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Original poster

Bringing washing home from holiday- please tell me I am not the only one

153 replies

Melzbelz · 30/04/2022 08:01

I am on my third load of washing after having been away for 5 days. I am
still no nearer to seeing the bottom of my washing basket😂. What is worse is that we went self catering so there was a washing machine in the flat and I was washing while we were away. How does this happen? It must be some kind of trickery as I didn’t think I packed that many clothes. As a sanity saver does this also happen to others 😀?

OP posts:
IcanandIwill · 30/04/2022 10:37

Large family here. We take as little as possible and wash while away, it's no great hardship and I love travelling home with hardly any dirty stuff. But that's what works for me! It's your holiday, if you don't want to do laundry then don't!

BlimBosh · 30/04/2022 10:41

I pack very lightly for holidays these days. Used to take half my wardrobe for the just in cases. Going away next week - 2 jumpers, 1 jeans, 1 shoes, 1 top and daily underwear.

user1471538283 · 30/04/2022 11:00

I do so much laundry that apart from a few bits I cannot bear to do it on holiday. So we come back with a mountain like you.

When we move I'm getting a bigger washer!

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JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 30/04/2022 11:09

user1471538283 · 30/04/2022 11:00

I do so much laundry that apart from a few bits I cannot bear to do it on holiday. So we come back with a mountain like you.

When we move I'm getting a bigger washer!

FYI you don't need more space for a bigger washer, I recently replaced mine, I have a really small space so was restricted to a few brands that are slightly slimmer but still managed to get a 10kg washer dryer in.

Greatoutdoors · 30/04/2022 11:10

One word: launderette. Get several loads going at once. It’ll cost you around £20 but it’s money well spent.

Mydogisagentleman · 30/04/2022 11:15

We went to our flat in Spain last week for a week.
I have just put the 4th load of washing on the line this morning. It was only me and DH but I had left a suitcase of clothes there in March so I had to bring them home

tomatoandherbs · 30/04/2022 11:19

Mydogisagentleman · 30/04/2022 11:15

We went to our flat in Spain last week for a week.
I have just put the 4th load of washing on the line this morning. It was only me and DH but I had left a suitcase of clothes there in March so I had to bring them home

Get a washing machine installed in your flat?!

BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 30/04/2022 11:22

If there’s a washing machine in our accommodation and somewhere to dry it then I’ll do the vast majority of the laundry there. A bit every other day keeps on top of it and means I’m not drowning when we get back.

8stone13 · 30/04/2022 11:23

It's not you @Melzbelz - it's a well known scientific fact that even if you take 4 items of clothing on holiday & wash them daily you will still arrive home with a washing mountain that blocks entry to your kitchen.

I have a second home. It's mine, I can wash there just the same as I can wash at home. I'm highly organised & my house(s) run like machines. But when me & my two kids come back we have more clothes to wash than we actually own.

It's the same as that teaspoon that's always at the bottom of the washing up bowl even though no teaspoon has been used for a fortnight.

Good luck OP. I hope you manage to dig your way out soon 😀

HemanOrSheRa · 30/04/2022 11:30

tomatoandherbs · 30/04/2022 08:06

I dont mind doing washing in holiday.

come back from day at beach or walking, children in showers / TV and me pottering around. No hardship to shove things in washing machine

I don't mind doing washing on holiday either. Self catering in UK or abroad we always choose somewhere with a washing machine and get the majority done there. Usually, throughout the holiday so no mad day of laundry on the last day.

Mydogisagentleman · 30/04/2022 11:39

@tomatoandherbs there is a machine.
I used it daily to get through the 38 sheets I had to wash before they could be used

DeanStockwelllsBunny · 30/04/2022 11:51

Genarally its not a issue for me as I only holiday in the uk and usually alone so only one or perhaps two loads if I have things that cant go in together .

