Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How many loads of washing do you generate a week?

193 replies

SoEasyToFall · 01/11/2025 22:36

Inspired by the tumble drying thread, I’m curious.

im not talking about as a family, or your kids who do seven sports. Just you, as one person.

I generate three - two of clothes and one of bedding. Just curious how much other people are washing their stuff as apparently this is a huge amount to do in a week!

OP posts:
G1ngerbread · 01/11/2025 23:26

Just me I reckon 4 a week

Swissmeringue · 01/11/2025 23:28

Given we do it all together it's hard to say how much is just mine. But I'd guess 4 loads a week would cover my stuff alone.

Eyesopenwideawake · 01/11/2025 23:28

Personally, two. One bedding/towels. One clothing.

SALaw · 01/11/2025 23:34

SoEasyToFall · 01/11/2025 22:46

They’re a family thing, we all just use them and then as they get a bit grim we shove them in with a load of washing. But they just go in with whoever’s put a wash on. So tomorrow I’ll do a load that’s half clothes from the bathroom (mainly mine) and then half towels.

Show quote history

I assumed you lived alone when you were able to say how many loads you personally generated as I wouldn’t have a clue as it’s all mixed in with the rest of the household.

SALaw · 01/11/2025 23:35

DoYouReally · 01/11/2025 23:23

Two. One of clothes, other for towels and bedding.

You can fit bedding and towels in together?!

SALaw · 01/11/2025 23:36

Junioh · 01/11/2025 23:16

For a family of four I think I do about a load a day. That includes 1 load of towels and 1 load of bedding per week, leaving 5 loads of ordinary clothes IE just over 1 per person.

You can fit all bedding for 4 people in a single wash?!

Tryingatleast · 01/11/2025 23:41

Just me? 2 I suppose. Hilarious thinking of it given that I wash clothes so much for my family

patooties · 01/11/2025 23:44

Do you guys not separate your stuff? For 5 of us I do a whites, knitted things, a towels and bedding, and a couple of others (sports and darks)

Rewis · 01/11/2025 23:45

I live by myself and do 2-3 loads a month.

patooties · 01/11/2025 23:46

SALaw · 01/11/2025 23:35

You can fit bedding and towels in together?!

Show quote history

How often do you change your towels? We have a big machine - I often shove pale towels and bedding in with the school uniform and other white. And shove the dark towels in with the hoodies/ jeans / trousers.

Copperoliverbear · 01/11/2025 23:47

Everyday at least one 3 people, two sporty people.

Alpacajigsaw · 01/11/2025 23:48

Candypatthongworn · 01/11/2025 22:44

16-18
Two people
change towels 3x a week
change bed once per week
1 load of whites
1 load of coloureds per day
Plus extras on Fri Sat & Sun eg woollens and delicates .

How can 2 people generate this much washing? That’s ridiculous. I never did that much when I had me, husband and 2 tiny children!

CuteOrangeElephant · 01/11/2025 23:49

12 according to the Miele app.

That is with a baby in fulltime cloth nappies that I wash 2 or 3 times a week. It takes two cycles per nappy load (short wash to get rid of most of the pee and poo plus a long wash for actual cleaning). Usually I add cloths and towels to the nappy wash.

Also have an older DD who can not keep her clothes clean for more than one day.

DoAWheelie · 01/11/2025 23:51

3 Per month. One each of towels, clothes, and bedding.

Clothes wise I wear shorts and a shirt most days around the house and I'll wear them for a couple of days each. I tend to only leave the house once a week so usually only one proper outfit and I'll wear my jeans a couple of times each too.

Towels I have quite a few and save them up to do in one single load which is roughly once a month.

I have 4 sets of bedding and use each set for 2 weeks so washing 2 sets once a month in a single load.

Before my late OH died it was 6 loads a month - extra towels and two clothes washes from him as he tended to wear a lot of layers so got through more.

BertieBotts · 01/11/2025 23:51

I have absolutely no idea, I always wash all our stuff mixed up, separated by colour or wash temperature.

There are five of us and it probably averages out about one a day. So 1-2 on my stuff maybe? My clothes are bigger than DC's but they tend to get things dirty after one wear, but then they wear their pyjamas for multiple days whereas I seem to have armpits of doom that destroy clothing, so I change pyjama top daily. DH and I also use bigger bedding and towels.

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 01/11/2025 23:52

I have my washer in nearly every day ... 2 people

Dagda · 01/11/2025 23:53

10 a week. We have a bedwetter and 3 sporty kids.

MsCactus · 01/11/2025 23:55

Just me and DH - two wash loads a week. Now we have two DC - four loads a week.

So I'd say one per person, per week

Blackalice · 01/11/2025 23:58

patooties · 01/11/2025 23:44

Do you guys not separate your stuff? For 5 of us I do a whites, knitted things, a towels and bedding, and a couple of others (sports and darks)

I don't separate anything, no. Except pissy puppy pads 🤣 We don't wear white though and I do everything on the eco 40-60 setting anyway.

Blackalice · 01/11/2025 23:59

I was just thinking though that I have 12kg washer and my friend has 5kg washer so my 3 loads a week for just me would be 6 for her, so maybe we all have different sized washers here too 🤪🤣

AnneShirleyBlythe · 02/11/2025 00:01

Makingpeace · 01/11/2025 22:47

That is insane. How many hours a week do you spend sorting, washing, folding and putting away laundry?!!

Show quote history

I think thats normal for a family that size! 5 of us here, all adults, and I reckon between us we must do 20 loads a week! 4 sets of bedding, at least 2 loads of towels and the rest clothes. DS2 & 1 wear a fresh uniform for work every day & DD is a student nurse so also requires uniform for placement & also some uni days. I wear the same clothes most of the week for travel to & from work as I work in a clinical environment so can’t wear my work clothes. It feels like the washing machine is never off!

Travelfairy · 02/11/2025 00:02

Just me, probably 2. My family though about 12 a week 😩

Hortesne · 02/11/2025 00:05

Makingpeace · 01/11/2025 22:56

Yes when they need a wash. Infrequently, general wool care. I can't afford to replace my wool jumpers every season!

Show quote history

What do you use to wash them with that leads to such destruction? Rocks? Needles? Yorkshire Terriers?

LaserPumpkin · 02/11/2025 00:09

Blackalice · 01/11/2025 23:59

I was just thinking though that I have 12kg washer and my friend has 5kg washer so my 3 loads a week for just me would be 6 for her, so maybe we all have different sized washers here too 🤪🤣

Good point. I have a washer dryer so each load has to be what the dryer can cope with, otherwise I’d do two lots of bedding in one wash.

DoYouReally · 02/11/2025 00:11

SALaw · 01/11/2025 23:35

You can fit bedding and towels in together?!

Show quote history

Yes, large washing machine = less effort!