How many days on average, do you leave wet washing in the machine?

[HisWife]

I leave it between 24-48 hours, If longer than that I usually run it again.

Water evaporates cheeky, the dirt dissolved in the water doesn't - it's effectively distilled. Unfortunately the rain will pick up general gunk from the air on the way down, so I wouldn't describe London rain as sparkly clean, but it's not filthy.

I have just been to shove mine in the dryer right now after reading this. Overnight is usually ok.

I've just put a wash load in but it's ok, I've set my alarm for 02.00 so I can get it out of the machine asap. Couldn't sleep otherwise

Dillysprice arrrrr right. i get ya now.

Knew i should ahve listened more at school.

Rain water is a great softener

Moody my washer does not have mould in it. I leave the door (and detergent drawer) open when not in use. Yet my washing smells if I leave it in for more than a few hours. And I have the most under-developed sense of smell ever. So it must really stink to normal people!

"Rain water is a great softener "

Yes and arround here it also seem to "iron" the clothes so as to make my life much easier

"Rain water is a great softener"

It depends where you live. In some cities and to the east of them the rain water can be quite mucky. Sometimes when we have a warm wind up from the Sahara the rain has fine particles of sand in it and my car looks a complete mess.

Very true Bunbaker. We don't get so much saharan dust up here in the grim north though

Wow - am amazed so many people give so much thought to their washing! I leave it in there until I remember to get it out - sometimes straight away, sometimes the next day or longer. If it smells I re-wash it on a short cycle.

I also love the effect that rain has on my washing - it's like having it steamed!

Lots of people in Aus get ALL their water from a rain tank, with only a little filter thingy - tastes lovely. Even in the cities you can get rain tanks to do your washing/flush toilets etc

I live in the grim north (South Yorkshire) and we do occasionally get Saharan dust in our rain.

Well there we go then! I've never noticed. I've always thought that it was common or garden dust TBH. That and the fact that my car always needs washing so a little more dust here or there is irrelevant.

Mind you, those wind currents are odd things. We live more westerly than you, further south and almost certainly more grim . In fact, a bit of an armpit!

Well, I just thought I'd update you ladies. I bought a rotary dryer for the garden on Tuesday and I'm a bit obsessed with it. I've been putting extra washes on last thing at night (on the timer, obv) or first thing in the morning and the excitement I get from hanging it on the line is somewhat perverse.

I still don't like the smell of it when it's dried outside, but it's bearable

Good for you Toby. Perhaps you need a little of the Pennine fresh air that we enjoy for optimum fresh drying smell.

I LOVE YOU hiswife. Unlike all the other saintly mumsnetters out there I also sometimes find that my washing gets left in for what is obviously a highly unacceptable period of time for many! (don't dare say exactly how long as may be hounded off mumsnet)

I also don't iron, just hang stuff out to get rid of worst of creases.

never

It doesn't smell horrible, Bunbaker. The air where I live is perfectly fresh. It just doesn't smell how I like it to. But it means my laundry basket will be emptied super-fast before the novelty wears off, so I can deal with the smell

I don't iron, either.

Witty - It's hardly 'saintly' to hang washing out FGS most of us are just saying there is no need to leave it in the machine!

I for one a far from perfect when it comes to most things housework but it is neat(ish) and clean(ish) which is the main thing however people outside cannot see that so if it is not up to scratch then fair enough, however people outside inn work, school or generally outside could telll if clothes are smelly and that is not something I would appreciate!

I also don't like waste so would not want to have to re-wash things as it is a waste of resources but that is just my opinion.

" It's hardly 'saintly' to hang washing out FGS most of us are just saying there is no need to leave it in the machine!"

I disagree. I feel positively ethereal having hung mine out. Like I'm the best housewife ever, despite the fact that I am neither a wife nor do I stay at home all day

seriously mine has an awful damp smell if I leave it overnight in the machine.

Thank heavens for this thread... It just reminded me that I left yesterday's washing in the machine...

Im really stunned people would leave stuff in for days

for one, i would always have the next load ready to put in

its neverending!

I do like to get the washing out asap.
Sometimes I can't be bothered forget to empty it in the evening, but then it'll get hung up first thing next morning, if not, then it is fully washed again.
I used to know a guy that would keep his washing in machine for anything up to a week!!!!!!!!!!!!

I iron nothing.

I have a Dh who a) does a lot of the washing b) is very methodical about taking the washing out. He would be very upset at the thought of re-doing washing because it went musty in the dryer.

Having said that, on ecoogical grounds, DH does not like using the tumbledryer (we in fact have 2 elderlyand inefficient ones in the garage) but does like arranging the washing randomly around the house. He does this with obsessive care. It drives me quietly nuts but then I love him too much to argue about it, and, hey, he is doing housework, so that has to be good.

We have a lovely, newish washing machine but I note that said machine has a tendency to mildew problems which would surely only be made worse by lots of damp washing sitting in it.

(When I was single, and working ridiculous hours, however, I did have washing amnesia myself on occasion).

Can't believe people would leave washing in there for days.

My machine is one at least twice every day. The sheets on three beds are washed twice a week, at least. We use a fresh bath towel for every shower and bath, sometimes twice a day, three people. Fresh hand towels and face clothes every day, clean clothes every day. Wash the floor mats from both loos each day, tea towels and sink clothes, washed each day. That adds up to a lot of washing.

How on earth can one load of washing stay in anyone's machine for a whole day?

Perfume - you wash your bathroom mats everyday?

When do they get a chance to get dirty ...overnight?