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

I think that's the best approach.

Also, if you have any recent bills to compare with previous ones, show him the increase. We're billed monthly for water and when my DD came home for a couple of weeks earlier in the summer, the bill nearly doubled because she likes to take long baths (she doesn't have a bath in her flat).* *I informed her of this!

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.

We had to do loads of washing when we went to an Airbnb because we had to rewash and dry all the sheets as the owner had used fabric conditioner on them. A quick google will tell you that you shouldn’t. It was overpowering. We also hill walk/scramble all day and clothes get very dirty. I am not bothered about the over use as we were 2 people in a 3 double bedroom house so probably only doing the washing of 6. How many guests do you have staying? Perhaps they only bought a few clothes.

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

Since he’s using it eg for a single pair of shorts definitely say it but otherwise when you said 4/5 washes a week as if it was a huge thing- people who have a lot of washing shouldn’t really be told oh that’s too much, they could easily judge someone else and say they wished they washed their clothes more! (I used to work with a guy who had heard the not washing jeans thing they used to say and we were trying to convince him that maybe he could wash them sometimes😉) He walked to work and wore the clothes he worked in and just sprayed loads of deodorant to mask. I made a big point of how I had to bring a spare top when walking and he said ‘god no I couldn’t be doing with that’. Lovely guy though so we left him to it!!

For one person?

"If you keep using the washing machine for less than a full load and the tumble dryer in summer I will have to raise your rent I'm afraid."

I think 4/5 loads a week is pretty reasonable. But I'd ask him to make sure he's only running a full load.

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 .

Ask him for an extra £20 or to reduce the amount of washing he does.
A pair of shorts is ridiculous. I definitely overuse the washing machine but never on less than half a load.

Tell him there’s a drought and to pack it in. My only proviso to this is if you have observed that he has very few clothes, then obviously you need to tread more carefully.

But on principle, he should know that we don't run a washing machine for just one thing. It would also be more convenient for him to own two pairs of shorts as well if he really needs clean shorts in a hurry.

"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?

But at a maximum of 20p for an eco cycle according to google, and 3 washes above the acceptable 'quota' of 2 that's a whole 60p a week or £30 a year. Just £2.50 a month. That's going to look rather petty surely, and in fact might make the lodger realise how cheap it is and put on even more washes ;)

This is nothing - we have paying guests in our Airbnb at the moment. Our tumble dryer is WiFi connected, and pings on my phone every time it finishes a cycle. The guests have been doing 3-4 washes A DAY! It’s driving me mad but I don’t think I can say anything, especially as it comes across as quite creepy that I am aware of how often they are doing a wash. Only another 3 days before they leave. I happened to take an electricity ready just before they arrived, so it will be interesting to see how much it has been this week.

But my rant aside, yes, your lodger is taking the piss

Bedding every 2 to 3 weeks....?!?! 😳I don't know about you, but weekly is the maximum period I want between changes of bed linen, and usually less because I like freshly laundered sheets!. But either way a king szed sheet, duvet cover and 4 pillow cases is a full load. On the towel front a conservative 2 bath sheets, two hand towels and maybe a couple more hand towels from the cloakrooms is another load a week. One load of coloured and one of whites and that's 4 loads a week. I am widowed, but I couldn't do fewer washes than that. And at 13p to 20p a wash on an eco cyle there isn't really much point ;)

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

I'd tell him, "look, you're of course free to use the facilities in the house, but I've noticed you do several small loads of laundry. This adds to the bills, so I'd like to have a chat about how we deal with this. I personally do fewer loads that are more full, and that works for me. If that doesn't work for you, you're welcome to do laundry as you do now, but then I'll have to ask you for an extra monthly fee to cover the extra cost".

It might make him change his address.

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

I’d offer to do the laundry for him and chuck it in with my own stuff.
Slippery slope. You take on the responsibility of making sure they've got clean clothes.

She said 'spin dryer'. Did she just mean the spin function of the washing machine?

You can't just up the rent. When rent is inclusive of bills, the LL has to accept it can be in her favour or not. I pay all inclusive rent and my LL can't tell me how much heating to use, for example.

On the other hand, not running a washing machine that's mainly empty is a general principle and not to do with bills so LL can just explain this to him.

I’d say 3 loads a week is ok. Maybe just ask he waits to do a full load, tell him the water bill has gone up loads so other option is you put his rent up

Is his rent inclusive of bills. Up it a bit but explain why. Give him the option to pay more ir reduce washing. Its got to be his choice as he's your lodger not your child