Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To want MIL to stop doing our laundry?

289 replies

HannahR21 · 23/07/2026 13:34

MIL is here every other Tuesday looking after our toddler whilst we both work. She is really helpful, and tries to do stuff round the house. Recently, she has started putting washes on. I find this a step too far - the first time this happened, there wasn’t a great deal of washing in our basket - it would have fit in one wash. She left one item in the basket which was a rather ‘risque’ all in one bedroom outfit of mine if you get what I mean. She had obviously seen it, and decided to leave it (and nothing else) in the basket.

DH says she’s being helpful and it saves me a job so I should be grateful. I find it..invasive? Fully appreciate it may be a ‘me’ issue but thought it’d get some impartial views.

OP posts:
Nocommentisacomment · 23/07/2026 13:42

Whenever my mum comes over, she always helps with the laundry. Same with my MIL. I’ve honestly never thought twice about it.

If they don’t mind touching my kids’ skid-marked underwear and the dirty, food-stained clothes then why would I care?

Leopardspota · 23/07/2026 13:41

Can you leave the washing out for her, anything you don’t want her to wash/ hang stick in a cupboard? I do that with the cleaner. Nothing quite as exciting as a sexy suit… but I don’t want her to wash my husband’s jumpers as they shrink and she doesn’t sort it like I would (and yes, it’s ‘my’ job as husband does other stuff)

Everydayisdolmioday · 23/07/2026 13:41

My mil does this as well which I hate. The worst thing is she "sorts" the laundry but gets it wrong so ds1 can't find his work trousers (which he only has 2 of) because they have ended up in DH's drawer.

PetiteParakeet · 23/07/2026 13:41

I think it’s totally fair if you ask her not to do the washing - just because someone is trying to be helpful it doesn’t mean you have to let them do whatever they want and make you feel that you don’t have privacy and boundaries in your own home. And less awkward to mention it now than leave it for ages and then feel you can’t say anything! Is there anything else you could suggest that she helps with, or an activity with your toddler to keep her busy?

Cherrysoup · 23/07/2026 13:41

HannahR21 · 23/07/2026 13:37

I’ve asked DH to, he won’t as says she’s doing me a favour and it would be awkward to bring up, he just suggested I don’t leave anything in there I wouldn’t want her to wash so remove it the night before.

So he’d rather put you out than ask her a very straightforward request to leave the laundry alone? Is it in your room, the laundry basket? Just tell her to stop, surely it isn’t that tricky?

PeatandDieselfan · 23/07/2026 13:41

I used to have this issue, and felt exactly like you do. I hated feeling like someone else was cleaning after me, but I felt so ungrateful whenever I complained about it!

Don't know what the right answer is, but for me, over time it mattered less. Eventually she stopped doing it, because everything got too much for her, and I started to do hers for her. Now it just feels sad that I ever minded.

Bubblefun70 · 23/07/2026 13:40

Let her do the laundry but do not leave any 'risque' items in there to avoid any embarrassment.

OhamIreally · 23/07/2026 13:39

Why is the favour just to you?

MrSchubertWhiskers · 23/07/2026 13:38

Yanbu, tell her. If she persists, get a lock for your bedroom door and lock the washing basket in there before you go out

Byron1990 · 23/07/2026 13:38

YANBU, last time my MiL stayed she washed and folded all my thongs, I felt really uncomfortable

Greenleavesandsunshine · 23/07/2026 13:37

You’re mad. She can do mine. When your kids are young you take the wins where you can. She now knows you have sex with her son and you enjoy it, I kinda think she might already have guessed that.

HannahR21 · 23/07/2026 13:37

Cherrysoup · 23/07/2026 13:36

Can you allocate other jobs or just speak to her and tell her to leave the washing alone? Or get your Dh to tell her?

I’ve asked DH to, he won’t as says she’s doing me a favour and it would be awkward to bring up, he just suggested I don’t leave anything in there I wouldn’t want her to wash so remove it the night before.

OP posts:
Cherrysoup · 23/07/2026 13:36

Can you allocate other jobs or just speak to her and tell her to leave the washing alone? Or get your Dh to tell her?

WonderingWanda · 23/07/2026 13:36

Send her round to mine, we've got mountains of washing she can do. Does she iron as well?