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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:
Liverpoolmumof1 · 15/05/2018 22:05

@oblada I have a big ass tumble dryer. One load before I go out, one as soon as I come in and one after dinner.

@LonaceraJaponica to be honest, personal hygiene is a personal thing and I haven’t commented on anyone else’s choices expressed here. I choose to change PJs everyday because why would I not change them after spending 8 hours in them without underwear? A clean towel every day because I don’t want to reuse one that has dead skin cells. I’m not saying it’s the only way but it’s my choice.

The coats - well, as I’ve said, my baby has reflux so they really need washing after being spit up on.

pollymere · 15/05/2018 22:15

My dd just puts on washing for everyone.

speakout · 15/05/2018 22:23

polly- how old is your DD?

randomchatter · 15/05/2018 22:48

Sounds weird. Whilst families are diverse and kids say from 12 should be taught to do laundry, I wouldn't make it a formal 'thing' but maybe in some households all adults are out working most of the day. However 'do it yourself' doesn't seem practical.. Waste of water and detergent!

Oysterbabe · 15/05/2018 22:54

DH and I do our own. We each have our own washing baskets and a third washing basket for the 2 small children. I don't do small loads of washing, I put a wash on when there are enough clothes to make a load. Towels, bedding and kids clothes are done by either of us as and when they need doing. It works for us.

Newsofas · 15/05/2018 23:06

3 of us in the house. 1 white wash a week. 2 coloured washes a week. Every other week all bedding wash.

Gwenhwyfar · 15/05/2018 23:16

"@Gwenhwyfar it might mean more washes if people are only putting half a load on "

Nobody should be putting half a load on. I don't see why washing your own clothes would mean putting half a load on. Put a proper load on.

I separate whites from colours, that's all. There is no rule that says jeans can only be washed with jeans.

tabulahrasa · 15/05/2018 23:18

“However 'do it yourself' doesn't seem practical.. Waste of water and detergent!“

Why does it use more water and detergent for someone else to put a wash on?...

Gwenhwyfar · 15/05/2018 23:30

tabula - I don't know how many times I've asked people to explain why it would use more water. It's rubbish.

tabulahrasa · 15/05/2018 23:32

I’m starting to assume they have a special secret less water setting that only they know about, it’s the only explanation that makes sense...

LadyMisty · 15/05/2018 23:35

I've got a lights and darks basket in the bathroom. Whichever one gets enough in to stick a load on I'll chuck it in the machine. My oldest DS is 13, but it's easier for me to do it all as I'm a sahm. And really, is it that hard to learn how to put the washing machine on? If he gets to 18 and his first load of whites turn out pink then he's managed to to what all of us have done at one point or another. It's really no hardship to just wash everyone's stuff in one go.

DisgraceToTheYChromosome · 16/05/2018 00:10

It's all hands to the pumpsfor this week's washing, as the whole family has D&V. DGS started it off early Saturday morning, and threw up in three different rooms. Then he had the squits and DW threw up on the living room carpet. Yesterday the adults came down with it: I ejected at 0100 this morning and have run a fever all day.

DisgraceToTheYChromosome · 16/05/2018 00:11

...fatfinger. About a dozen loads so far.

LassWiADelicateAir · 16/05/2018 00:23

I do my own washing. I have my own laundry basket. I wouldn't wash another adults clothes unless they were ill

Me too. It would never occur to me to put was my husband's clothes in the wash and I don't want him doing mine. I can't remember what we did for my son but fairly certain that from around 15 or so he was responsible for his own.

ThanksForAllTheFish · 16/05/2018 00:40

We are another household who apparently live in an alternate universe do separate washing. I tend to do mine and DD’s (8) and DH does his own.

We did try combined washing when DH and I first moved in together but he ruined a lot of my clothes by washing them too hot and not seperating darks/lights. I like to do a quick wash /cooler temperature for day to day stuff rather than a proper full wash. DH likes his stuff done on a full wash with warmer water so I just leave him to it.

We all have seperate washing baskets. And I will ask him if he wants anything washed if I have a half load but he usually decides. I don’t find it a waste of water / electricity either as my machine weighs the load to see how much water is needed and will also adjust the washing time depending on weight.

