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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think its laziness to was smalls in the washine machine?

283 replies

OliPolly · 12/03/2011 12:34

I mean, it's not like your knickers need a full cycle to get clean?

DH and I wash our smalls after a shower/bath - they are never in the main laundry. My kids boxers/knickers are washed in washing machine with the rest of theit laundry though.

I thought about this this morning when I went to drop off my friends son. My friend had the whole washing line outside full of boxers and knickers!

OP posts:
pippibluestocking · 12/03/2011 23:27

That was my thought too HMC!

blueshoes · 12/03/2011 23:27

You won't get pregnant washing your smalls with dh's in the washing machine. Trust me Wink

MistyValley · 12/03/2011 23:35

Thumbwitch - I may be wrong but I always thought vaginas were pretty clean things, relatively speaking). Bumholes maybe not so much, but it's still not something I'd worry about laundry-wise.

Mouths, for example, are much 'dirtier' than vaginas.

freshmint · 12/03/2011 23:36

a very chic palestinian girl at my very posh boarding school used to wash her knickers every night and hang them over the sink with a special hanger

we were agog - not because she did that but because they were black and lacy and we were wearing greying cotton pants from marks & spencer aged 14

poor OP, I think you've given her a very hard time. It is a very usual thing to do in lots of countries in the world (hotter ones usually)

bronze · 12/03/2011 23:40

I'm still trying to get past laundry day. Every day is laundry day around here

venni · 12/03/2011 23:43

You're right Misty. There could be lots of ickies on our clothes. I'm probably just slow to kick the habit of living like my DD is still a baby. I'm sure she'd survive if I washed her things with my undies - but something inside me just won't let me do it. shudders I confess that I have only the one DD - so I salute the moms with more DSc. Would probably be more relaxed about this if time was an issue.

MistyValley · 12/03/2011 23:47

Venni - I've just got the one DD as well, and her stuff was washed with ours from day one. She has survived so far - but I do know what you mean, if you don't FEEL something is clean, logic goes out of the window!

thumbwitch · 12/03/2011 23:50

misty, the mouth does have lots of horrible bacteria in it, yes. And the bum of course has humungous numbers of bugs - seeing as we all carry about 3kg of micro-organisms in our guts. But the vagina is still going to have more bugs in it than e.g. the outer skin, which is not usually moist and warm to the same extent. So in comparison to the bum and the mouth, yes it is relatively clean - but in comparison to the air-exposed skin, it's less so.

And it's still icky to wear no pants. Ick.

MistyValley · 12/03/2011 23:59

hmm - still not convinced, the vagina doesn't get exposed to the dirty old outside world in the same was as our hands do. And when wearing flip flops in the summer, all manner of crap must end up between your toes from the streets.

thumbwitch · 13/03/2011 00:11

no but the vagina is in pretty close proximity to the bum.
and you wash your hands and feet - apart from in the bath, your vag won't often be exposed to water, unless you're a vaginal douche type of person - so you don't wash it.
Growth conditions are far better for the bugs in the vagina than they are on skin that gets washed a lot.

Anyway. We each do what we are comfortable with and THIS is why I would never buy secondhand underwear.

Atomant · 13/03/2011 00:20

Totally bonkers thread.

  1. OP handwashes undies.
  2. Someone doesn't wear pants.
  3. Someone has a bath with their bra to make it last longer.
  4. Someone hand washes the undies prior to machine washing in case they 'contaminate' the rest of the clothes.

Varying degrees of madness, isn't it nice that we're all different :)

MadamDeathstare · 13/03/2011 01:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

scottishmummy · 13/03/2011 01:17

you wash your chuddies in sink?why?

bobala · 13/03/2011 07:41

I would never hand wash anything as I cant believe you can ever get it properly rinsed and clean - and I dont have time! My 'laundry days' are whats commonly known as the weekend as I also dont have time during the week, By 8 yesterday morning I had 3 loads out and on the line, and tonight it will be the ironing mountain for me....

mousymouse · 13/03/2011 07:51

the only time I handwash is when camping when there is no mashine available.
everything at home goes in the mashine. from cashmere jumpers to cuddly toys and of course my (and the whole family*s smalls).
I only had 'laundry days' when living in germany where there was a communal washine mashine in the basement of my block of flats. every one was allocated a slot and that was 'laundry day'.

PorkChopSter · 13/03/2011 08:27

Atomant - you forgot:

  1. There are some strange work colleagues & housemates out there Grin
saffy85 · 13/03/2011 08:47

YABU no way would I handwash my undies.

Anyway it makes no difference in my house- the colours go in together, as do the darks and whites.

What an odd thing to be judgy about Hmm I thought my gran telling me that in the old days you were judged by what colour your baby's terry nappies were when hung on the washing line- brilliant white= good. Any other colour= bad.

ChippyMinton · 13/03/2011 09:54

OP my granny always did what you do. Her bathroom always had knickers/tights hanging over the towel-rail to dry. It's a sensible habit, albeit out-dated and unnecessary now that we have access to washing machines.

Indith · 13/03/2011 10:07

I've spent time living without washing machine and washed everything in the bath. I live with a washing machine and underwear gets thrown in with the rest of the clothes. Only exceptions are bras and wool jumpers which either go in all together on a wool wash if there are enough umpers ot make up a load or get hand washed.

bronze · 13/03/2011 10:30

Yes Chippy, it made sense in the days when you had to wash everything in a big boiling copper to wash knickers seperately. I doubt anything got completely clean but as you say we have washing machines now and there is just no need

DitaVonCheese · 13/03/2011 10:32

Does no one do cunnilingus any more or do all your partners have to gargle with Milton afterwards? Grin

valiumredhead · 13/03/2011 10:36

Oh dita that made me laugh! Grin

I seem to remember reading about there being more germs up your nose that your bum...........

ChippyMinton · 13/03/2011 10:36

LOL Dita. I don't get the obsession with germs & dirt. I am a slattern though Grin

2rebecca · 13/03/2011 10:42

Tights/stockings and fancier knickers go in special bag in washing machine to stop them getting tangled, other knickers, bras socks and short wash 30deg stuff go with them. 30minute wash 30 deg, nonbio. Then ready to hang on drier/ outside.
Just put them on a short cycle.
Only silk and woollens and thin stockings get hand washed.

2rebecca · 13/03/2011 10:43

Agree underwear shouldn't fester, damp running and cycling kit can though.