Page 4 | AIBU to ask my lodger to cut down on washing machine use?

Member869894 · 2026-08-11T10:22:35+00:00

More of a WWYD really and I'm aware this is a first world problem. I have a lodger. He's nice enough but he uses the washing machine 4-5 times a WEEK. This morning I've come downstairs to a lone pair of shorts in there swishing around. I'm not good at confrontation. How do i broach this without offending him?

Tryingtokeepgoing · 13/08/2026 11:49

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 13/08/2026 10:05

TBH I’d chuck towels in with the bedding or the whites. But then I’m not one of those clean-freak MNers who must have a clean bath towel every day, because of dead skin cells on a used one, not to mention deadly lurking germs…

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Well in my experience two bath sheets, a couple of gym towels and three of four hand towels (from bathrooms and cloakrooms, before you assume I use them once...) will overload a standard sized Miele washing machine if you put them in with a set of king sized bed linen. Perhaps if I had an industrial machine they'd fit. But then there wouldn't be enough space on the line to dry all of that at once, so it'd be a pointless excercise :)

RealMember · 13/08/2026 11:37

OP please update I'm invested

CuteOrangeElephant · 13/08/2026 11:33

NeonCat · 13/08/2026 10:54

Size of the machine must make a difference as there is no way we could fit some of the described laundry loads into our machine. We also do more washing and use the tumble dryer for various health related reasons. I wouldn’t run less than half a load, however.

Yes I am actually quite surprised at the number of people that wash towels and bedding together? My washing machine is full with kingsize duvet cover, sheets and pillow cases. It's a 8kg capacity one. No way could I fit the towels in!

UniquePinkSwan · 13/08/2026 11:06

Seajaye · 11/08/2026 14:08

Tell him you are concerned about climate change caused by consumer waste, and its ' long term impact on the planet, and 2 washes, one lights and one darks, is all you have allowed for his his rent in the light of your concerns.

Otherwise you can renegotiate the rent to allow for energy costs and fair wear and tear on your washing machine. But the climate change point is a very valid one during all these heaters, and it will only get worse if people's habits and feelings of entitlement don't change .

I’d just roll my eyes at this tbh

NeonCat · 13/08/2026 10:54

Size of the machine must make a difference as there is no way we could fit some of the described laundry loads into our machine. We also do more washing and use the tumble dryer for various health related reasons. I wouldn’t run less than half a load, however.

wfhwfh · 13/08/2026 10:21

Lomonald · 11/08/2026 11:28

I mean just this!

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This is really reasonable for you to share. There’s environmental as well as cost considerations. Anyone who owns a home would understand this.

I think just raise it in a low-key (but clear) way and give him a chance to amend his ways. You are not asking him to do anything unreasonable - just act like a reasonable adult!

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 13/08/2026 10:05

Tryingtokeepgoing · 13/08/2026 09:10

Well I don't see how I could do less than 4, because there's one for bedding, one for towels, one for whites and one for coloureds in a normal week. Short of overloading the machine, there's nowhere to cut back. But at less than 20p a wash I'll live with the 'waste'!!

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TBH I’d chuck towels in with the bedding or the whites. But then I’m not one of those clean-freak MNers who must have a clean bath towel every day, because of dead skin cells on a used one, not to mention deadly lurking germs…

TheTortiePuffinNeedsHerBreakfast · 13/08/2026 09:57

My SIL had lodgers for years. The rent always included all bills, on a "fair usage" basis. Over the years she added to that to give some guidelines, eg no heating on if not home, no excessively long showers. I think she said max 4 loads per week for washing, regardless of how full they were, ie fine if he washes single item but it counts as one of his loads.

Dancingonlies · 13/08/2026 09:55

I think you are being quite controlling to be honest. I definitely do that many loads. Sometimes due to disorganisation/ADHD I forget something so need and have to do another wash. Thankfully I have my own house but really if all else is well I’d leave this. You could lose a good lodger over something so minor.

Lomonald · 13/08/2026 09:55

Tryingtokeepgoing · 13/08/2026 09:10

Well I don't see how I could do less than 4, because there's one for bedding, one for towels, one for whites and one for coloureds in a normal week. Short of overloading the machine, there's nowhere to cut back. But at less than 20p a wash I'll live with the 'waste'!!

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Are you just washing your own things because I think washing 4/5 times a week is a lot to wash for 1 person

ETA it is none of my business I'm just curious.

InterestedDad37 · 13/08/2026 09:49

Member869894 · 11/08/2026 11:44

Thanks for all your replies. I'm usually pretty assertive and reasonable; I think its the fact that he's living in my house makes it tricky as I dont want an atmosphere. He uses the eco wash which is 2 hours long. I will say something as now Ive just gone down and on this beautiful hot sunny day the spindryer is whirring...
He works from home so doesn't do anything hot or sweaty and doesnt do sport.

