Page 5 | 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?

susiedaisy1912 · 11/08/2026 17:15

NinaGeiger · 11/08/2026 11:43

Our washing machine actually went funny recently because I put just 3 items in and one was heavy (a bath mat).
Normally I pack it so full the stuff in the middle is still dry (exaggeration but you get the idea) but my toddler accidentally pooed on the bath mat so it went straight with a cloth and a sock.
It just would not drain properly. We pulled it out and did all sorts of checks but then a plumber neighbour said it was just the small but heavy load - it was making it imbalanced inside so it stopped it working.
As soon as I filled it with other stuff it was fine!
Another reason not to wash tiny loads.

Mine does this when I try and out just the bathroom mat in. I have been wondering why it kept doing it

Gettingbysomehow · 11/08/2026 17:10

I live on my own in my house and do maximum 2 loads a week.
My nhs uniform has to be put on the hottest wash on its own. I have a tunic and trousers for everyday of the week, sweaty gym stuff and I wear clothes more than once.

MalificentOne · 11/08/2026 16:40

That does sound more of a habit he has than necessity, especially if it's one pair of shorts on its own, so you're not being unreasonable at all to want to say something. I think the easiest way in is to keep it practical rather than personal, so maybe mention that with water and electric costs the way they are you'd really appreciate it if he could try to batch things into one or two fuller loads a week rather than lots of small ones, and frame it as something you're asking of the household in general rather than singling him out. If it helps take the awkwardness out of it you could even suggest set days for laundry between you, so it just becomes a normal arrangement rather than a telling off, and most lodgers would rather have that clarity than feel like they're annoying you every time they go near the machine. Good luck.

BIossomtoes · 11/08/2026 16:36

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.

Nice drip feed.

CuteOrangeElephant · 11/08/2026 16:15

If you truly think he is being unreasonable you should have a conversation with him. He might change his habits, he might not.

I think you'll find that most lodgers will come with habits you don't necessarily agree with, the next one might have long showers or baths or want the heating very warm or leave the windows open in winter for ventilation.

Original poster

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.

OP posts:

EmeraldShamrock000 · 11/08/2026 15:51

Cordeliasdemonbabies · 11/08/2026 15:33

How is 5 loads a week not a lot for a single person? I do roughly 2 loads a week for 2 people. One coloured clothes, one sheets/towels and whites.

5 loads for one bloke is basically one wash per one and a half outfits!

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I do about 10 a week for a family of four and a dog.

CuteOrangeElephant · 11/08/2026 15:47

OneDreamyAquaEagle · 11/08/2026 15:42

Washing 4/5 loads a week, let alone a single pair of shorts, then using the tumble dryer in a heatwave is not "reasonable use of the facilities".

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I will agree that the single shorts is excessive, but 4-5 loads is still within a normal range even if it is on the higher side.

MajorProcrastination · 11/08/2026 15:45

AlwaysExtraHot · 11/08/2026 13:48

My machine's eco wash is just over three hours!

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Bloody hell! When do you run it?!

BIossomtoes · 11/08/2026 15:45

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

OneDreamyAquaEagle · 11/08/2026 15:42

CuteOrangeElephant · 11/08/2026 15:16

That is the tradeoff with having a lodger in the house.

You should not accept money for a room with facilities and then complain when a lodger makes reasonable use of the facilities.

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Washing 4/5 loads a week, let alone a single pair of shorts, then using the tumble dryer in a heatwave is not "reasonable use of the facilities".

theneighbourhadaparrot · 11/08/2026 15:40

Dobeebeedah · 11/08/2026 11:27

Tell him straight one load a week of outer clothes and one load of underwear sheets and towels on hot wash at 60 degrees. That's it. Any more and it's £1 per wash.

ridiculous
He lives there and is entitled to do as many loads as he needs. I do more than 3 a week.

HOWEVER one load for an item is ridiculous and that you can tell him that's it's not ok

Berlinlover · 11/08/2026 15:38

My partner is like this but he’s 71 so he won’t change now.

Cordeliasdemonbabies · 11/08/2026 15:33

IronEverything · 11/08/2026 12:13

Five loads a week isn't a lot at all. And he could have spilled something in the shorts and needed to throw them straight in the machine when he had nothing else to wash. If he was using it 5x a day I'd understand but I think you'd be very unreasonable to moan about 5x a week.

How is 5 loads a week not a lot for a single person? I do roughly 2 loads a week for 2 people. One coloured clothes, one sheets/towels and whites.