I have family that go abroad a lot and take the max baggage allowence for each one of them every time so they have loads to wash on their return .
So before they go they check to see if/ which laundrette will be open when they return . If there is one they drop everything off and go for a meal then come back and pick it up . If there isnt one the following day they take it to one and go for breakfast somewhere.
They see it as part of the holiday and a good way to reset and get over any jet lag

StuckInTheMiddleOfNowhere · 30/04/2022 12:00

I had 11 loads. 4 of us. Kids 2 changes a day for the evening. We sort of did depending on what we were doing.
Swimming stuff and towels.
Beach sandy towels. And towels for shower use. ( took older ones to pool etc. Good job as dd left one)
Was so glad for sunshine that weekend to dry it

DockOTheBay · 30/04/2022 12:04

We had a lot more washing to do after holidays because everything got covered in sand/ ice cream/ salty water etc. So the kids ended up having their clothes washed everyday whereas usually they would wear something 2 or 3 times before washing.

UniversalAunt · 30/04/2022 12:05

Is this a rugby team you are helping?
Sorting out & laundering their muddy kit?

SpindleInTheWind · 30/04/2022 12:06

Melzbelz · 30/04/2022 08:34

Though we did have to provide our own bed linen and towels etc so that accounts for some of the laundry mountain

Well I guess that'll be why then

Irishfarmer · 30/04/2022 12:14

Towels and bedding I think it's fair enough so. I haven't been on a holiday since my honeymoon 3 years ago. We went for 3 weeks, my backpack weighed 7 kg so v little washing for me to do when I got home!

@tomatoandherbs currently expecting DC 1, that is a fantastic idea to pay for hotel laundry at a 'treat' when away. None to do when you get home then.

BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 30/04/2022 12:28

Mydogisagentleman · 30/04/2022 11:39

@tomatoandherbs there is a machine.
I used it daily to get through the 38 sheets I had to wash before they could be used

38 sheets? Just how big is this ‘flat’?!

tomatoandherbs · 30/04/2022 12:34

Mydogisagentleman · 30/04/2022 11:39

@tomatoandherbs there is a machine.
I used it daily to get through the 38 sheets I had to wash before they could be used

38 sheets?!

tomatoandherbs · 30/04/2022 12:35

@Irishfarmer

everyone gets a holiday prezzie
mine is going home with all hotel laundered washing!

Time40 · 30/04/2022 12:45

How is it possible to have loads of washing after a holiday of just five days, OP? If I'd been away for five days, I would come back with almost no washing. I don't even understand the concept of "holiday washing" - going on holiday doesn't create any more washing than just living normal life.

BlancmanegeBunny · 30/04/2022 12:45

We always go self-catering and I don't stay anywhere for more than a couple of nights if it doesn't have a washing machine. It's so easy to wash as you go and I like not having to take so much stuff, I would hate to come home with a mountain of washing!!
I can't understand how 3 people can generate that much washing ????
Off to Spain for 2 weeks in the summer and will be coming home with everything clean!!!

McNick · 30/04/2022 13:22

Always go to launderette day after returning from holiday. Luckily our launderette is next door to a supermarket. Just put a couple of loads in, do a shop then return ready to put washing in the drier. Chill with a magazine & coffee whilst drying. Within a couple of hours laundry & shopping done

AngelsWithSilverWings · 30/04/2022 13:35

We've don't the thing where you get all of your clothes laundered and ironed before packing to come home from Thailand. It's brilliant!

TedOnTheBed · 30/04/2022 13:41

We are the same op and I honestly don’t understand how everyone is saying they take 3-4 outfits to a 45 degree country for 14 night stay. A two week holiday produces 5 large 25kg suitcases of washing, this doesn’t include towels or beach towels as included in the package. 1 set of day clothes each every day, 1 set of evening clothes each a day and 2 sets of swimming stuff each a day. I don’t are if people find it excessive and can wear the same dress 10 times, I am not asking them to buy, wash or iron the stuff.