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AIBU?

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Original poster

Why is there no solution to the 'used-once-but-not-dirty' clothes pile?

320 replies

Hicc · 21/07/2026 17:59

We all have this, don't we? A pile of clothes on a chair in the bedroom that aren't dirty enough to wash but not clean enough to go back in the wardrobe.

Mine sit on a chair looking untidy.

Try as I might, I can't find a solution. Blanket ladders aren't sturdy enough to put up with daily use, chairs take up a lot of space, hooks don't work for two people's worth of clothes.

AIBU for being frustrated there is not a magical solution to this? Or is there one that is being gate-kept by the eternally tidy and house proud crew?

OP posts:
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5
Everydayimhuffling · 21/07/2026 19:46

We have a basket with a lid for this purpose. Slightly tidier than the chair or floor pile. Jumpers and jeans go back in the wardrobe though. Leggings, bras, pyjamas etc go in the basket

IzzytWorthit · 21/07/2026 19:45

Wirkwirk · 21/07/2026 18:02

IMO if they're clean enough to wear again, they're clean enough to go back in the wardrobe.

Yes, so long as they are aired before putting away what harm can they do?

BigGapMum · 21/07/2026 19:43

Put them back onto the wardrobe, but twist the hanger around so it hooks over the bar from the back. That way you'll be able to easily identify the half worn clothes.

KrazyKatty · 21/07/2026 19:40

If I’m in town shopping/coffee/hobby etc. and only worn clothes for less than say, 4 hours, I change as soon as I get home and hang them on a clothes hanger on the outside of the wardrobe door. I’ll probably wear them again briefly two or three days later and rotate the other ‘going out’ clothes. They usually go in the wash after 2 wears.

Underwear - I’ll change daily.

3luckystars · 21/07/2026 19:40

I know!! I was joking. I wear things loads of times 😂

SeasideDaisy · 21/07/2026 19:40

3luckystars · 21/07/2026 19:36

You can’t put them back in the wardrobe!!!
They would contaminate the clean clothes!!! That’s insane.

Contaminate them with what? If they are dirty enough to be considered catching then they go in the wash!
crazy crazy thread.

NullaEffugium · 21/07/2026 19:38

SeasideDaisy · 21/07/2026 19:34

Even with jeans?!?
I don’t think that people are nose blind, I just assume they don’t have the means or knowledge to care for themselves properly.

Show quote history

Well it is a fact that as we age our sense of smell degrades into nose blindness. So you can’t trust the sniff test.

Yes jeans get washed too. I tend to wear jeans when I’m doing physical labour in the garden or diy about the house or on a hike/horse ride so they are definitely always dirty after one wear. Jeans aren’t loungewear.

3luckystars · 21/07/2026 19:37

Hang them up in a plastic bag maybe , use gloves though.

SourdoughSally · 21/07/2026 19:37

Hang them back in your wardrobe inside out. Then you know they've been worn already.

3luckystars · 21/07/2026 19:36

You can’t put them back in the wardrobe!!!
They would contaminate the clean clothes!!! That’s insane.

Allseeingallknowing · 21/07/2026 19:36

NullaEffugium · 21/07/2026 19:35

You must be someone who thinks washing plates and tea mugs after one use is also wasting water and energy.

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I wouldn’t use the same cup twice, but wouldn’t wash up until I had enough crockery to justify filling a bowl with soapy water. That’s not relevant to clothes though, which, if they look and smell clean ,do not need to be washed after every use.

NullaEffugium · 21/07/2026 19:35

Allseeingallknowing · 21/07/2026 18:16

I hope you are the only person- sounds like a water and energy wasting obsession to me !

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You must be someone who thinks washing plates and tea mugs after one use is also wasting water and energy.

SeasideDaisy · 21/07/2026 19:34

NullaEffugium · 21/07/2026 19:32

I do too. I think it’s grim to wear something more than once without washing it or otherwise cleaning it- I.e a heavy wool jumper I will sponge clean and air dry after each wear.

I read an article about how the habit of re-wearing clothes gets worse as we age and we become more nose blind. That the ‘old people’ smell comes from thinking clothes aren’t dirty enough to wash and re-wearing them when no, they are actually in need of a wash.

Only way to prevent this is to wash/clean everything you wear even if it is for a few hours. I also wash my coats after a few wears.

Show quote history

Even with jeans?!?
I don’t think that people are nose blind, I just assume they don’t have the means or knowledge to care for themselves properly.

WonsWoo · 21/07/2026 19:33

I am desperate for one of these. We had one in a hotel room in Korea and it was so useful
.Steam closet

NullaEffugium · 21/07/2026 19:32

TotallyTangerineGeum · 21/07/2026 18:12

I must be the only person who washes every item of clothing after each wear. Especially at this time of year!

I do too. I think it’s grim to wear something more than once without washing it or otherwise cleaning it- I.e a heavy wool jumper I will sponge clean and air dry after each wear.

I read an article about how the habit of re-wearing clothes gets worse as we age and we become more nose blind. That the ‘old people’ smell comes from thinking clothes aren’t dirty enough to wash and re-wearing them when no, they are actually in need of a wash.

Only way to prevent this is to wash/clean everything you wear even if it is for a few hours. I also wash my coats after a few wears.

eurochick · 21/07/2026 19:31

This is why people have exercise bikes.

SeasideDaisy · 21/07/2026 19:31

DustyMaiden · 21/07/2026 18:01

If you are going to wear it again put it in the wardrobe. If it’s too dirty to go in the wardrobe. Put it in the laundry basket.

This is what I do

Allseeingallknowing · 21/07/2026 19:28

mumumental · 21/07/2026 19:12

I fold clean but worn things at the bottom
of the bed and hang dresses behind the door.

Don’t they end up on the floor?

MrsClattenburg · 21/07/2026 19:27

I have never seen a moth in a wardrobe.

My clothes have never got moth holes in them.

I re-wear clothes like a normal person.

viques · 21/07/2026 19:26

I have a clothes ladder. Leans against a wall . Plenty of room for worn once stuff.

Drawers and wardrobes are for clean clothes.

Tummygrumbling · 21/07/2026 19:24

Twatterati · 21/07/2026 18:59

I’ve had one of these for several years and it does the trick nicely

https://amzn.eu/d/0dyfTjT3

🤣🤣

Yetone · 21/07/2026 19:21

ThisOneLife · 21/07/2026 18:27

What do you think is going to happen if you put them back in the wardrobe?!!

No matter how clean you are, your clothes will have a very slight worn smell to them after they have been worn. If you put all your worn clothes in the closed environment of a wardrobe the smell of all your clothes will get worse. Just air them until the next wear.

Lunde · 21/07/2026 19:21

I have a basket on one of my shelves that the things are neatly folded into. If it fills up and I haven't worn them - I transfer the oldest to the washing basket

FrostyPalms · 21/07/2026 19:20

Canonlythinkofthisone · 21/07/2026 18:19

Surely if its clean enough to wear again...it's clean enough to go back in the wardrobe....

No, because I might wear a pair of trousers 2 or 3 times, but if I put it back in the wardrobe I would think it was clean or would have no idea how often it had been worn.