Pairing Dirty Socks

[SmellySocks12345]

Hello, I'm new to mumsnet and don't have any kids myself, but my fiancee has 3, so it's been a steep learning curve!!

One of my pet grips is that his kids pair their dirty socks into balls (like what you would do when they're clean) and put them in the laundry basket. I do all the washing and cleaning and find it rather disgusting to unpair their dirty socks ready for washing. I cannot see the logic (they don't repair themselves to move from the washing machine to tumble dryer etc)!!

I have over 30 'balls' of dirty socks in my laundry basket as I have out right refused to unpair them. Now it's almost 2020, i'm going to ask the kids to unpair the socks already in the basket and NOT to pair any socks in the future (i.e. just put them straight into the laundry basket).

Am I being unreasonable for not wanting to unpair dirty socks?

Any thoughts would greatly be appreciated

either use sock clips (or get them to) or tell them only unballed socks will be washed.

If they're worried about pairs getting separated, get them those net bra-washing bags to put their socks in (or sock clips)

Pairing or unpairing socks is a big issue when there are 5 people in a family. I'm so glad my lot don't roll them up dirty its bad enough sorting them when clean. Need to treat myself to those clips and educate my teens on using them, thank you.

Press studs. It's so easy to add them to the cuff of the sock, then ask the kids to just clip them together before going in the wash. Use a different colour for each kid and then, if they don't clip them together, at least you still know whose sock belongs to who.

Set of 200 Hollow Fixed Snap Fasteners Set Metal Ring Button Poppers for Baby Children's Clothing Sewing Craft 9.5 mm 10 Colours https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07MB5WDR1/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_pr4cEbTHWYB32