Would I be mad to wash 4 year olds uniform after each wear?

[faithfulbird20]

Just because of germs and she's been getting sick a lot lately? As in only let her wear it once then wash it?

Most germs don’t survive long on a dry surface. It’s really a waste of time/money/the earth’s resources.

@CornishGem1975

What are kids doing at school? Mine never came back very dirty so could often get away with another wear.

Dropping lunch all down himself mostly. And getting pen everywhere. If he had packed lunches rather than hot one it might make less mess but I prefer doing laundry to making up lunches!

But yes agree with pp, it’s not clothes giving her germs, those are passed on by kids breathing and coughing all over each other, not washing their hands, the usual stuff that primary school kids do! Unless you send her in a disinfected bubble and she never touches or sits near any other kids and never uses the school loos you won’t prevent her from picking up germs!

I always wash my DD's uniform after one wear but she is always coming home covered in paint, mud and food.

I wash the kids uniform every day because I wouldn't put them in the same normal clothes more than once before washing. They spill food and drink. Wipe noses on their sleeves. Play out and get mucky. Etc etc etc.
Not because of illness.

@foxgoosefinch

Not weird at all!

I initially bought 2 x sets of uniform for school as I had the fond idea DD could wear it several times before a wash.

Every single day she came out of Reception covered in food, glue, pen stains, dirt, sand and snot.

I quickly gave in and bought 3 x more sets of uniform (from eBay before anyone starts thinking I have money to burn) to save endless washing.

If you have a 4 y o who can wear any of their clothes twice I salute you in your success teaching them not to drop pasta sauce and everything else in sight all down themselves

This!

DD (Reception class) is filthy when she comes home …. mud, glue, glitter, paint, dinner, snot etc etc. I’ve already had to get rid of two white polos as no amount of Stain Devil/Vanish could make them wearable again.

P

@Maui69

I thought it was standard to do that.

Me too. And I'm defo not a clean freak. My 4 year always comes home with food or mud on him.

Depends on whether or not it's dirty.
If it's dirty, then wash it. If not, then don't bother.
One wear isn't going to make it dirty in and of itself - but if they get covered in goop or food, then of course wash it.

I make both my kids change out of their uniform as soon as they come home - reduces the need for washing, as they usually get more dirty at home than at school - but have at least 3 of each item of clothing just in case.

I knew there'd be someone who washes ALL clothes after one wear ... how unnecessary and environmentally unfriendly, unless you have a medical condition that causes you to sweat and or stink uncontrollably, it's quite obsessive behaviour.

If it's dirty/sweaty/smelly wash it.

As long as they have clean underwear/t shirt etc.

If you're worried and can afford it - spare set.

No right or wrong

@PonderingTotskeit

In Germany our relatives children who are at nursery have to wear a newly washed jumper/top everyday.

Personally I would wash it every day if you think there is a germ issue.

Is that a normal thing or just because of covid? Not that you can catch covid from a top.

I'd only wash a top after a day if it was mucky. I wear my own for two days if it's clean and not smelly after the first day.

I have to wash my 5 year old DD's uniform practically every day because she comes home barkit. If it makes you feel better then do it isn't going to stop them getting germs.

I think the uniform is unlikely to be making her sick - much more likely fingers or toys in or near mouth. However I do wash tops, pe kits, tights and underwear obviously after 1 wear. Mine wear pinafores which I treat like jeans and wash after 2/3 wears provided not visibly dirty.

I did that when DD was 4, it needed it! Carried on til she was 8.

I just think clean clothes are nicer than dirty clothes 🤷‍♀️

Life is short. The environment is fucked.

My dc have had clean uniform everyday since the start of the pandemic. Their schools requested this if possible. They have three sets of uniform, I was on Tuesday evenings.

I wash all my kids uniform after one wear, it’s usually dirty when they come home from school, surprised so many people don’t, or maybe my kids are just messier!

I’ve already had to get rid of two white polos as no amount of Stain Devil/Vanish could make them wearable again.
I've stopped caring about stains. They used to use washable pens in Reception. Since starting year 1 they seem to be using permanent board markers. Several of his polo shirts have black lines all over them. If they don't want stained clothes they need to use washable pens.

OMG, drywipe markers are the PITS to get out of clothes!! It can be done with isopropyl alcohol before it's had time to set, but only if it's quick and nothing else has been done beforehand, AND you run the risk of taking the colour out of the fabric if it's cheap fabric too.

I cracked it when one of DS1's friends put a neat black dot in the middle of his brand new school sweatshirt because I knew it wasn't going to come out

Since our primary school insist on the kids sitting on the floor a lot of the day I absolutely wash the dc uniform every day. I can't think how it can be great for kids to walk to school, then walk around the class with the same shoes on, then sit on the floor in all the dirt that 30 kids have trodden in.

@TheVolturi, dirt from outside is one of the reasons my kids primary insist on indoor/ gym shoes. It also means in winter they don't have kids in wellies or big boots all day.

[quote Lockdownbear]@TheVolturi, dirt from outside is one of the reasons my kids primary insist on indoor/ gym shoes. It also means in winter they don't have kids in wellies or big boots all day.[/quote]
That's a good idea. I've just seen a photo on social media of my reception child sitting on the floor eating a school packed lunch off a carrier bag 🤢

It's not just the constant washing that isn't good for the environment, but the using up of resources for the multiple jumpers etc. For those saying they wash them all in one go at the end of the week so not doing extra loads, it is still a bigger load of washing that you could do, if you didn't change clothes every day.

Although reception aged children are probably the muckiest!

I've always washed uniform after one wear. I wash most clothes after one wear.

Shirts daily
Skirts after 2 days
Ties once a week (although they are old enough not to spill food!)
Cardigans after 2 days
Tights daily
PE kit one wear.