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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:
tomatoandherbs · 30/04/2022 15:19

You take 5 25kg suitcases that only contain clothes?

tomatoandherbs · 30/04/2022 15:21

Sorry that was @TedOnTheBed

tomatoandherbs · 30/04/2022 15:30

@Mydogisagentleman

please come back and tell how come 38 sheets to wash!

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DockOTheBay · 30/04/2022 15:42

A two week holiday produces 5 large 25kg suitcases of washing
We definitely don't have 125kg of washing between the 4 of us. How many people is this for?!?!

tomatoandherbs · 30/04/2022 15:45

@DockOTheBay
and that was excluding any towels!

DockOTheBay · 30/04/2022 15:55

@tomatoandherbs maybe they're wearing lead trousers 🤔

BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 30/04/2022 16:02

We had a similar thing when we went on a 2wk active multi-city holiday that wasn’t ‘poolside’. No access to laundry during the fortnight and 2 outfits per day required, plus extras like swimwear or gym wear. It was VERY luggage heavy. Obv each case also included stuff like toiletries, shoes and hair tools, so the weight wasn’t entirely clothes but there was a LOT of laundry.

Fit50 · 30/04/2022 16:02

I’m the same after a holiday even if I have a washing machine there too. Also, everyday at home I normally do at least 1 load of laundry normally (2 adults & 1 teenager). I’m just glad I capped my energy in Sept 2021 for 2 years as I’ve just worked out if I was on the new rate I would be £160.00 worse off this month alone after giving my gas and electric readings for April. I have stopped using the tumble dryer as much though and have a heated maiden now. It is shocking and I know I have to sort it out!

Original poster
Melzbelz · 30/04/2022 19:35

Yes, @8stone13 I though there must be some science behind this phenomenon. I just must have been off school the day that topic was covered 😂 I think I am down to my final load of holiday washing which is a cause for celebration.

OP posts:
plinkplinkfizzer · 30/04/2022 19:39

I usually send someone to a Launderette after a holiday , no way am I doing all that washing .

Original poster
Melzbelz · 30/04/2022 19:56

@Notdoingthis I once changed our beds to clean sheets just before we went away, thought I was being smart and would have less washing to do when I got back. Why I thought that I do not know as the cats spent the week sleeping on the clean sheets. Got back and had to strip the beds again as there was a week’s worth of cat hair on them. Haven’t had that bright idea since 😂

OP posts:
MrsAvocet · 30/04/2022 20:02

A washing machine is amongst my non negotiables for a self catering holiday. And if it's not the summer in a hot country, then a tumble dryer too. I never come home with dirty clothes except the ones we've worn to travel. And occasionally a couple of beavh towels depending on when the flight time is. But I generally aim to have everything washed so when I get home its just a matter of lifting everything straight put of the cases into the drawers. I do a wash about every other night on holiday. It dries in no time in a hot country and massively reduces what you need to take. If we're going somewhere hot I can usually fit what we need for a week into one case for the hold plus hand luggage for me, DH and 2 teenage boys.

853ax · 30/04/2022 20:02

If I'm on a sun holiday sometimes was clothes before coming home as will dry easily when away. Hotel usually has coin operated washing machines.
Other than that would not wash when away. Try to restrict what children pack. They want to bring so much try on or wear once then ends up in laundry when home.

Delatron · 30/04/2022 20:12

I think 3 loads sounds quite reasonable. We’d have the same.
Just back from 16 days in a hot humid country where nothing dries. Even went to a laundrette half way though and still came back with a good 3 suitcases full of dirty clothes. Bags arrived late and I am still washing load after load only now I have weeks worth of uniform, bedding, sports clothes, towels... I feel like I’ll never get on top of it.

Next time I’ll send it all out after a 2 week holiday, I find it quite stressful!

Mydogisagentleman · 01/05/2022 09:16

@tomatoandherbs . Our apartment has 6 beds, it will be rented out to Spanish people in two weekly blocks.
the cleaning woman will be going in to change the beds and take the sheets away to wash, two on, two off, two spare per bed.
in March we went with 30 towels!

DrMadelineMaxwell · 01/05/2022 11:06

We always have a UK break, but have never had a washing machine until the one we went to last year. I was exceptionally pleased that I could stick a couple of loads in mid-week for us (which takes literally 2 mins) and then hang it or stick it in the mini drier. No dirty laundry for me to plow through once we got home for once.

It was a plus that the cottage we've booked for this year has a washer and a full sized drier again. :)

VintageGibbons · 01/05/2022 11:11

We always go self catering and I stick a wash load on the night before we leave and another the morning of departure while we're having breakfast and packing, Means you come home to some clean clothes and less of a laundry mountain.

Trivester · 01/05/2022 18:26

This happens to me. It’s some kind of weird laundry vortex.

katepilar · 01/05/2022 18:28

tomatoandherbs · 30/04/2022 08:06

Can’t understand why if washing machine there?

if washing machine there, I come back with very little indeed.
when on holiday in hotel, my holiday gift to myself (single parent) is I pay for washing to be laundered and ready for morning of our last day.

why would you even need to do your washing if you are somewhere for 5 days?
unless you have nappies or similar.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 01/05/2022 18:30

I once went on a cruise and bought a 'laundry package', I think it cost $7 a day for unlimited laundry

$7 a day??!!!
Can I ask which cruise line this was and how long ago, because all I've been on want about $4 just for one shirt Shock

It can be fun visiting the launderettes though, and seeing the fall-outs over who took whose clothes out to use their machine ...

Joeblack066 · 01/05/2022 18:30

I’m the MIL that always helps with the washing mountain after my Son & DIL & kids come back from a family camping holiday. Otherwise it can be overwhelming!

RampantIvy · 01/05/2022 18:30

Why I thought that I do not know as the cats spent the week sleeping on the clean sheets.

Why didn't you close the bedroom doors?

Dnaltocs · 01/05/2022 18:52

We are all different I know.
I take very old clothes with me eg old pants and nightie Old t shirts, trousers etc. I wear them on hols and then bin them. I don’t need to do a big wash when I come home. Yes there are some things I do bring home and wash but lots stay on hols in their bin there.
I know many don’t take old things on hol., but it works for me.

Dnaltocs · 01/05/2022 18:56

Can I add - these are really clothes that are past their wearing and unusable. Pants with holes and t shirts that are thread bare etc

IsabelHerna · 01/05/2022 19:04

Okay so it's not just me then 😅