New Year's Day washing superstition - can I fold clean laundry?

[StupidBacteria]

Does the washing prohibition extend to all laundry related activities or just actual washing of clothes? Can I fold and put away clean laundry?

No! A thunderbolt will hit your house and a mysterious Being will scoff any remaining Christmas chocolates!

I'm done for aswell 😫

We always do washing on NYD if the weather is suitable for line drying (which it is today, dry - after lots of rain yesterday - and still rather windy). We definitely did some last year.

The only relative who died last year was 92, so not a real surprise!

This is the first time I've heard anyone else mention this superstition other than my grandmother. Her version was "If you wash on New Year's Day, you will wash a friend away".
I was beginning to think she'd made it up to have a day off.
I wonder it it's regional? She was born in Cornwall but lived most of her life in Wales.
I always assumed it was just the actual washing, so you should be okay with folding and putting away, imo.

You killed them!

Can’t take it back now. 😬

I'll report back on who I bump off this year when / if it happens! 🙈

My washing machine goes off at 1am automatically because I've got a cheaper tariff overnight but nobody I know has ever been washed away.

We can compare notes this time next year.

running the washer while asleep is a risky move due to the fire risk anyway though. I set mine to 6 when I wake up (my tariff is until 7)

my SIL believes this and was horrified that we just wash whatever needs washing. I'm assuming it was a crafty plan from years gone by for women to have a break from some domestic drudgery.
I've done washing as normal on NYD for the last 30 years at least and it has affected my life in exactly the way you'd think, ie not at all.
if you need to put washing on, do it. If you fancy a day off, have one, you are in charge of your own life and there's no need to justify it with nonsense.

Bonkers. I've got about 3 loads to do today and about to start ironing the last week's worth. Never heard of this superstition till on here last year.

We've done two loads, so I may have brought double doom to our door. Time will tell!

I come from Devon and my Gran, Mum and all my Aunties certainly would not wash on NYD and usually one of my Aunties would remind my sisters and me not to do a wash on NYD. My Gran, Mum and all Aunties are sadly all dead now but I still wouldn't do a wash just in case.

I’ve never heard of this and I’m from a Scottish family that until relatively recently celebrated new year much more than Christmas. And one which had more superstitions than you could shake a lucky stick at. I still don’t like peacock feathers in the house, picking up my own glove or meeting someone on the stairs. I’ll be putting washing on today without a second thought.

Folding laundry is ok! I have the dehumidifier on to dry clothes ! Did lots of loads yesterday.
Washing machine always gets a day off on New Year’s Day - it’s only day off to be fair!

running the washer while asleep is a risky move due to the fire risk anyway though. I set mine to 6 when I wake up (my tariff is until 7)

Mine is until five. Good point. Mine starts at midnight so I could move it to midnight because it's more likely that people will be awake then. Thanks

MN has decent % of woo / not too bright people though remember.

I actively do washing on NYD because it's a load of twoddle...

I think I might just play it safe and avoid all housework for the month of January. That’s safest yes? 😊

I put mine on when went out last night. Drying it today. I had a relative who was very anti washing on new years re washing someone out your life. I did it one year and she died that year. Know probably old wife's tale but don't wash new-year day now.

My dog was sick overnight so his bedding is now in the washing machine.

Good lord.

I have never heard of this. I always do washing if it needs doing. Today I haven't got enough for a load and the stuff on the airer is still drying.

I hope so, I'm not doing any washing today, but I will put some away.