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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think DH shouldn’t have washed this?

130 replies

Power5 · 07/05/2026 13:13

We have garden furniture at the back of our garden with trees above , so over the winter it bears the brunt of the elements and is covered in bird crap etc.

DH has taken it off this morning and put it in the washing machine.

Is it me or is this really unhygienic given it’s covered in all sorts of crap?! He didn’t wash it down first .

OP posts:
Usernamenotav · 07/05/2026 22:20

The literally purpose of a washing machine is to wash things that are dirty. Do you wipe yourself down before you go in the shower?

PeopleWatching17 · 07/05/2026 22:18

Burningbud1981 · 07/05/2026 13:33

Husband uses washing machine to wash something shocker !!🙄

What a bastard 🙂

Coffeeismyfriend1 · 07/05/2026 22:14

We (and by we I mostly mean DH as he does most of the washing) put cloth nappies for two kids through ours and it lasted well over ten years. If you’re worried put it on a hot wash cycle (which is actually a good idea to do once a month anyway).

On terms of the waterproofing, ideally you should wash it with a specific detergent designed for waterproof things but you can always reproof it.

QuietComet · 07/05/2026 22:04

When I was reading up about reusable nappies, I learned that washing machines are so efficient nowadays that you can put in shitty nappies and they will come out clean and the machine will be fine.
Washing machines are literally there to wash stuff.
If you're worried, whack the machine on a boil wash with machine cleaner after.

CoastalCalm · 07/05/2026 22:01

I wash our covers in mine

Whiteheadhouse · 07/05/2026 19:38

I suppose he might have done a quick power wash to lift most of it off and then wash in the machine.
Do a 90 degree on empty and it will clear it out.

PullyDog · 07/05/2026 19:02

Power5 · 07/05/2026 14:18

Urgh I hadn’t even thought of that. I’ll ask him when he’s off his call.

That’s why men should leave the washing to the ladies!!

😂rage bait, booooooring

MyDeftDuck · 07/05/2026 18:24

7catsisnotenough · 07/05/2026 17:50

@MyDeftDuck🤣

🤷‍♀️🙄

Wetcoatsandmudagain · 07/05/2026 18:18

Grab a box of Dr Beckams deep clean washing machine cleaner. Pays to do this once in a while anyway

Happyjoe · 07/05/2026 18:09

No, utter gross!!!! I couldn't even look at the washing machine in the same light again.

And this is the kind of thing my OH would do too - man logic I call it!

SillyBilly123456 · 07/05/2026 18:02

I think it’s fine as long as you put it on an empty hot wash afterwards. You could even chuck in some of that disinfectant washing liquid for clothes if it bothers you too much.

lornad00m · 07/05/2026 17:56

I'd have binned it tbh. Bird poo gives me the giant ick.

If you can use bleach in your machine, stick that in on a boil wash.

7catsisnotenough · 07/05/2026 17:50

@MyDeftDuck🤣

GingerdeadMan · 07/05/2026 17:26

ToKittyornottoKitty · 07/05/2026 16:38

Why?

Presumably as some kind of passive aggressive revenge 🙄

MyDeftDuck · 07/05/2026 17:22

But why didn’t you put some sort of protective cover on for the winter?

AWeeCupOfTeaAndAnIndividualFruitTrifle · 07/05/2026 17:19

As poo goes, bird guano is one of the least disgusting. I think people just think of it as worse because it comes from the sky and sometimes lands in people's hair. It's certainly far less gross than human poo in washable nappies, as PP said.

If you had to wash a muddy sports kit, that mud would have come from 'the outside' too. Dirty fabric is exactly what washing machines love!

BerryTwister · 07/05/2026 17:17

Power5 · 07/05/2026 14:46

I’ll need to check. Unsurprisingly, buying furniture covers isn’t really my thing!

Is it a man’s job 😂

maftay · 07/05/2026 17:17

Tarpaulin/heavy duty covers in future. Only need to be hosed down. Well at least that's all I do with them!

pimplebum · 07/05/2026 17:12

Power5 · 07/05/2026 14:18

Urgh I hadn’t even thought of that. I’ll ask him when he’s off his call.

That’s why men should leave the washing to the ladies!!

Please tell me you're joking
don't perpetuate sexism

also don't make any more fuss over a bloody garden furniture cover get a life !

BillieWiper · 07/05/2026 16:55

I'd probably have hosed it down to remove at least some of the visible crap before then putting it in machine once I'd wrung it out a bit.

I'd be more concerned it wasn't machine washable and might get deformed and not fit back on the furniture. Or it was so heavy it could damage drum of machine?

But if it's just cleanliness you're worried about just run a very hot wash empty with washing machine cleaner or just nothing.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 07/05/2026 16:38

Redrosesposies · 07/05/2026 16:34

I'd put just his clothes in on the longest possible hottest wash before I used it for anyone else's clothes.

Why?

Redrosesposies · 07/05/2026 16:34

I'd put just his clothes in on the longest possible hottest wash before I used it for anyone else's clothes.

MyMilchick · 07/05/2026 16:33

Power5 · 07/05/2026 14:18

Urgh I hadn’t even thought of that. I’ll ask him when he’s off his call.

That’s why men should leave the washing to the ladies!!

Jesus. 1950 called.........

lazyarse123 · 07/05/2026 16:30

Power5 · 07/05/2026 14:18

Urgh I hadn’t even thought of that. I’ll ask him when he’s off his call.

That’s why men should leave the washing to the ladies!!

Well obviously not because you hadn't thought of it. Apart from the ridiculousness of you even saying that.
Perhaps this year take the cover off before winter,that's the point of them.

Mt563 · 07/05/2026 16:21

Aa, the classic "husband didn't do a thing how I wanted" (despite no actual damage incurred and task completed successfully).

Later followed by, my husband doesn't do anything, why is it all on me?!

Who knows. Who knows.