do you rewash laundry if cat lies on it?

Simonandrod · 2025-11-26T11:43:38+00:00

I have a "helpful" teen who keeps getting washing out of tumble dryer (of course only when there's something in there she wants!). She takes hers and leaves the rest in the laundry basket, which the cat then colonises. (If I do it I put it away immediately as know she has a fondness for clean clothes!). Anyway, despite telling teen over and over again what happens, she keeps doing it and cat keeps going on clean laundry and I keep re washing it. But do I really need to? Very tempted to just put it away. She doesn't shed too badly, so it's not covered in hair. AIBU to put away laundry and not re wash it?

EmpressaurusKitty · 26/11/2025 13:41

This used to be a jumper, but it’s a cat bed now.

do you rewash laundry if cat lies on it?

randomchap · 26/11/2025 13:20

Walker1178 · 26/11/2025 12:53

Freshly washed sheet that DP draped over the chair to dry due to the rain outside. Just look at her face, she doesn’t give a shit that’s it’s still slightly damp. And yes, once dry it was given a shake and put in the airing cupboard ready to be used..

And with a black and white cat, you can't even wear clothes that hide the hair. It always stands out.

Mind you, it's worth it. Cute kitty

Calliopespa · 26/11/2025 13:11

Walker1178 · 26/11/2025 12:53

Freshly washed sheet that DP draped over the chair to dry due to the rain outside. Just look at her face, she doesn’t give a shit that’s it’s still slightly damp. And yes, once dry it was given a shake and put in the airing cupboard ready to be used..

She's done that on purrrpose, naughty girl!

EmpressaurusKitty · 26/11/2025 13:07

Calliopespa · 26/11/2025 12:46

I think you don't need to op.

BUT I totally get it. I love the feeling of pristinely clean laundry going into the drawers. For me it might depend what was in it. If it were jeans or sportskit, possibly not - and especially not if I put it on straight from the laundry basket.

But bedding, Pj's, underwear etc I would have the same instinct as you and want it all nice and perfectly fresh for the cupboard. But I am nonetheless sure it probably isn't necessary.

Not just unnecessary but a huge waste of water & energy if the OP’s doing it regularly.

Walker1178 · 26/11/2025 12:53

Freshly washed sheet that DP draped over the chair to dry due to the rain outside. Just look at her face, she doesn’t give a shit that’s it’s still slightly damp. And yes, once dry it was given a shake and put in the airing cupboard ready to be used..

GiantTeddyIsTired · 26/11/2025 12:50

My cat prefers dirty laundry thank goodness, although boy cat, if he detects my son's clean laundry when he's annoyed with us, will pee on it, (only if unfolded) so we can't leave it lying around.

In any case. No. If they've just sat on it, no. Only if it's been defiled :(

Sprogonthetyne · 26/11/2025 12:49

I definitely don't think you need to re-wash, but if it bothers you, would a lidded laundry basket help? Might be easier then trying to retrain the teen

Calliopespa · 26/11/2025 12:46

I think you don't need to op.

BUT I totally get it. I love the feeling of pristinely clean laundry going into the drawers. For me it might depend what was in it. If it were jeans or sportskit, possibly not - and especially not if I put it on straight from the laundry basket.

But bedding, Pj's, underwear etc I would have the same instinct as you and want it all nice and perfectly fresh for the cupboard. But I am nonetheless sure it probably isn't necessary.

GooseOnMyGrave · 26/11/2025 12:45

Between this and the pube in sink thread MN is bonkers today.

BillieWiper · 26/11/2025 12:45

Surely he'd only be lying on the one item on top of the pile? Unless all your laundry was strewn about and laid out flat and the cat kind of commandeered that whole area?

I would try and remove the hairs but not re-wash.

shellyleppard · 26/11/2025 12:41

Unless its heavily covered in fur then it goes away

Edenmum2 · 26/11/2025 12:40

Good god no

ElderlyCat · 26/11/2025 12:33

Only if there is a visible mark - mud, poo, sick etc. Otherwise absolutely not. My cat climbs on their knees as soon as they sit down so it’s only the same thing!

Delphiniumandlupins · 26/11/2025 12:20

I wouldn't rewash unless obviously dirty, or it's been a couple of days. Could you get the teen to put the basket of laundry out of the cat's reach? Or get the teen to do the laundry (or you stop doing theirs) then they might be more careful.

MissDoubleU · 26/11/2025 12:18

Does your cat have fleas? Because that’s the only reason you’d have to. As PP said don’t wash your trousers every time your cat sits on your lap? Or wash your bedding every day your cat sleeps on that?

You’re giving yourself a hell of a lot of extra work for no reason

Eestar · 26/11/2025 12:10

I think the voting is confusing and skewing the results. The comments seem to almost all agree that there is no need to rewash (as do I!)

Gallivant · 26/11/2025 12:07

You have a DD problem, not a cat problem.

MrTiddlesTheCat · 26/11/2025 12:05

Depends on the cat. Mr Tiddles likes wading through mud, it'd be filthy if he'd been on it. Miss Tiddles is a princess, she doesn't leave dirt behind.

EmpressaurusKitty · 26/11/2025 12:04

PullingOutHair123 · 26/11/2025 11:55

Your energy and water bills will be very grateful if you don't rewash clean clothes.

And YABVU to be repeatedly tumble drying them too.

EmpressaurusKitty · 26/11/2025 12:03

ImFineItsAllFine · 26/11/2025 11:57

Ah, so not just my cat that likes to barf on a stack of clean washing then?

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She’s never actually done that, to be fair. But it’s the only time I would feel the need to rewash something.

ContinuewithGoogle · 26/11/2025 12:01

Isn't the cat living at home? What difference does it make if the cat comes in the laundry basket or in the room?

TheGrimSqueakersFlea · 26/11/2025 11:59

Overtheatlantic · 26/11/2025 11:47

I wouldn’t rewash it but then I sleep with my cheek on the cat’s backside so we’re fairly integrated.

@Overtheatlantic 🤢 That's a dangerous game you're playing. Cat farts are the worst

ImFineItsAllFine · 26/11/2025 11:57

EmpressaurusKitty · 26/11/2025 11:48

Not unless she’s actually thrown up on it.

Ah, so not just my cat that likes to barf on a stack of clean washing then?

PullingOutHair123 · 26/11/2025 11:55

Your energy and water bills will be very grateful if you don't rewash clean clothes.

Scampuss · 26/11/2025 11:54

I wash and dry everything inside out so any hairs would be on the inside! But if it was very hairy I'd put it back in the dryer on low for 10 minutes to catch the hairs.