5 loads for one bloke is basically one wash per one and a half outfits!

Gwenhwyfar · 11/08/2026 15:31

"I have a kingsize bed but only use one pillow"

Normal because you only have one head. I do use two pillows because I sometimes put one on top of the other to read, but nobody needs four per person.

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.

Gwenhwyfar · 11/08/2026 15:29

CuteOrangeElephant · 11/08/2026 15:16

That is the tradeoff with having a lodger in the house.

You should not accept money for a room with facilities and then complain when a lodger makes reasonable use of the facilities.

Show quote history

Well, yes, I checked when I took on my own place where bills are inclusive that the LL cannot tell me how to use electricity and gas. He has to take the risk.

However, here it's not just about money. It's also about what you consider reasonable and running a machine with one pair of shorts in it isn't reasonable. I think she can at least ask him.

Isobel201 · 11/08/2026 15:22

Gwenhwyfar · 11/08/2026 14:02

"Bedding every 2 to 3 weeks....?!?! 😳"

Yes, absolutely fine even in the summer. My sheets don't smell.

As for king size, I think this is unlikely for a single lodger...and why would he have 4 pillow cases to wash every time?

I have a kingsize bed but only use one pillow

CuteOrangeElephant · 11/08/2026 15:16

Gwenhwyfar · 11/08/2026 15:07

No, just tell him it's not what you should do. It's also a waste of time for the lodger and the machine is less available for OP.

Show quote history

That is the tradeoff with having a lodger in the house.

You should not accept money for a room with facilities and then complain when a lodger makes reasonable use of the facilities.

Gwenhwyfar · 11/08/2026 15:07

Tryingtokeepgoing · 11/08/2026 14:32

Oh I agree, and as I posted early in the thread, washing just one thing is wasteful. But, in absolute terms it's not a lot of money so going back and saying that the lodger will have to pay more for 'extra' washes is not going to achieve the right result I don't think.

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No, just tell him it's not what you should do. It's also a waste of time for the lodger and the machine is less available for OP.

Gwenhwyfar · 11/08/2026 15:05

BIossomtoes · 11/08/2026 14:28

It’s not fine. Our sheets are washed every week. I can’t imagine how disgusting they’d be after three weeks.

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I can tell you that my sheets are fine. They don't smell.
If you are more smelly that's Ok, but a single person shouldn't be making their sheets that dirty and in any case, a double or single sheet and a top sheet/duvet cover doesn't fill a machine.

IronEverything · 11/08/2026 15:01

Gwenhwyfar · 11/08/2026 14:02

"Bedding every 2 to 3 weeks....?!?! 😳"

Yes, absolutely fine even in the summer. My sheets don't smell.

As for king size, I think this is unlikely for a single lodger...and why would he have 4 pillow cases to wash every time?

You might not think it's stinks but I can guarantee you it does.

JanBlues2026 · 11/08/2026 14:55

NinaGeiger · 11/08/2026 11:43

Our washing machine actually went funny recently because I put just 3 items in and one was heavy (a bath mat).
Normally I pack it so full the stuff in the middle is still dry (exaggeration but you get the idea) but my toddler accidentally pooed on the bath mat so it went straight with a cloth and a sock.
It just would not drain properly. We pulled it out and did all sorts of checks but then a plumber neighbour said it was just the small but heavy load - it was making it imbalanced inside so it stopped it working.
As soon as I filled it with other stuff it was fine!
Another reason not to wash tiny loads.

I’ve done this a few times with a bath mat before I realised

BruFord · 11/08/2026 14:52

@CuteOrangeElephant If it costs that little, pointing out the environmental impact is the better approach then, because it is incredibly wasteful.

My DD's long baths, however, had both an environmental and a financial impact!

CuteOrangeElephant · 11/08/2026 14:50

Tryingtokeepgoing · 11/08/2026 14:32

Oh I agree, and as I posted early in the thread, washing just one thing is wasteful. But, in absolute terms it's not a lot of money so going back and saying that the lodger will have to pay more for 'extra' washes is not going to achieve the right result I don't think.

Show quote history

That is right. I just looked up how much my machine uses (it handily keeps track in an app).

For a normal cotton cycle at 30 degrees that lasts 3 hours it is using 0.4kWh.
For delicates at 30 degrees it's 0.1kWH.

So even if you think your lodger is running the washing machine 3 times a week too many you are talking about 30p in electricity plus water costs (about 50p according to Google). You will come across as petty.