I think you have to be straight with him - he clearly has no common sense 🤯
Don't lose the message in polite wording - just be straight with the idiot him.

Tryingtokeepgoing · 13/08/2026 09:10

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 13/08/2026 08:34

TBH I’d have thought 4-5 loads a week for one person was really excessive, not to mention wasteful.

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Well I don't see how I could do less than 4, because there's one for bedding, one for towels, one for whites and one for coloureds in a normal week. Short of overloading the machine, there's nowhere to cut back. But at less than 20p a wash I'll live with the 'waste'!!

Boomer55 · 13/08/2026 08:41

BerryTwister · 11/08/2026 13:27

I'm pretty sure that it's not good for a washing machine to have too light a load, same as with a too heavy load. The drum doesn't spin properly.

And as for using the tumble dryer in a heatwave - words fail me!

The OP said ‘spin dryer’ which isn't the same as a tumble dryer.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 13/08/2026 08:34

Growlybear83 · 11/08/2026 11:53

Just a pair of shorts on its own is unreasonable, but I don’t think 4-5 loads over a week is unreasonable.

TBH I’d have thought 4-5 loads a week for one person was really excessive, not to mention wasteful.

MandemChickenShop · 13/08/2026 08:32

wash cost like 50p, so if you would rather he only do 3 a week and not 5, you are getting wound up over a £1 a week.

fair enough to raise it from a general sustainability pov but I'd be careful about pushing it too hard, it's relatively minor in the round

Isobel201 · 13/08/2026 08:19

Member869894 · 11/08/2026 20:19

Sorry all ;I haven't worked out how to get the text in the box.. hes been out all day so l'll have a word tomorrow and report back.

Just click Quote underneath the post where you want to highlight the text

chaosmaker · 13/08/2026 07:40

Member869894 · 11/08/2026 20:19

Sorry all ;I haven't worked out how to get the text in the box.. hes been out all day so l'll have a word tomorrow and report back.

How did it go?

Also hope that people are generally wetting their toothbrush, turning the tap off, brushing teeth and then rinsing toothbrush. Not leaving the tap running. It's such a waste of water.

Original poster

Member869894 · 11/08/2026 20:19

Sorry all ;I haven't worked out how to get the text in the box.. hes been out all day so l'll have a word tomorrow and report back.

OP posts:

cordelia16 · 11/08/2026 18:38

BerryTwister · 11/08/2026 18:26

@cordelia16 the first sentence was a quite from another poster, and the second sentence was OP replying.

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Ah! That makes sense! All the text being in the same box/same font confused me.

Thank you.

BerryTwister · 11/08/2026 18:26

cordelia16 · 11/08/2026 17:59

Aren't you the OP? Why are you speaking about the OP in third person as if you're a separate person? I'm confused.

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@cordelia16 the first sentence was a quite from another poster, and the second sentence was OP replying.

BerryTwister · 11/08/2026 18:23

IronEverything · 11/08/2026 13:52

Are you familiar with the hand wash cycle on the washing machine? It's incredible what these new fangled appliances can go these days.

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@IronEverything That's just a gentle cool cycle. The expectation is still that the machine has multiple garments in it. If you have a dishwasher, would you put it on with one mug in it, just because you wanted to use the same mug in a couple of hours time?

cordelia16 · 11/08/2026 17:59

Member869894 · 11/08/2026 16:05

OP hasn’t mentioned the tumble dryer. She said spin dryer - which is an automatic part of every cycle

He is using the tumble dryer too. I think his use of the facilities is unreasonable.

Aren't you the OP? Why are you speaking about the OP in third person as if you're a separate person? I'm confused.

muddyford · 11/08/2026 17:43

I live on my own. I do two loads a week.

ghostperfume6 · 11/08/2026 17:27

RandomUsernameHere · 11/08/2026 15:30

4-5 loads a week for one person is ridiculous, as is washing one item on its own. I bet he wouldn’t do that if he was paying the bills.

I probably do 3-4 loads a week as a single person and I’m not one for washing stuff after one use (sports wear/knickers excluded!)

work clothes
gym clothes
bath mats
towels (bath, hand, tea towels) and flannels
cloths, reusable mop pads
bedding (super king)
pjs
weekend clothes/not work clothes
blankets/throws/cushion covers

all need washing

ilovepuppies2019 · 11/08/2026 17:22

Wow. I have a ring washing machine a 10 minute cycle. I wash everyday and wouldn’t consider anything less. Underwear and towels are washed daily along with anything else that needs washing.