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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to think 6 pairs of underpants in not sufficient?

108 replies

nick247 · 13/02/2017 11:34

I was visiting my parents and DF came out of shower complaining he had no clean underpants in drawer. He had to wait for the wash my DM was doing to finish, and them tumble dry the three pairs of underpants that were in there( among other things obviously). When I asked if they had had trouble with washing machine and had been unable to do washing DM said no. DF had three more pairs of pants in laundry basket which makes a total of 6. DM saw no problem in this - God knows what they do when they go on holiday for longer than a week. My DH ,DD and myself have at least 14 pairs each. My DPs are in their 70s, is this an age thing?

OP posts:

LemonBreeland · 13/02/2017 11:36

YANBU. Surely the absolute minimum should be 8 pairs, one for each day of the week and a spare.

Nicknacky · 13/02/2017 11:37

My washing machine is on every day so 6 pairs would do me (although I sometimes wear two pairs a day after gym classes)

scaryteacher · 13/02/2017 11:37

I like to make sure I have at least a month's worth, and dh has about 3 weeks worth, as does ds.

Nicknacky · 13/02/2017 11:38

scary A months worth?! Why?

Nicknacky · 13/02/2017 11:38

Whilst 6 would do me at a push I do have much more than that. But hypothetically I could manage!

seesensepeople · 13/02/2017 11:39

Depends how often they usually do a wash. I remember my grandmother's motto being one on, one off and one in the wash, so if they do a wash every day three pairs is all that's needed. However if it's just the two of them then they may only wash once a week so eight pairs would seem the minimum.

MiriAmmerman · 13/02/2017 11:41

I assume it's an age thing; I have some kind of idea that years it would have been normal to have somewhere between 3 and 7 pairs, which would have been hand washed as necessary (no idea if this is actually true - maybe it's an idea I've picked up in a book?)
Anyway, seems an odd way to live these days. Me and DP have about 30 pairs of knickers each (we might be going slightly too far the other way )

wettunwindee · 13/02/2017 11:44

I think the difference is how many there are in a household and how often the washing machine is run. This would be fine for my family as the machine is run at least once most days.

With only 2 adults, I suspect clothes are washed less frequently and therefore you have more in the laundry basket between washes.

elQuintoConyo · 13/02/2017 11:46

I have 8 pairs. DH has I dont know how many, I'm not interested enough to count. He is in charge of his own pants, however. 5yo DS has about 10 pairs.

I do two clothes washes per week so never have to turn inside out to wear a second day

Notso · 13/02/2017 11:58

I think 6 is fine though I think I have more like 8 pairs, DH has 7 pairs and a novelty emergency pair, DD has loads of knickers as she doesn't do much washing and I only wash what's in her basket, DS1 has about 10 pairs, DS2 has 6 pairs I bought him two three packs last week and threw all his other pants away, DS3 has 15 pairs as he randomly got 5 pairs for Christmas from MIL and had a 10 pack from sainsburys after a spate of weeing on his pants at school.

anonbecauseiwanna · 13/02/2017 11:59

I think I have about 15 pairs of pants. 6 is not enough.

Trifleorbust · 13/02/2017 12:00

Why should DM see a problem? Surely it is up to your DF how many pairs of pants he owns?

FeliciaJollygoodfellow · 13/02/2017 12:04

I have never really thought about it but I must have about 25 pairs. I bought three new packs of five (I think) black shorts, patterned shorts and Brazilians. And I have older and fancy ones too.

Ridiculous really. Never really stopped to think about it before!

katronfon · 13/02/2017 12:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ShelaghTurner · 13/02/2017 12:06

I have absolutely no idea how many pairs of pants we all have. Lots.

paxillin · 13/02/2017 12:08

Young family, daily washing could get away with 6 pairs per person. Couple with no resident children and one wash per week clearly not unless you want to hand-wash pants. I'd just buy him a five pack M&S pants.

BabyHamster · 13/02/2017 12:08

I have waaaaay more than that. I just never get round to sorting my underwear drawer out so old ones get kept.

However, recently our washing machine broke. We had to order a part which took a month to arrive (it was over Christmas). I was v glad of all the spares then!

BarbaraofSeville · 13/02/2017 12:10

Six pairs probably isn't enough when you take account of holidays and that you would be stuck if you got behind with washing, but perhaps there is a stand off between your DM and DF if he doesn't think about washing and underpant supply until the drawer is empty.

In the last six days he could have either put a wash on or gone out to buy more underpants and he hasn't thought to do either (assuming that he has the physical and mental capability to do these tasks of course).

randomsabreuse · 13/02/2017 12:11

I'd say he doesn't have enough as he ran out during a "normal" week. I like to have enough for a holiday and not have to run the washing machine right before departure. DH has more but very few he likes...

CecilyP · 13/02/2017 12:15

It' obviously not sufficient if your DF had to go without pants till the wash had finished! And if he has so few, why were there 3 still in the laundry basket; why weren't they all washed? It might be just about adequate in a large family where the washing machine is on most days, but not so much in a household of 2.

kitXi · 13/02/2017 12:15

kat don't feel weird, I have loooooads too and so does DH! I have probably at least 20 pairs of every day ones, about 6 sexy ones and about 10 manky period ones. I can't imagine having just 6 pairs!

Rafflesway · 13/02/2017 12:15

Definitely not an age thing! DH would be mortified

DH is mid sixties but looks much younger and acts like a naughty schoolboy and he must have at least 30 pairs. Also they are thrown out after a few months and completely replenished. Regularly picks up a new pack from Sainsbo's, M & S etc.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 13/02/2017 12:17

Guess what DF's getting for his birthday :) While you are at it, you might want to stock up on socks and vests too. :) (Although I bet the packets remain unopened until they are 'needed'). :)

maddiemookins16mum · 13/02/2017 12:21

I have about 20 pairs of pants but tend to wear the same ones all the time so probably survive on about 6. However, it would never get to the point when one of those six wasn't clean and in the drawer as it would suggest not keeping up with the laundry.

Oldraver · 13/02/2017 12:24

Another one with about a months worth..I've just put a shed load away so went and counted them

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