I am so sick of rewashing clean laundry.

[WayHarshTai]

My two older DC have washing baskets in their rooms. SO OFTEN when we go through we are suspicious that stuff hasn't been worn but has been tried on, thrown on the floor and then put back in the wash.

It obviously then needs washing again because it's been in with the grots.

But DD has just surpassed herself. DH has just emptied her basket and found school uniform, cub uniform and a winter poncho that she rarely wears anyway.

I think what she's done is literally put a pile (several, actually) of clean washing in the basket, rather than away in her drawers.

DH is having a rant at her as we speak, she is just shrugging and doing that 'sorry, I'm sorry stop having a go at me' thing.

Any tactics or advice gratefully received. DS1 does it too, they are 11 and 9.

I did this.

My mother showed me where the washing machine was, and left me to it...

Don't do it now!

Get her to do her own laundry once or twice, including ironing it. Once she sees how much effort it is to do it perhaps she'll appreciate it more.
Or put the laundry away yourself and substitute it with another chore like emptying the bins or loading the dishwasher.

Put the pile of clean washing in the room, sit on the bed with a glass of wine and check the bratling puts it away. In under 5 minutes.

Honestly, aren't they old enough to do their own washing, if you show them how? I'd say that would make her a lot less careless!

I like your idea, Apples.

The whole point of them having baskets in their room is to avoid this, they are supposed to be involved in the whole process and usually are. They are just making work for themselves.

Terrible children.

This could turn into a positive. DS is 9 and a while ago I showed him how to use the machine, just to allow him some personal responsibility and so he wouldn't get to 18 and think he couldn't do it.

If he sees me starting to do a load he helps, can sort the clothes and put the machine on the correct cycle. I do most of his stuff for him obviously, but if he knows he needs something that needs a wash he can do it himself.

If my dd does this I just put them back in her drawer without rewashing them.

I assume they will be ironing the clothes themselves, once they've been re-washed?

I used to have this problem, so the DC were made responsible for their own washing . I keep a bit of an eye on uniform, but nothing else.

Ironing?

What'#s that then?

I think making the whole thing their resposibility is the way forward.

Tip them out and get her to fold/put away as they are.

Then explain that when her friends make fun of her for being creased and smelly, it is entirely her own fault.

Leave the room, let her stew.

When she comes to you, full of concern and remorse, show her the finer details of working the washing machine. Wash the clothes with her helping/learning.

My DD, also 9, is EXACTLY the same. Drives me fucking mental!

My solution is to not wash any "clean" clothes until MY washing basket is empty. This means that the ones that have just been dumped back in the basket are NOT priority and they may well have to wait 3 weeks to get them back. Depending on the weather, as drying on radiators takes ages!

I remember my brother doing this once. My mum went ballistic. He never did it again!