To wonder why people only do their own washing?

[sweeneytoddsrazor]

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.

I do it all but don't find it an effort or bother. Automatic washing machine, liquid in, switch on. I remember my mother standing for hours at a twin tub, filling, emptying, moving items etc. It's so easy now I feel really fortunate.

DSS10 had his own laundry basket for a brief period, in a way it did solve the problem of everything getting dumped on the floor (including clean unworn stuff) But he did wear stuff for five minutes then dump it in there.
I don't mind washing everyone's stuff. That way I can prioritise what is needed first. If it's not in there it don't get washed. If they want something washed urgently they have to make me aware, I ain't a mind reader.

Outside - yes, that was my point! If you separate colours AND people, then you must either do tiny washes, or wait until one person's washing accumulates enough in the correct colour scheme (meanwhile, that person's washing is also accumulating in the other colours, creating laundry mountain).

Of course if you don't separate colours then it probably doesn't make any difference if you do everyone's washing together or separately.

Pebbles - why can't you put tea towels and bath towels in with other stuff? I think if I just washed towels on their own my machine would complain it was overbalanced when they all absorbed water before the spin cycle. It does that if I put too many jeans in at once. Plus I like to put them in with the right colours! A black or purple towel with white tea towels would never do

My sons put the washer on here too but whoever does the washing looks through the basket and sorts lights, darks etc

Only thing I don't put in the basket is my small a and bras. I sort those myself

My washing is sorted to a huge degree.
Depending on colour/fabric type/ how dirty.

Some stuff I do on a 15 minute cold wash, some is a 90 minute hot wash some a moderate 40 degree wash, and again by colour.

I don't get it either. Both fully fledged adults in this house are capable of putting a load on. Kids have their own laundry baskets to help them keep their rooms tidy. But, it is so much more time efficient to just chuck it all in when there is enough for a full load.

Where does it stop? Refuse to cook for another? Refuse to wash up a dish if you didn't use it? Or vacuum if it wasn't your dust? Household chores get divided evenly between all those capable of doing them.

Provided the other people in the household are also doing regular washes and including everyone's stuff that's fine. I think it's more about sharing the chore than specifically separating the washing.

I don't find it a faff, dh and I share and each do it about equally. The children who are adult or adult sized do their own, they know they each have a day a week when the machine will be free for them but if they need to do it another time then they know that is no problem, neither is it a problem to throw in the odd thing that needs doing quickly into someone else's load. They can easily create a large load on their own when you think about clothes, sheets and towels.

Those who combine washing, does it all get left to the parents or do older children take their turn to do it?

It's not just lights and darks.

DD dances so has a lot of lycra, black leotards etc, OH has dirty dark work clothes, cotton trousers. I don't wash lycra at a hot temperature as it would fray and shrink, but I need to wash dirty cotton trousers at a high temperature.
So even clothes of similar colours need sorting.

Yep, it’s quite right that everyone takes responsibility for themselves. You will be teaching your children to be responsible adults and that’s part of good parenting.

It goes by generation here: DW and I, work polyester. DD and DSIL, fashionable gossamer. DGS, carrots. Possibly a substrate of organic cotton, but mostly carrots.

I do my dhs washing, he does mine, I do his ironing, he does mine. We both do the jobs that need to be done. I do more of the washing than he does but he does more of the ironing than I do. I do the cooking, he washes up mostly. He hoovers more than me. I am sure it works out pretty equal. I’d be pissed off if he just did his own stuff and I am sure he would be pissed off if I just did my own stuff.

I thought everyone did their own washing!!

I do mine, husband does his, I do our children's in a separate load.

All washing in this house is done individually and has been since DC were mid teens and I got fed up with reading the washing instructions on small garments they had bought or being asked why X wasn’t washed.
DH joined in a few years ago when he changed his work shirts, he now has enough to wait for a full load, wash, dry and iron them.
I’m not saying the if he has bits that need washing when I’m doing a load I won’t add them but in general he does 4 loads of his own stuff a week, I usually have 3 full loads. Mind you according to Mum’s net law we use our towels, bedding, nightwear etc for far too long (a week)

Currently living with my parents and I do washing separate to theirs. But then I'm doing laundry for a family of 4 and theirs is a family of 2 adults. I do a full load of laundry every other day, DM does a couple of loads a week. If I need something clean and don't have a full load, I ask DM to add her stuff.
I wouldn't dream of asking DH to do his own laundry separate to mine. And then, who would do the DC's laundry? They're 3 & 1 so can't do their own...

My husband does mine and his and our children do their own.

Our eldest, now left home, started it when his dad put a red item in with his whites. Second time it happened he decided he’d do his own! DD1 followed suit automatically amd DD2 did the same.

They prefer to do their own and it’s not little bits! lol DD1 does 3 or 4 loads and DD2 does 3 loads I think - full loads too. DH usually does 4-6 loads of our washing but we have a bigger bed and the bedding takes two loads.

There is no washing every day or putting half loads on! DD1 and DH have sat days but DD2 does hers when she feels like it, although avoiding the times she knew the washer will be being used. Works perfectly - no hassle at all.

If we want an item washed before our wash day, we’ll aak if someone else will wash it with theirs and it’s always ok.

We’ve been this way for so long (16 years) it’s the norm for us.

I’m not sure how it would be easier for one person to wash up to 14 loads a week - sounds like that person would be getting a shit deal to me!!!

Forgot to add, I wash the dog beds!

Another household of us all doing our own here. Back in the day when the kids were small I'd end up doing over 10 loads a week & it knackered me. My dc have their own laundry bags in their room and mini ironing boards & irons that they store under their beds. Everyone does their own in my house. Our machine has programs for half loads, 15 & 30min washes etc. It works perfectly for us & I'm proud that my kids (now teens) have a good ethic in being able to look after themselves.

All in together at 40 degrees - we seem to survive.

When I was on my own, I did one full wash per week - not sure where all these 'tiny loads' come from

I don't get my 9yo to do his own. But he does know how to iron his own clothes as otherwise he moans I don't do it fast enough.

I do everyone's mainly but this is because it was convenient to split the jobs this way. DH does more of the washing up and food related cleaning and cleans bathrooms and floors.

Having been to uni as a mature student, I think it’s good to teach teens how to be self sufficient because too many don’t have a clue by the time they’re 18! One lad had enough clothes to last half a semester and he’d take it home for mummy to wash! That’s far more bonkers than teens doing their own washing at home!

I can't imagine what on earth people are washing to end up with 14 loads a week. There are 3 of us and DS doesn't have tiny clothing any more (though isn't wrecking it like a toddler/baby does) and we only need 4 loads a week, sometimes there isn't enough to do that.

"I've never come across a house in my life where each individual does their own washing. What a faff."

My family was like this growing up, except for my younger brothers for whom my mother continued to do their washing until they left home.
On the other hand, I have a forty year old friend (not in this country) who still takes her washing home every weekend.
It doesn't mean half empty washes or any waste of water as you wait until you have a full load.
I can't imagine ever letting anyone else wash my dirty underwear so I will do those myself all my life no matter who I live with.
I was also responsible for my own ironing from 11. If I wanted an item of clothing ironed it was quicker to do it myself.

I do 10-12 loads a week.

Yesterday I did 4 loads in one day.