy clothes and not be allowed to put them in a washing machien. i mean - what the hell?

OP posts:
Livelaughlurgy · 20/09/2025 11:55

If it's his job you have to let him fail at it sometimes instead of swooping in. If that means the kids go without so be it.

If you don't agree it's his job or it's not working you need to discuss that with him.

JLou08 · 20/09/2025 11:55

There's no excuse for shouting but if him doing the kids washing saved your relationship after nearly splitting it will be triggering for him to see you take over.

olderbutwiser · 20/09/2025 11:55

I think you have bigger problems than laundry division.

Pinktize · 20/09/2025 11:55

he ended saying 'you either leave it alone. or i wont' do the washing anymore. you decide'. he only thinks he's being reasonable. i can't get my head round it.

OP posts:
Pinktize · 20/09/2025 11:53

so his argument is that 'well, if you say i don't do enough around the house - then i'll do the kids washing. that is my job. you don't worry about it anymore'. GREAT. But then if there are smelly kids clothes all over the place, or the kids don't have enough clothese - I will shove a load in. And then he goes mad. I proabbly did say last time he went mad 'ok ok, i won't do it again. i'll leave the whole thing to you'. and then of course i've done it again this mornign and he is shouting saying 'you just lie. you do what the fuck you lke. you're choatic and you just don't do as i say and as we agreed before. if you were a man - people would say you're being unreasonable, unhelpful. but because you're a woman you're going to say i'm the horrible one for shouting' etc etc.

I didn't ignore him in a horrible way. But he's shouting in front of our young child who is watchign telly so i'm trying to ensure it finishes as quickliy as possible and me sticking up for myself will prolong the argument. i just let him rant.

OP posts:
wantmorenow · 20/09/2025 11:53

He's supposed to be your partner, the one who has your back in life. He's not seeing you as an equal team mate. Shouting at you like that shows he has no respect. I personally couldn't get past that. Counselling to deal with a proper way to divide up housework that is flexible to the changes that come with everyday life. There should just be jobs that need doing, rigidly sticking to a plan he wanted which doesn't work when things change isn't going to make for a happy life. Or set a clear boundary that if he raises his voice again to you, the marriage is over and mean it.

dementedpixie · 20/09/2025 11:52

Sounds very bizarre to get worked up about this. We do clothes by colour rather than by person so if its a dark wash I collect from everyones basket, same with lighter colours. Pissy washing would be done immediately and not left to fester in a basket for days

AgapanthusPink · 20/09/2025 11:49

As a job allocation this makes no sense. Surely you shove all the coloured washing in the washing machine when it needs doing, ditto the whites irrespective of who they belong to?

Calliopespa · 20/09/2025 11:48

He's a control freak.

I do agree with him in that ignoring people completely is a bit immature though.

Are there other issues behind this, as its a lot of anger over a pair of peed pj's?

MatildaTheCat · 20/09/2025 11:48

How stupid. Clearly pissy clothes need to be washed rather than fester.

In an ideal world you don’t need a division of labour that is so prescriptive. You should each be able to gauge what needs doing and do it. However he sounds like a child who has chores.

Regarding shouting I can say in 36 years of marriage we have occasionally shouted at one another but at no point has either of us been shouted at the way you describe. It would make me really dislike him unfortunately.

How would you describe your relationship?

holachicatita · 20/09/2025 11:48

I mean it sounds ridiculous the way you've told it but I'd like to hear his side. But no, shouting at you for any length of time is not on.

YodasHairyButt · 20/09/2025 11:45

Shouting at someone for 10 minutes is never acceptable.

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