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?

Mix everything together, why wouldn’t you?

I easily do 10 a week and my machine is dying again and needs replacing.

Maybe try and push the washing back a bit
So wash bedding at 8 days, not 7. Or change the bottom sheet and pillow cases and flip the duvet over. Same with towels, make sure they're hung to dry and not left damp
Eek it out a bit more

@Clymene

How many people live in your house if you're washing two full loads of towels and 4 sets of double bed linen every week?

3 beds, sorry. Just 4 of us but that includes 2 sporty teens and a mucky job DH. We do wear jeans and jumpers quite a few times per PP.

@3luckystars

Mix everything together, why wouldn’t you?

I think habit. I wash towels and bedding at 60 without fabric conditioner. Clothes at 30/40 with fabric conditioner.

I'm on my third washing machine in 20 years, and the second one was second hand!

I do one or two loads a week, my last machine lasted 25 years, a Zanussi. A house move hastened its demise.

We do 6 or 7 loads a week (family of 4) and our washers usually last 5-6 years. We’ve had expensive and cheap brands and they’re all about the same.

I usually do 2-3 loads a week. Two batches of clothes/towels etc and a batch of bedding every second week. There’s only 2 of us though, no furry pets, and we don’t bother separating out colours, whites, delicates etc - everything goes in the same wash.

@Somanysocks

I do one or two loads a week, my last machine lasted 25 years, a Zanussi. A house move hastened its demise.

Our previous washer lasted 20 years. It was also a Zanussi.

I'm still not getting how you have 16 loads per week.

Towels for 4 people all fit in one load.
Bedding depends on single/double bed but max 3 loads if all doubles (assuming you and H sleep in same bed) also weekly is unnecessary
4 loads of clothes (one per person, which ime is high enough)
1 load of DH extra dirty work clothes

Wheres the rest?

Sounds completely sensible but if you was clothes at 30/40 and towels at 60 it doesn’t match up. Not sure why I do towels at 60 though, presumably hygiene reasons?

Genuine non judgey question- how on earth do people manage to do a family’s washing in 4 runs a week? Do you mix bedding, towels and clothes in 9kg full loads?

I wash everything all in together at 30 and it all comes out fine and I haven't killed any washing machines!
I can't see why you wouldn't mix clothes, towels and bedding. Especially bedding and clothes - why wouldn't your pjs be able to go in with the sheets they were worn on top of?

I’ve bought myself a £300 wonder (Hoover not Bosch) and will try all my new tricks (thank you for all the suggestions) to see if I can get more than 2 years out of the fucker

I do 1 load a week, occasionally 2 if there’s enough for a towel load.
Childfree, only separate towels, don’t iron, no tumble drier.

Unless you need something the very next day just mix everything up. I wash white things and wool on their own but everything else goes in together.

My last machine lasted 15 years. I do 4-5 loads a week

I do one or two loads a day through the week and on a weekend oh goes mad and does three to four a day so not too much difference to you. last washing machine lasted 5 years ( only a cheap one too!) we only got a new one as we got a new kitchen. had it two years. no issues so far!

We're a family of four, we probably average more like six loads a week. We're just slightly mucky to be honest. No splitting whites and colours (we don't really wear white). We rewear stuff a few times and wash when it's actually dirty.

Re towels, I bought some hammam towels/peshtamel instead of traditional towels, they're much lighter, dry quicker, probably don't wear out the washing machine as much!

@Hercisback

I'm still not getting how you have 16 loads per week.

Towels for 4 people all fit in one load.
Bedding depends on single/double bed but max 3 loads if all doubles (assuming you and H sleep in same bed) also weekly is unnecessary
4 loads of clothes (one per person, which ime is high enough)
1 load of DH extra dirty work clothes

Wheres the rest?

This week there has been (each a ‘full’ half load based on my previous explanation of running the half-full version 5kg-ish 1hr) of the cycle: coloured towels & tea towels Dark towels (monstrous thick things) Stinky dog bedding & towels Dark load x 3 Jeans Colours x 3 DD bed (double) DS bed (double) My bed (king) DHs work woollens (wool cycle)

So that’s 14. If I waited/mushed it all in together it could be maybe 7?

I love MN. This thread demonstrates to me how very differently so many of us live our lives behind closed doors. I would never have known that there are 4 person households doing 16 washes a week, for example!

It's fascinating.

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!)

Sockfluffin

I admit I cut to near the end having read dozens of replies, so didn't see your 'just now' one.

With 4 of us in the house (me, DH, 2 x non-sporty later teen/early 20s DS), I washed twice a week, 2 full loads.

I wash bedding fortnightly as we all go to bed clean, and we use a sheet between our bodies and the duvet cover. I wash towels fortnightly as we bath/shower thus are clean when we dry off (and towels then get towel-rail/banister dried); underwear and socks are changed daily; in winter a shirt/T-shirt can go 2-3 days, especially if hung to air between wears. Nightwear, changed once/twice a week. Jeans/chinos? Normally 7-14 days. 2-3 pairs rotated.

I am not judging more than marvelling at how much time all that washing/drying/hanging/ironing must take!

If the load length is a problem, get an overnight timer so you can stick it on and have clean washing by morning.

I am also a Dame Washalot.

Bosch machine was the worst. Indesit lasted longer but the bearings worn within a couple of years and the machine worked but was noisy.

Currently like Blomberg for flexibility eg fast full wash and can add extra rinses regardless of programme. Also comes with 3 year warranties and I’d rather fix than replace.

We wash everything at 30 in (usually colour) bio powder, and towels only after they are quite often used so not often at all I'm pleased if the teen boys get in the shower at all. I won't horrify readers with how rarely we wash bedding or tea towels.

The "energy efficient low water" 7kg machine doesn't get things clean if more than half full -- what kind of genius came up with that design flaw? We do maybe 5 loads/week for 4 people, all adult size, some sporty.

@Hercisback

If the load length is a problem, get an overnight timer so you can stick it on and have clean washing by morning.

Makes too much noise sadly. DS’ bedroom is downstairs next to the utility room.