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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

303 replies

michelleseashell · 31/07/2011 19:11

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!!

OP posts:
NotaDisneyMum · 01/08/2011 14:28

I guess if you are the kind of person that would throw an item of clothing away and replace it with new the minute it discoloured/faded, then it is less environmentally damaging to spend time separating them into multiple loads, using a mix of harsh chemicals, and hotter water, to maximise the life of your clothes.

I prefer to compromise and accept that my clothes may not 'look like new' after a year or so; i don't get a thrill spending time sorting, folding or ironing clothes (I prefer cooking!) and try to minimise the environmental impact of my wash using low temperatures and minimal chemicals Smile

DD has usually grown out of her school polo tops before they go grey and there are always grateful families who are happy to make use of secondhand clothes, even if they're not perfect! Wink

capricorn76 · 01/08/2011 14:32

I will usually wash stuff when bought before first wear on quick wash in order to get out the excess dye. I then put dark and strong colours together and separately whites and lights together if I don't have enough whites. I always try to follow the manufacturers label. Mixed/stripey stuff goes in with repeatedly washed darks. I wash on 40max for nearly everything which reduces the risk or running too. I find super hot washes wear out the clothes very quickly. If I have enough whites, I use a hotter wash. 40C is fine for most things as none of us do anything which results in getting seriously dirty like playing rugby or working in a butchers.

I only use one type of powder - Fairy non-bio (I find that the bio stuff eats the clothes eventually) and I use comfort pure softener. If an item gets poo or strong coloured vomit on it I immediately hand wash it and use a stain remover to prevent the stain from setting then chuck it in the wash, you can remove most stains if you act quickly enough.

harassedandherbug · 01/08/2011 14:36

I'd use the grey ones, but wouldn't hand them down! I'm preg now, and some of dd's have been binned or given to dh's boxing club (they stuff the punch bags with old clothes and towels etc) for looking a bit worn. Baby may not mind, but I would.

bumpsadaisie this is a colour catcher.

Sarochenka · 01/08/2011 15:17

Michelleseashell, YANBU. Babies love looking beautiful and the increased admiration that they receive when they're well-dressed, of course they do. I'm aghast whenever I see a baby in stained, greying clothing. Which is far too often.

NotaDisneyMum · 01/08/2011 15:23

Babies love looking beautiful and the increased admiration that they receive when they're well-dressed, of course they do.

Really? ! ?

How do you know? Wink

PirateDinosaur · 01/08/2011 15:39

My babies have all been so stunningly attractive that no one has noticed, when dispensing admiration, whether they are well-dressed or not... Grin

mathanxiety · 01/08/2011 15:39

'Babies love looking beautiful....' ?????

Babies love being fed and held and treated with gentleness and love. I think most of them would prefer for their parents to spend more time with them than attending to their laundry.

After that, they couldn't care less. These are the little people who would fall asleep with their own poop up around their armpits if you let them, after all. All of mine would have happily run around stark naked if I had allowed it.

I always did a warm wash and threw everything that needed washing in together. It all came out clean and sanitised (I have a dryer). exH otoh used to throw everything of the babies' into a hot wash with bleach and ruined more clothes by so doing than I care to remember. Ruined clothes of mine too. I never bought clothes with very strong colours or clothes that required a separate hand wash. Not worth the money imo.

PirateDinosaur · 01/08/2011 15:41

(also they have tended to be in slings so no one can really see what they are wearing anyway)

MightyQuim · 01/08/2011 16:34

I assumed Sarochenka was joking???

Original poster
michelleseashell · 01/08/2011 16:52

Oh so sarochenka was joking but I'm as serious as the news at 10!!

My son does like to be admired, but not so much as I like him to be admired. Wouldn't catch me wheeling him around looking like an old sock.

OP posts:
ThePrincessRoyalFiggyrolls · 01/08/2011 17:06

I always find one of DH's black socks in with any type of laundry Hmm whatever I do! Also so aghast at all these people who only do laundry about 4 times per week, my washing machine goes on at least once a day and there are only 4 of us Sad I don't know where I am going wrong Grin

Alibabaandthe80nappies · 01/08/2011 17:14

NotaDisneyMum - I don't use harsh chemicals or hotter water. Everything gets done at 40, except the bedding which gets done at 60 to kill the dustmites (we are asthmatic), and the nappies also get done at 60. I use non-bio liquid and fabric softener, that is all.

BelleDameSansMerci · 01/08/2011 17:35

TSC, if you're still there, Persil powders. Bloody amazing... Smile

Chumpalina · 01/08/2011 18:11

Whilst we're talking about washing - tell me about your ironing...
All housekeeping type threads never mention it, apparently clothes come out of the dryer, are folded and put away. Half my tumble dried stuff needs a quick iron-and I don't jam it full to cause creasing.

Also, line dried clothes (which i favour, no shrinkage) have those bloody peg marks so you have to iron those out. I do not iron sheets, knickers, towels etc. Life is too short, though I would love 'hotel bed'.

ThePrincessRoyalFiggyrolls · 01/08/2011 18:12

I iron nothing, although I should as I got a Phillips Steam Iron through MN and when in the mood I iron everything but not in this weather Grin

Alibabaandthe80nappies · 01/08/2011 18:16

Chump if you peg right at the edges of things so that the pegs are gripping the seams then you don't need to iron much that has been line dried, just shirts and linen trousers I find.

Chumpalina · 01/08/2011 18:18

Thanks Alibaba, I look forward to the next sunny day to try this theory!

NotaDisneyMum · 01/08/2011 18:20

alibaba - have you tried using a 30C wash, instead? It makes a big difference to the energy used (and therefore your electricity bill, too) Smile

Even non-bio products contain bleach, phosphates and other nasties (the non-bio means they don't have any enzymes in, not that they are bio-friendly) but if you are using modern detergents, then they are designed to work at low temps, so you can turn the temperature of your wash down Grin liquids are supposed to be less eco-damaging than powders, though.

If you want to be really green, then you could use white vinegar instead of softener, or try soapnuts, and dispense with the detergent and softener all together Wink

MightyQuim · 01/08/2011 18:33

michelle it is because it is your friend I think you are out of order. I wouldn't like a friend I thought was helping me out picking through my washing and posting on here having a good old laugh at my expense but apparently your friend has skin thicker than a rhinos arse low self esteem and loves it when you mock her so all is good.

Original poster
michelleseashell · 01/08/2011 18:56

Well it's just magical that the universe is looking out for her like this. Do you seriously want her phone number? Maybe you can give her a hand with that self esteem of hers.

How will she live knowing her whites are only all right??

OP posts:
BeerTricksPotter · 01/08/2011 19:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TimeWasting · 01/08/2011 19:11

Michelle, are your family Blackpool supporters? Or buddhist monks?

I'm struggling to think of another reason for having enough orange clothes to make up a load.

Original poster
michelleseashell · 01/08/2011 19:11

Ahh the orange wash. You really want to know?

I make up a load of orange towels and orangey bits and bobs. Then I put on a half hour wash at 30 with a slow spin cycle and a small amount of non bio and fabric conditioner. Then I take the rest out and leave the towels in and put on another half hour wash at 50 with bio and set it with an extra rinse and fast spin to get out the fabric conditioner.

That's how much of an idiot I am. This is out of time I could spend watching Jeremy Kyle and eating crisps. But it's all worth it to have bath towels brighter than the sun

OP posts:
TimeWasting · 01/08/2011 19:11
Shock
MightyQuim · 01/08/2011 19:13

My mum says that about fabric conditioner beertricks.