Were you taught to use a washing machine

[Justreadingtheforum3]

Please settle this argument between my husband and me.

Were you taught/shown to use a washing properly as a child? On how to not overload it, setting, temperature etc?

He said "no child in the history of the world has been taught to use a washing machine" his exact words.

I said its basic life skills.

Yabu = no I wasnt taught
Yanbu = yes I was taught

Ps he does use the washing machine and regularly washes. It's not a husband bashing thread.

I suspect I learnt through osmosis.

Nope. I read the instructions on washing machines. Read laundry labels. And learnt by my mistakes.
I guess I did inwardly note that my mum separated whites and colours. That's about as far as teaching goes.

I wasn't taught how to use one, though I observed my parents (usually DF) using their twin tub and could use it if I had to.
I had no clue about automatics and felt like an idiot not to know when I got to uni so for the first year managed on handwashing in halls. The next year I went to the launderette with my housemate and observed what she did.

No, because we didn't have one until I was about 14 and then I just worked it out.
I have taught my DCs though.

No I wasn’t. Or at least not in a very formal way ‘this is how you do it’.
However, I seem to have learnt enough (like looking at labels for temperature, risk of colour running etc....) that I was totally independent and able as soon as I left home....

No. My mother had a deep suspicion of machinery and we must have been one of the last families in the UK to have a washing machine. Eventually she agreed to a contraption which went on the draining board and basically consisted of a drum on rollers which you had to fill using a hose from the sink and empty manually, plus a separate spin dryer.

My first introduction to real washing machines was at university, where it was a bit of a revelation. But it wasn't difficult to work it all out, it seemed like basic common sense to me.

My mother did eventually accept a proper washing machine, but by that time I'd left home anyway.

Yes I was taught.

I also taught my children. So that’s three votes altogether.

Why on earth wouldn’t you prepare your children for adult life and independence? Plus, and possibly more importantly, I’m not a household skivvy; by the time there are teenagers in the home everyone should be helping out to keep things running smoothly (proportionally of course).

Kind of. I used to watch my parents do the washing as a child and thought the machine was very interesting so I started being allowed to help by pressing the buttons / shutting the door / putting the powder in etc. By the time I was 12/13 laundry was one of the jobs that earned me pocket money.

Similar to pp, I had to teach several confused looking students (boys and girls) when I arrived at uni.

I think if you haven't picked it up by mid teens then you should be taught.

I wasn't taught. We had a multi generational family in one huge house. The washing system was arranged by my grandma, who hated people touching her washing machine or any stage of her system. If people did any other washing, it fucked up drying all the rest for several days.

I learnt by observation and later trial and error. It did take me until 25 to bother seperating whites though...

DS has been taught because he asked to be (he likes machines and the washer fits in that category). DD has no interest, so she hasn't been. I figure she'll either ask at some point or work it out along the way.

I don’t really remember being taught to use it but I must have been, or just picked up what my mum was doing. It’s not exactly difficult. My 3 year old definitely hasn’t been “taught” But if I let him he’ll put the soap where it’s meant to go and put it to the setting I usually use. He probably doesn’t know about separating colours, when to use a boil wash or when to use fabric softener though 😂

I've pressed yes, because we were taught in school as part of domestic science. Also taught how to iron. Mid 1970s Midlands.
It didn't really sink in though as mum did everything. She had a toploader and luckily when I married in the late 80s things had moved on and I had a washer dryer.
I made a few mistakes, mainly washing DHs jumpers that were hand washable on hot. They shrunk in body but the arms went massive
They should bring back full on domestic science, that'd sort the men from the boys!!

I've shown my DC which programme to use for everyday washing and they know to avoid buying separate whites. TBH here, if it fits, it goes in.

My parents have this weird thing going on where if the machine breaks dad can fix it but he needs mum to operate the controls because he doesn't know how to turn it on

Yes, through helpingand watching, in the same way I learnt to cook and clean and change a fuse and top up the screenwash in a car etc.
Except our washing machine at home was a twin tub so the big machines at uni were quite a shock. I read the instructions and learnt that way.

Why on earth wouldn’t you prepare your children for adult life and independence?

I have done but don’t think using an appliance that is common sense and comes with instructions if completely stuck is a necessary lesson. 🤷‍♀️
DS1 is in his 4th year of living away and is a completely independent adult.

I can't remember. It seems so obvious.

Oh yes, I remember the excitment of being allowed to hold the hose as the clothes were rinsed in the twin tub spinner. The automatic I worked out myself.

I wasn't taught, I just worked it out.

My dad told me once that he leaves the washing to my mother because he was never taught. He reckons there's some arcane knowledge handed down from mother to daughter about how to tell if there's 'good drying' and he wouldn't dare try it. And he was actually serious. The mind boggles.

Maybe not as a child, but, yes, I was shown how to do laundry from when I still lived at home.
I distinctly remember having to call a repairman to fix it when I was alone at home at some point.

As for the detergent amounts and drawers, it can vary with brands and models so I usually read their instructions. Like with anything else.

Yes. I have also taught my dc how to use a washing machine.

@Sparklingbrook

Why on earth wouldn’t you prepare your children for adult life and independence?

I have done but don’t think using an appliance that is common sense and comes with instructions if completely stuck is a necessary lesson. 🤷‍♀️
DS1 is in his 4th year of living away and is a completely independent adult.

Okay fine.

I taught my children how to use a washing machine and look after it well, and look after their clothing well, washing correctly, hanging correctly and so on.

@UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername

I wasn't taught, I just worked it out.

My dad told me once that he leaves the washing to my mother because he was never taught. He reckons there's some arcane knowledge handed down from mother to daughter about how to tell if there's 'good drying' and he wouldn't dare try it. And he was actually serious. The mind boggles.

I like the thought of a get out clause. Not doing something because they weren't told the secret by their parents.

But there is a YouTube video guide to just about everything so I think we'll just have to get on with it.

My Mum wrote me a crib sheet on washing when I went to university. I feel pretty ashamed I needed it, and my own children know about sorting into whites/lights/darks even if they haven't graduated to putting on the machine yet.

FFS this place irritates me sometimes.

And, given how easy operating a washing machine is (not arguing that at all, it is easy to work out and the instructions are clear) isn’t it a wonder how many women truly believe their men are too dim to use one.

@Justreadingtheforum3 if your children are male it’s even more important that you do teach them, and that they be expected to use it.

I wasn't taught anything like that, washing machine, cooking, ironing, paying bills etc. Left home at 17. Figured it all out myself

I wasn’t. We had a twin tub and my mum at home all day so she did the washing whilst I was at school or work. When I left home I bought an automatic and read the instruction book.