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AIBU?

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Original poster

To wonder why people only do their own washing?

563 replies

sweeneytoddsrazor · 14/05/2018 01:03

Just that really.

I see so many posts where people say DP's or any child over the age of about 12 do their own washing. Surely it's easier to just empty the laundry basket and do one wash of everyones washing rather than have 4 people do 4 washes with not much in it.

OP posts:
Roselind · 15/05/2018 17:48

Has anyone mentioned size of washing machine? When my 3 were small we bought a larger size of drum and without really thinking about it replaced it with the same. So whilst yes I want my at home child to do her own laundry (and she does) it is pretty silly not to make up a full load from the 3 of us rather than do 2 or 3 small loads. Environment, electricity costs and all that.
But each to his own. My mother refused either to allow me to use the washing machine, and nor would she sort clothes into different colours......

Hazzleton · 15/05/2018 17:52

I had to do my own washing from a certain age. Had to sort it in my room (eventually was bought my own washing basket as a teenager but previous to that used carrier bags). Still had to hang out other people’s washing though so I presume it was just a way for my father to ensure he didn’t have to help out around the house any more then necessary (my Mum was unable to do washing).
We currently do DD’s clothes separately but expect that will change once she’s potty trained! And obviously I wash it for her.

Lieby · 15/05/2018 17:54

We do. How is it a faff. Why should women do their partner’s washing?

Cakecrumbsinmybra · 15/05/2018 17:55

I think it’s great to get teenagers to do their own clothes, will definitely be implementing that when the time comes!

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 15/05/2018 17:57

I think this is another example of where MN is either in a world of its own or posters are talking nonsense. I've never come across a house in my life where each individual does their own washing. What a faff.

Pretty much sums it up.

Amanduh · 15/05/2018 17:57

Well my husband does mine and the DC Grin

speakout · 15/05/2018 17:57

Lieby why should partners do anything for each other?

Why does my OH empty my bedroom bin when it isn't him that's filled it?
Why should he make me food?
Why should he wash my car even though he doesn't drive it?

Because we are a team, a partnership, a family.
We help each other because it makes life easier and nicer.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 15/05/2018 17:58

Why should women do their partner’s washing?

Because I'm at home while DH's is at work?
Because I'm doing it anyway.
Because DH does stuff for me.
Because I don't have an issue with it.

ALongHardWinter · 15/05/2018 18:02

I thought this was going to be about popping round to your NDN and offering to do their washing.

Bekstar · 15/05/2018 18:02

We take it in turns as much as possible including 5 year old DS, we do everyone's all at same time couldn't be bothered doing it separate it would be a hell of a job. I do encourage independence my DS has been helping with laundry for a year. But why separate clothes

bemusedmoose · 15/05/2018 18:07

I have darks and lights, everybody's in one load. I do get kids to sort, gather and peg out as part of chores but it seems odd to me not to bung it in together

Iwanttobeagranny · 15/05/2018 18:09

If I wanted my husband and teenager to wear shrunken grey clothes, then yes, I'd let them do their own washing lol

speakout · 15/05/2018 18:11

bekstar

But why separate clothes

To make clothes last longer.
To prevent damage.
To preserve the whiteness of items
To preserve the colour of items
To prevent shrinkage.
To save power, time and water.

Strongmummy · 15/05/2018 18:11

I don’t do my own washing only, but I never ever EVER put away my husband’s clothes ......EVER. He doesn’t do mine either

speakout · 15/05/2018 18:12

But then I never clean out our fridge. Or wash my car.

blaaake · 15/05/2018 18:14

I don't understand this either. I do the washing for the whole family cause dh fucks it up every time including dh and the oldest kids (16 and 17). Surely it's wasteful to just do them for one person ?

plominoagain · 15/05/2018 18:14

There’s 7 , sometimes 8 of us here . Which adds up to a minimum of 14 loads of washing here a week , if you count the towels , bedding , DH’s work clothes which are so dirty they get a load to themselves , likewise for 2 of the DC’s . Yesterday I did 9 loads to take advantage of the good drying weather . But I have only the two rules . 1) If you want me to wash it , get it to the laundry bins . I have neither the time nor inclination to trail round the house in some sort of scavenger hunt martyr fashion mopping up random socks . Rule 1, usually results in DCs aged 12 upwards doing their own as it doesn’t make it to the laundry bins in time . It also results in Rule 2 ) which is namely , if you put a wash on and there are suitable clothes in the laundry bin , make it into a whole load .

It’s worked for us so far .

Racecardriver · 15/05/2018 18:16

What kind of uncivilised person doesn't have laundry baskets in every bedroom?

Firesuit · 15/05/2018 18:18

I think the amount of water and electricity machines use varies with the load, so I'm not sure there's much economy from running bigger loads. (I'm assuming no-one still has a washing machine so old it doesn't have a computer processor controlling water use. Electricity: the effort required = electricity consumed will depend on the weight of the load to be moved, I'd think.)

Even if there is a saving, not everyone has the same means and therefore priorities, some of us will do extra work to save a few pennies and some of us just want to maximise convenience.

I do one 20-minute load a week of my own clothes, on a different day to other people so we can use the same drying rack at different times.

Combining different people's clothes could mean bigger loads, more of a flat dedicated to drying racks, which I wouldn't like. Alternatively it could mean more frequent loads, which would mean I'd have to think about laundry and putting away my clothes more than once a week, which I also wouldn't like.

Firesuit · 15/05/2018 18:19

And of course combining creates the task of separating different people's clothes, which doesn't exist at the moment.

speakout · 15/05/2018 18:27

Separating clothes takes no time. On a sunny wash day morning I dump all the dirty stuff on the floor from the laundry basket and separate as I fill.I will have 2 or three loads.
Separating takes no more time than filling- I just grab and stuff, being mindful of what I am putting in the machine.

PyongyangKipperbang · 15/05/2018 18:32

There are 6 of us in the house, 7 when DD is home from Uni so if we all did our own then the machine would be on constantly and our electricty bill would be through the roof. DH does his own but he has enough clothes, and all in dark colours, to make a full load.

The kids know how to sort loads into darks, lights and coloureds and how to put a wash on, use the drier and fold. You can teach them without being appallingly wasteful regarding water and power.

Oh and everyone puts their own stuff away.

Aragog · 15/05/2018 18:32

Why should women do their partner’s washing?

Does the same apply the other way round?
Dh puts in a load of washing just as often as I do, infact probably more so. He also does all the ironing.

CharlotteLV · 15/05/2018 18:39

My partner once accused me of trying to influence what he was going to wear by what I chose to wash and iron for him. His error...I never ironed anything for him again, and only take his washing if I need it to make up a load.

Cutesbabasmummy · 15/05/2018 18:40

I separate whites and colours but everyone's just goes in together. I am pretty sure our son will be able to put a load on when he's old enough but I'm not going to be bonkers enough to ask him to just do his own!