How many washes do you get?

[SockFluffInTheBath]

I’ve just killed another washing machine (always bearings) apparently I just use it too much. I do 16 full loads a week and get almost 2 years so say approx 1600 washes. Apparently this is unreasonable bordering commercial

I’m not after a debate about rewearing pants, just tell me please how many washes do you reckon you get from a machine?

OP, did you check the cycle length before you bought your new machine? You might have the same problem in that a full load takes 3hrs, and a half load an hour.

16 loads?? Have you got a huge family?

Or are you one of those MNers who wash towels after every use, and everything else that’s been breathed on?

We are a family of 5 adults, all doing our washing independently, so often 3 or more washloads aday

That sounds like a really inefficient way of doing things and a waste of resources. When DD is home I ask her to put her washing in the linen bin so that I can do full loads of similar colours together. She is perfectly capable of doing her own washing as she does it when she is in her student accommodation.

@SockFluffInTheBath

Action plan to make the new one last: * full loads only * no towels-only loads * stick to 1200 not 1400rpm * beds to be washed fortnightly * bung a calgon through occasionally (not affecting the bearings but can’t hurt, machine might get coked up if it lasts past 2 yrs!)

I’d also use towels longer. Two weeks is fine, they are only drying your clean body after all

I’d also use towels longer. Two weeks is fine, they are only drying your clean body after all
I find I can leave them longer in the summer and the winter as the heating dries them, but in the in between times they take ages to dry out after use so need washing weekly.

I don’t understand how people can do bedding in one load! Our bedding (super king, heavy high thread count cotton) takes two loads in itself, one for duvet cover and one sheet and pillowcases. Kids bedding ( doubles) is one load each.

Similarly, towels are bath sheets, plus hair and hand towels and then bath mats take three loads to wash them all.

Happily we are pretty scuzzy, towels are hung out to dry and washed weekly ish and bedding longer.

Clothes are probably 4-5 mixed loads a week and that is one preteens with bladder leakage issues. Undereducated changed daily, other items checked for stains and sniffed. I’ve been wearing the same hoodie for over week - over a long sleeve top and wear a Japanese apron when cooking, cleaning and eating, which generally keeps it clean.

Underwear not undereducated!

our bedding (superking sheet, 2xsingle duvet covers, 2x pillow cases) fit easily.
as does dc bedding (3x each single sheet, single duvet cover, pillow case)

8kg machine.

I don’t understand how people can do bedding in one load! Our bedding (super king, heavy high thread count cotton) takes two loads in itself, one for duvet cover and one sheet and pillowcases. Kids bedding ( doubles) is one load each

Our 300 TC king size duvet cover, sheet and pillow cases fit in our 8 kg machine with room to spare for clothes.

Looks like people are seeing a downside of double beds for children more washing.

Family of four here (no pets), average about 3 loads a week. But I don’t separate clothes as this is a total waste of time and money. Have had our machine about 6 years so far.

@BarbaraofSeville

I don’t understand how people can do bedding in one load! Our bedding (super king, heavy high thread count cotton) takes two loads in itself, one for duvet cover and one sheet and pillowcases. Kids bedding ( doubles) is one load each

Our 300 TC king size duvet cover, sheet and pillow cases fit in our 8 kg machine with room to spare for clothes.

Looks like people are seeing a downside of double beds for children more washing.

Ours is one double bed and one single, standard cotton fitted sheet, quilt cover, two pillowcases per bed (only me in the double so only two pillows). I washed DS's bedding this morning plus my pillowcases, two bath towels, two flannels, hand towel, tea towel and dish cloth. One load.

I told DS if he wants a double then I'll just swap!

Take out a British Gas white goods policy. They’ve fixed my washing machine twice and ten year old tumble drier twice and they are still going strong.

Buy a protection policy. We have one for our dishwasher. Pays for itself easily. Our is by domestic and general

Looks like people are seeing a downside of double beds for children more washing.

I am seeing the advantage of being smaller than average here. (There aren't many!) I'm under 5' and both teen/tween DC are smaller than average. (DH is 5'10)
No typical MN "strapping 6 foot" teens or husbands here!
We have a double bed, DC both have singles, and I change them every other week.
We probably do 5 loads of washing per week. All bedding would fit in the machine if I did at the same time I reckon.
A single duvet fits in the machine and I've washed those lots of times, although far less frequently recently (the cat was sick on it a few weeks ago) but not sure about a double.

Our 600tc super king bedding (cover, bottom sheet, 4 pillow cases) all fit in 9kg machine fine at once. I add Ds cot bed bottom sheet and hand towel all at once ( as all white)

I separate dark, white, woollens. But I don’t dark, colours, jeans so they would all go in together. Bedding and towels all white, so usually 60 together. But if I need to wash some white clothing, I would just add towels and do all on 40 that week for example. Bedding and towels usually only every 2 weeks. Ds cot bed duvet or sleeping bag goes in with regular dark or wool wash.

It sounds like you have too many categories and seperates. With a 9kg machine, you should easily fit both double bedding at once, or at least double with 1/2 the towels. Jeans and darks bung in all together. Wools, if you mean woolen jumpers , surely your dh alone isn’t filling a wool wash every week? Wear a jumper more than once, wash the couple dirty every other week rather than weekly

Bedding every 2weeks, and generally wash 2-3 loads a week. 16 is seriously a ridiculous amount.

I do

1-2 loads of sharks
1 coloured
1 whites/lights (which includes towels)

Bedding is 2 loads every fortnight (3 single beds & a king)

I have a 10kg washer, and everything is washed on 30-40 degree washes. Doing my bit to save the planet there

Sharks?

Darks!!

Also, @SockFluffInTheBath why on earth do you have a separate jeans load?

I can fit all my bedding in (super king) but I tend to split it and not do it all at once
So I might have a bottom sheet in plus socks, tops, a hand towel, whatever fills up the machine best. Think mine is 6 or 8kg

Mine is 10 years old at least. It might be on the way out. I think we do 6-8 washes a week. Quite a few small loads doing sports kit.

the bearings on mine are going too. done about the same number of washes over it's lifetime. bosch

@Nidan2Sandan

Sharks?

Darks!!

Also, @SockFluffInTheBath why on earth do you have a separate jeans load?

Just because there were enough pairs for a whole load this week. If there are only a couple they normally go with a dark wash, or colour wash if they’re not the jeans that perpetually run. DH sometimes wears jeans for work, depends what he’s doing.

You have too many jeans if you can do a whole load just for them @SockFluffInTheBath!

Wools, if you mean woolen jumpers , surely your dh alone isn’t filling a wool wash every week? Wear a jumper more than once, wash the couple dirty every other week rather than weekly

He has wool jumpers for work and I wash those in a wool cycle with his work trousers that need a delicate cycle (washed a pair on cotton 40 once and they shrank ). Between the jumpers and trousers it’s a full load (reduced capacity on wool cycle).

Finally found the bearings- you have to buy a whole half drum as they’re part of the assembled unit DH reckons it would be the best part of a day to get it done with his crocked arm.