I also tend to do towels and bedding as again DH is prone to not seperate colours and everything ends up that funny off shade of blue.

Also my mum expected me to do my own washing from around the age of 13 (when we got our first automatic washing machine - had a twin tub previously).

speakout · 16/05/2018 05:33

A longer wash will take more water.

I use a 15 minute cold cycle for delicates and woolens. The drum fills and empties once in that time.
I also use a 90 minute 50 degree wash, the drum fills and empties several times during that cycle, including a couple of short "mini spins" during the programme, before the drum is filled with water again.
So a longer cycle uses more water. I have owed several washing machines and they have all worked like this.

speakout · 16/05/2018 05:37

I separate whites from colours, that's all. There is no rule that says jeans can only be washed with jeans.

gwen I have already explained.
OH and DS have grubby work trousers and jeans, sweaty dark cotton clothes.

I wash these at a higher temperature.

No way would I put my DDs black lycra leotards, lacy underwear or
black woolens in with a robust jeans wash.

The temperature would be too high, lycra and elastic would degrade and the zips and metal buttons would damage the delicate fabric,

frenchfancy · 16/05/2018 06:23

"How can anyone need to be taught how to do laundry?"

Given the number of people who say their DH would ruin their clothes if her did it it evidently does need to be taught!!I

I wonder why those that do laundry together are so ready to attack those of us who don't? Why do you care that we are doing things a different way? And why is doing a half load a crime? The machine has a setting for it. It isn't the end of the world if it isn't run to 100% capacity all the time.

Teacher22 · 16/05/2018 06:27

Since all I do with the washing is bring it downstairs out of the communal wash bin, sort it into piles of dark and light, place it in the washer with a washing tab and conditioner and push a button, I do it all myself. Thus my DH and DS (29) have their washing done for them. Being a control freak I am happy with this.

I also do towels on Wednesday, sheets on Friday and gardening clothes whenever we do the garden.

I only do half of the ironing as my DH likes to iron.

Individual washes would waste time, electricity and washing materials which would be both expensive and a waste of resources. (I use the quick wash setting for everything.) also, my household chores are part of my Fitbit exercise programme so when the washing’s on I do something which requires some exertion like Hoovering which saves on gym fees.

It doesn’t feel like domestic drudgery as I choose to do it and listen to Radio Four Extra dramas as I work.

NoWordForFluffy · 16/05/2018 06:32

We have shared wash baskets and just do loads when we have enough to fill one, regardless of whose clothing etc it is. DH and I both do the washing, so it's no hardship. Once the DC are old enough, they'll be taught to do the same: full load of whoever's clothes? Stick it on!

QuiteCleanBandit · 16/05/2018 07:05

Individual washes dont waste money, water or washing liquid -I just wait until I have a full load its not difficult to understand

speakout · 16/05/2018 07:07

QuiteCleanBandit but that may take some time.
If you are saving up woolens for instance you may wait weeks before you have a full load.

LoniceraJaponica · 16/05/2018 07:11

"Individual washes dont waste money, water or washing liquid -I just wait until I have a full load its not difficult to understand"

I think posters are assuming that people aren't. For instance none of us has a enough white clothes to make up a full load after a week.

I line dry whenever I can, and take advantage of good weather, quite often when DD is at school. I am not going to not do her washing out of some silly principle. That is why washing by colour rather than people works better for our family. Of course if DD was an adult still living at home I would expect her to do her own washing, but she is a very, very stressed and tired 17 year old panicking about A levels right now.

QuiteCleanBandit · 16/05/2018 07:18

All woolens are handwashed individually .
Im a knitter and use alpaca ,cashmere .
Its not going in the machine.
Bras/nice sets are handwashed as it ruins the wires/lace
I generally do one load whites and one dark colours per week.

speakout · 16/05/2018 07:20

LoniceraJaponica I agree.

But I am also happy to do washing for my OH.

As you say- why wouldn't I. I am at home most of the time, OH leaves for work at 7.30.
He won't be back until 7.30 tonight.
It's a glorious sunny day.
It would be madness to only wash my stuff when it takes 5 minutes to wash his too. It will all be clean and dry by the time he gets home.