Finally found a system to keep on top of the laundry, thought it might help someone else

[Bowtie292]

Incredibly boring I know but I've always struggling with the laundry. Usually end up with mountains of it that I then can't get dry. Our tumble drier is temperamental and I'm trying to keep our electric bill down.

So every week day morning I do a quick wash (ours is 15 mins) followed by a 10 minute spin.

Clothes go on the airer while we're at work.

Around 7pm I put the big items (t shirts, trousers, towels) in the tumble drier for about 10 mins. That's all they need to finish off drying. I then put the socks and pants in the drier with the door closed and the residual heat dries them over night.

Everything folded and put away with the socks and pants from the previous days wash.

Sounds a bit of a faff but it's really working well.

@Akire dettol laundry doesn’t kill dust mites though. Not washing bedding at least on a proper wash at 60 just means you’ll be infested with dust mites

I do a 30 min wash at 30 degrees followed by a 20 min spin for nearly everything, apart from whites, towels and bedding etc. I can get loads done in a couple of hours. Either hang it out or tumble normally only takes 1 hour. Nothing smells or is unclean.

There are probable million dust mites in my pillow and mattress and under the bed. I doubt my PJs on a 40c wash will do much damage

I like that you've got a system that works for you, I still have mounds of washing, it's helpful to know what you do.

But honestly, it's time people did away with tumble dryers. They're bad for the environment and completely unnecessary. I have never had one. I put the clothes up on a pulley maid and most are dry within a few hours. If they are still damp when I bring them down, I'll fold them and put them on a radiator in the winter.

Our kids are not going to survive if we keep on using so much electricity.

Great you’ve found a good system for you OP.

I like the sound of this routine, but I know I'd never have time in the mornings before work! You're very organised OP.

Maybe I could make this work in the summer but our house can drop to 5 degrees in the winter so tumble dryer is a must otherwise everything stays damp.

elbea this is obviously not the system I use for bedding.

I can't say I've ever even thought about dust mites. Is this something that people think about? Never crossed my mind.

sweetgingercat I agree, I would like to stop using the tumble drier. In the summer clothes go outside, in the winter I finish them off on the radiator but it's this mid-season time of year when I just can't get them completely dry. At least this uses a minimal amount of the electricity. I have tried just drying them on the airer but they never feel completely dry.

OP your system sounds fine!

We do a 30-degree 30-min wash every morning. Hang it outside or over airers - put away after work or leave overnight (indoors) if still damp. The only things that get washed over 30 are bedsheets and towels. I promise we don't smell 😊

It would be a lot easier to keep on top of your laundry if you didn't wash everything after just one wear! Bad for the clothes as well as your wallets (and the environment though I guess 15 minute wash isn't as bad as it could be)

I never run the washing machine overnight though (or the dishwasher), in my head it's a massive fire risk though not sure how bad it is in real life!

mswales as I already said, I don't wash every single thing after 1 wear. My jeans, work trousers, bras get a few wears but tops that I've been sitting at my desk in all day or clothes that I've been wearing to cook tea in, DS's pe kit, DH work tops whilst they're not dirty they're certainly not fresh. A 15 minute quick wash is all they need.

MegBusset same here, I don't think I'd sleep!

I'm always about whites , colours etc . Been doing washing for years , bung it all in , comes out clean on a 40° .

Sounds good op!
I wash everything at 30 unless really dirty (ds rugby kit!).

I might try this although I’m a bit dubious about the pants and socks smelling damp! I’ll have a try!

We got given a tumble dryer last week, and this system looks really interesting OP. Previously I have either hung outside, or inside over radiators, which I hate. We don't have room for the dryer in the house, so it is in the garage and am thinking of installing some airers or a pulley there too.

I'm not sure of a quick wash for us though - we are all far too smelly!

@Myonlysunshine123

Pack of 2 Indoor Outdoor Hanging Clothes 18 Peg Line Dryer Airer ]] Realised I may be the only person to call this a whirley gig! It works for me tho

That's called Paul in my house After Paul the 🐙

@Bowtie292

How filthy do people actually get? I sit in an office all day, DS sits at a desk. The clothes come out smelling nice and clean and they're so easy to dry. The problem I had was with damp washing, that's when clothes get wiffy.

babouchette AngelicaElizaAndPeggy I hope it helps!

You must have realised that MN is insanely competitive over washing clothes?! Post a thread asking about how often people wash bedding and towels and you’re guaranteed an 800 reply monster where posters pearl-clutch over others not changing their sheets every day.

I still remember a thread where someone posted about washing underwear at 30 degrees. It was EPIC. I’ve never seen so many disgusted people in one place.

Haven't got the time to mess about taking it out abd putting back in, I just set mine to wash and dry the load in the morning. Then iron and fold straight out of the machine later.

And there is the issue of so much washing!
Only wash if something smells or is visibly dirty. (Except underwear!) Most clothes Dan be worn multiple times.

@Akire

There are probable million dust mites in my pillow and mattress and under the bed. I doubt my PJs on a 40c wash will do much damage

Well I don’t really have anything to add to this thread but I must say I enjoyed this comment

As someone who’s never washed at more than 40 in my life my bed is obviously ripe for this year’s bushtucker bed mite challenge. ITV you know who to call

Yes 15 min wash all good here too! Only wear things once though, plus towels are done each after one use.

@Bowtie292 I suppose it depends if you or your family suffer from asthma or allergies. The dust mites faeces is a major allergen. Exposure in childhood is linked to allergy as an adult.

I doubt they do smell nice and clean.... What you can likely smell is remnants of the detergent & fabric conditioner lingering on your clothes still. Honestly, 15 mins isn't enough, simply because the washing machine will be using COLD water. Next time you wash any kitchen items in your sink, try washing them with cold water and see what happens - You'll struggle.
Clothes in any type of washing machine NEED hot water and so that will mean a cycle of 30 mins minimum!

@FrozenoutofCostco

I doubt they do smell nice and clean.... What you can likely smell is remnants of the detergent & fabric conditioner lingering on your clothes still. Honestly, 15 mins isn't enough, simply because the washing machine will be using COLD water. Next time you wash any kitchen items in your sink, try washing them with cold water and see what happens - You'll struggle. Clothes in any type of washing machine NEED hot water and so that will mean a cycle of 30 mins minimum!

Clothes in any type of washing machine NEED hot water and so that will mean a cycle of 30 mins minimum!

Doesn't this depend on the type of washing machine?

I use a top loader and can choose the water temperature and wash/rinse/spin cycle. This means I can chose a short/20-ish minute cycle with hot water.

15 minute wash? No thank you. Yabvvvu for that reason alone!