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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not check pockets before washing clothes?

75 replies

Mamabear14 · 15/03/2015 10:27

There is a debate in my house this morning. Pair of jeans on floor next to but not on wash pile. I have washed them with his wallet in. He says it's my responsibility to check pockets before washing his stuff. I say he's 36 he can empty his pockets before chucking stuff on the floor himself. Fortunately there was no cash inside only cards so they will be fine once they dry I think. Should I check pockets? I don't even do that for my sons who are 8 and 10!

OP posts:
grannytomine · 15/03/2015 11:06

Hobby2014, are you married to one of my sons? Or are there more of them out there? What a scary thought.

WorraLiberty · 15/03/2015 11:12

Yeah right granny....

keepsmiling2015 · 15/03/2015 11:19

I don't check

BalloonSlayer · 15/03/2015 11:24

Well he might not have intended the jeans to be washed, as suggested by their not being in the washing basket Wink so if you decided to wash them you should have checked I suppose.

I used to moan to DH about him leaving tissues in his pockets. Every time, he'd reply: "you should check the pockets before you put the washing on." Angry

FF xx years and DS1 is a shocker for leaving tissues in pockets. DH is always getting caught out by this. Ha ha Bloody Ha. Grin

And the other day I left one in a pocket of a cardigan. You could tell it was me as the worst of the tissue was right by one of the cardie pockets. And DH couldn't say anything! Grin Grin Grin

If he does I have the perfect answer: Well you either check the pockets like you told me for years, or you accept you shouldn't have to and apologise for all the times you left tissues in your pockets and told me I should have checked the pockets. Ha! < folds arms in triumph >

emwithme · 15/03/2015 11:24

Rule in my house is that you check your own pockets AND the person loading the machine checks the pockets. Anything found by the loader of the machine is theirs to keep (should they wish to) or dispose of at will.

This was my mum's rule. It was great as a young teenager (who was in charge of laundry loading at home) because sometimes big brothers (who were working) would leave folding money in their pockets.

BreakfastAtStephanies · 15/03/2015 11:28

Last summer DD paraded her tight little booty and long slim toned tanned legs around in white Superdry hotpants on our holiday in the south of France. Unbeknown to me she put a red paper napkin from a restaurant we had eaten at in the pocket of said hotpants. I always wash whites on 60 C. THE ONE TIME I DID NOT CHECK POCKETS - WHAT ARE THE F*ING ODDS ! ! Blotchy pink Superdry hotpants went in the bin. ( probably should've tried to bleach them but there was nice silver logo on the pockets so . . . no ). Lesson learnt but she did wear them all holiday and looked damn good in them too. S'not fair

Panzee · 15/03/2015 11:33

You should check. There might be a tenner there, and washing rules means anything you find is yours. :o

taxi4ballet · 15/03/2015 11:35

I always check pockets - DH has a habit of leaving random banknotes in them, and he doesn't get them back!

purplewoofer · 15/03/2015 11:37

I washed my husbands passport 3 days before he was due to go away.....

grannytomine · 15/03/2015 11:42

purplewoofer, oh no was it usable? I had a nightmare with renewing a passport last year so can't imagine getting on replaced in 3 days.

MaudeLebowski · 15/03/2015 11:44

Solution - don't wash anything not specifically in the wash pile. If things are in the pile, and have stuff in pockets, so bit it.

soontobemumofthree · 15/03/2015 11:46

I'd check the pockets before putting a wash on. I might even have left a tissue in my own pocket. Takes seconds to check as loading the machine.

Definitely check pockets if picking clothes up from floor.

Flipchart · 15/03/2015 11:49

YABU

Who ever starts the washing machine in our house does a quick final check of pockets.
It takes seconds but can avoid costly washing machine repairs and damaged items accidentally left behind.

I've said this before but I thought I'd emptied,my pockets once, I was a bit rushed over something and DH was putting a wash on. He shouts up the stairs do up you want your iPod on a 40 or 60 degree wash!!
The way I see it is we help each other out.

No need to get arsey with each other whether he is 36 or not.

Ludways · 15/03/2015 11:51

YANBU. Owner of clothes responsibility to empty pockets. Alternative is to wash their own clothes.

HSMMaCM · 15/03/2015 11:51

I only check pockets if I'm grabbing something that's not in the wash basket.

Hakluyt · 15/03/2015 12:10

I can't get my head round the implication that anyone would dwliberately not check. Yes the pocket owner should take responsibility-but everyone makes mistakes- no harm in the wash putter inner checking too. Why would you wash somebody's phone on purpose?in a family we should be kind to wash other.

Gruntfuttock · 15/03/2015 12:18

I check because I don't want anything to be ruined or to have to deal with bits of tissue. It takes seconds and is worth it as no one's perfect and it's easy to forget things occasionally. It's all about being considerate towards your family surely.

Bowlersarm · 15/03/2015 12:19

YABU, I couldn't not check a pocket before putting something in the washing machine. It takes all of about a second.

Although the dirty garment wearer should check too.

Gruntfuttock · 15/03/2015 12:20

I hadn't read Hakluyt's post before mine when I posted it, but it seems we are on the same wavelength.

dingit · 15/03/2015 12:21

Always check. I once washed ds' phone ...Hmm

Flipchart · 15/03/2015 12:24

I read these types of threads and honestly you would think that the OP on them was sleeping with the enemy or something!

As I said before give and take and to be honest in the long run those few seconds could make life easier for you and save a lot of hassle.

Bonbonbonbon · 15/03/2015 12:32

YABU to have washed something he left on the floor. Around here, if it's not in the hamper, it doesn't get washed. I'm a SAHM, not the maid.

However, I do check all the pockets as one time he left a biro in his trousers and it leaked on everything and ruined one of my dresses.

Hakluyt · 15/03/2015 12:55

Mind you, I also can't get my head round anyone presuming that it was somebody else's job to check their pockets and getting arsey if something got washed by!mistake. It goes both ways. If I did wash somebody's phone I would expect the conversation to go "I'm sorry- I washed your phone" "oh shit- my fault, I should have checked"

base9 · 15/03/2015 13:01

Whoevwr loads the washer has to doublecheck. But then even the dc put on washes, so I don't feel like it's all my responsibility. And I have ever left stuff in my pockets, so I like it when the washer-loader has my back!

OnIlkleyMoorBahTwat · 15/03/2015 13:16

YANBU OP. I don't check pockets either, but I wouldn't wash anything not in the basket usually either.

I can't believe those who are suggesting that it is the responsibility of the machine loader to check every single pocket on every single item of other people's clothes Shock, v young DCs excused obviously. Talk about making a rod for your own back.