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?

I have never heard of this superstition but I have lots of plans (and dreams) for 2025 so the laundry can wait til tomorrow as can the hoovering..... just in case!!

It won’t change anything, sorry to tell you this. 😔
I tried hard in the past and a few years managed to have empty washing basket by New Year day but it didn’t help - laundry was still huge thing throughout the year.

By the way I think there is some meaning in that. If you still have laundry on the day like today - you are a bad planner or you have lots of laundry, both mean that you will have lots of laundry in upcoming year. However I wouldn’t take it too seriously.

I’m not usually superstitious but I don’t do washing on new year, taking it as an excuse to read my book for an entire day instead

I was wondering that. I've started writing a list

Oh well I'm doomed for the year then. Machine currently on a second load, first lot hung up on the airer. Put away a load of clean laundry and changed the beds. Have also taken down the Christmas tree this morning.
Never heard of this before.

I have never heard of this. Funnily enough, I was discussing superstitions like this with a work colleague who grew up in Albania. She was discussing the reluctance of another colleague to arrange a social event on Friday 13 and said that she had never come across any superstitions before coming to the UK. She had never observed any superstitions and hasn't come to any harm!

If there wasn’t, there is now! Hurray!

I've just hoovered and done some washing up, but that's as far as it's going today. I should get my arse in the shower really.

Think I'll have a cup of tea first.

Please say no.

We’ve all been ill. Not too sick to put washing in the machine, transfer it to the tumble
drier and take it upstairs, but sorting washing for 6 people and putting it away can fuck right off.

My husband looked at me this morning, looked over at the pile of clean washing in our bedroom which is as tall as him and said, “are we tag teaming this, or just going in together?”

We opted for neither and have been sat in the living room drinking tea ever since.

He’s back at work tomorrow though, so like fuck am I sorting all that alone or waiting unitl he’s home.

it’s going to have to be today.

Might crack open the booze as we go tbh.

Superstitious nonsense. I cant believe people actually entertain this rubbish.

I had never heard of this until a few days ago (the post I saw said you shouldn't clean as you cleaned away your luck) although my Nana always insisted that no decent women would do washing on a Sunday
It's too late for me now. We are going away on holiday tomorrow so I've just bunged a few bits I need to take that need freshening up in the machine before I remembered.
We have 3 close relatives in their 90s and 2 with health issues in their 70s so I'll just have to hope nothing happens...

Just to upset some of the Mumsnet Christmas fun sponges, I HAVE to put the washing machine on to clean my (shock, horror) Christmas bedding before I put it away.

It sounds like it was made up by a very sensible woman who didn't want to do any washing on NY day.

If you want to do some washing, just do it. I promise you that nothing that happens this year will be caused or impacted by you washing your smalls today.

I've put a wash on. We always have so much leaving it a day means so much extra the day after. I cannot abide washing basket full.
So far I've done white load and a towel load.

Definitely has always been no washing on New Year’s Day in our family - my grandmother was born in 1913 so certainly not influenced by Facebook.

We eat lentils as well on NYD to bring money in the year. Non uk and wonder if UK people do too?

Some people on this thread seem to have started the year with left food forward with that moods and open rudeness...

It was around long before the internet! My paternal grandma( born 1907) would never wash on NYD, neither would my mother. They came from completely different areas of the country. If you do you wash someone out of the family.
I'm not superstitious but I don't wash on NYD, clearly people die whether you wash or not, but it feels wrong and there are 364 other days to do washing.
You can fold and put things away and iron though.

Oh crap, im on my second load 😳

Hadn’t heard it, but love lentils so have inadvertently followed this plenty of times 🤣

Superstitious nonsense.

Meaning of superstition in dictionary: a widely held but irrational belief in supernatural influences, especially as leading to good or bad luck, or a practice based on such a belief.

Not doing washing on New Years day is IRRATIONAL people. I've done 2 loads already.

My mother in law (who is a lovely one 🤣) told me this a few years ago and now I have to blooming follow it.

We were chuckling at my house looking like a laundrette last night. I have done some sweeping today though after our muddy dog walk.

To be fair, it may be silly superstition but I love having a clean fresh house with chores caught up to start the new year with. It's awful weather here today and it's DHs last day off so we are enjoying just resting and playing games and reading.

Done 2 loads!
Unhappy generally at home so maybe I can blame doing laundry on the demise of my relationship.

@BreatheAndFocus could you please start a superstition thread

I've never heard of not doing a washing on nyd. Dh has just put a load on so that's 2025 doomed for us 🙃

I did know in the olden days people didn't do washing on a Sunday. I was taught that was a religious thing though.

I am 44 and still never cut my toenails on a Sunday

Yes, I don't think DH's grandmother born early 20th century was influenced by Facebook either.