I just think this is crazy! Do I need to stop being such a mum?

[michelleseashell]

One of my friend's washing machine is broken so I'm helping her out by doing her washing. Rather than waiting around, she's just left me with two big bags of mostly baby clothes.

The thing is about 95% of the clothes are ruined! They're all gray and absolutely covered in bobbles. This is baby clothes so they can't possibly have had time to get in such a state. They've obviously just been put in with darks, jeans, on really hot washes etc.

I just don't understand it! I am literally aghast! Why would somebody do this? Isn't it just a terrible waste of money? These are all Next and Gap but even supermarket stuff can be kept in good condition, surely? A charity shop would throw these clothes out.

I put on a 'white' wash with a stain remover pouch and a colour catcher and the colour catches came out dark gray.

Aghast!!

Trin DH did used to try - he is a computer programmer, once I pointed that out he picked up the new "language" fairly easily

Operating my washing machine consist of putting in clothes, putting powder in draw, pressing a button. That's less complicated than brushing your teeth.

I don't know any men who can't operate a washing machine

I have to go to bed now so I'm off but keep on sorting those loads sisters!!

Whoops, shouldn't have said sisters :o

Night :)

nice wind up

DP can operate a washing machine, technically he owns the household iron as well, although neither of us use it so this is just hypothetical, if we ever split up it would go with him as he paid for it and did use it once before consigning to a cupboard.

It's not a wind up! Honestly, why's everyone on Mumsnet so suspicious! Anyway, really going now!

zukie how can any adult not know how to operate a washing machine? I really have a problem with that.

Get.

A.

Life.

I think i read somewhere (might have been Which mag) - although i could be wrong that colour catchers were a waste of money. On a brighter note my DH does the washing and sorts it out and makes sure that the temp is right - for example he washes his white work shirts in a 90o wash and adds whitener. He also hangs out the washing, does the hoovering, does dusting and cleans the kitchen - only thing he can't do is ironing; oh yes and he cant cook - been together 7 years I think i should have him fully trained by 10. Oh he works full time (in the legal profession). Are you jealous?

I think the issue is when you say men 'can't' do something simple like work a washing machine what you mean is that they have no inclination to learn. Unless they have a medical problem ANYONE can put some clothes and powder in a machine and turn it on.

My 6 year old DS even knows how to use a washing machine.

YANBU I agree it is a real shame she has ruined good clothes like this. But it is not your responsibility, it's her stuff.

Perhaps, it's worth a mention to her when she picks them up, to separate whites etc.

You are a very good mum.

Whay is in this 'stain remover pouch' you used.it sounds like it would be harsh chemicals -not suitablefor a baby'swasking!

I take back what I said about not extending your abilities

but you really should have said the reason you cant do what you perceive to be men things

so what you meant was you can do all these 'men things' but your arthiritus prevents it

that is diiferent

and ali is right, it just doesn';t sit right with me that any adult cannot use a washing machine

and your dss zukie, when exactly are you going to teach them?

VERY good-natured OP, there. kudos to michelleseashell.

i separate whites from darks, and think anyone who doesn't is wilfully wasting their clothes and therefore a total loon.

Michelle - am late to the party here but I am another who would be disapprovingly catsbummouth about your friend's clothes. As you said, she's paid good money for those, why would she then ruin them by washing badly?

I am a Laundry Freak too - I don't give a flying toss about ironing but things have to be washed properly, at the right temperature and sorted into proper washes.
DH isn't allowed near the laundry because he can't do it and I am too Monica-ish about it to put up with him trashing a washload.

I bought my washing machine on the principle that it can do a 50 degree wash (in fact it is brilliant, I can choose the temp of washes from cold up to 90 deg in 10 deg intervals, obviously depending on the wash) because my knickers don't like being washed at 60 deg and 40 deg just isn't enough.

Just can't understand why people wouldn't separate their laundry properly

My method ensures less laundry to do.

Math anxiety- love it! :o :o :o :o :o

I never seperate colours and none of my baby's clothes ended up like you describe. I think the clothes might be second hand.

You sound rather judgey, tbh.

Oh iscream, I was a bit gleeful thinking that link was going to be a really useful tip!!

She is a loon. I think I can still bring myself to treasure her friendship but they'll always be a little bit of my heart thinking what colour are your pants??

Oh no as I said, my baby has third hand clothes. That's the only thing I am actually really honestly no messing a little bit cross about. If I rip a top, I mend it. I've kept my baby's clothes as nice as possible so I can pass them on. Ruining your clothes by putting them all in one wash is so wasteful. It's like those women who cut a vest off a baby because it's a bit pooey.

Yes, it is a bit of a shame that your friend has been so careless with the baby clothes that they'll have to be thrown away. But then i am also a clothes-sorter and colour catcher user, and i dont like to see clothes as disposable. I like to pass them on. Otherwise it seems like such a waste to me, given how fast babies grow out of them.