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.

No.
My mother disappeared into the distance never to look back and my dad was working all the hours under the sun so I just had to figure it out, like with most things.

There’s been lots of mishaps, lots of faded clothing and shrunken jumpers but.. no harm done.

Yes. That we did whites at 50/60 (as we did then) colours at 40. Not to overfill. Not the world's longest lesson, but definitely told things.

@Whoactuallyneedsaname

I taught my DD (9) how to do laundry about 2 years ago. Other than ironing, which I do, she now has overall responsibility for washing, drying, sorting and putting away all laundry. With my DD I find it’s much easier to get her to do chores when she has the total responsibility for the task.

I was also taught how to do laundry as a child, I remember being about 12/13. I was really lazy with it though and hated doing it, I can remember being nagged a lot about it. This isn’t the same with my DD. She’s not like me at all!

In fact, I distinctly remember grunting at my parents from behind my closed bedroom door, aged about 14, when they were going out and asked me to do laundry while they were out. My dad said “I’ll leave the box of laundry powder outside your door so you trip over it and remember!”

Next thing was, I opened my bedroom door hours later in a teenage daze and promptly tripped over it. Sending 5kg of Daz all over the dark green carpet shortly before my parents were due home. Probably the most enthusiastic hoovering I’ve done in my life!

No, I just learnt by watching (e.g. where to put detergent, conditioner etc.) but I'm sure some people are taught. I definitely remember showing some students in my uni halls how to use the washing machines there so you're not alone!

Yes I was, my mum would be horrified to learn that we don't separate colours/ whites now and just bring it all in together

The washing machine was too precious for my mother to allow children to touch. I taught my own girls how to do laundry from about 11 or 12.

Yes.
But really apart from a quick tutorial before leaving for college mostly it was observation: as of course we didn't have the internet and barely any TV outside evenings we mooched about our parents more.😂

I also did used to help out at the less frequent trips to a launderette so I knew how to handle myself in there.

Life skills are great for self esteem imo.

I did all my own laundry from age 12. I don't remember the exact moment I was taught, but I suppose I must have been as there were no major accidents?

Don't let your DC become like the manchild friend I once taught AT THE AGE OF THIRTY to use a washing machine for the first time.

I wasn't taught. The washing machine was a treasured possession that must only be looked at from a distance by mere children lest you made it stop working and, horror of horrors, cost her money, much like the big red phone that sat in the hallway.

I read the instruction booklet and the labels on the clothes when I bought my own aged 19. Much better than having to handwash things in the bathroom sink for years when I needed them clean before the single wash on Saturday morning because that wouldn't risk the hallowed instrument of clothes laundering.

I taught my children how to use mine.

@3peassuit

The washing machine was too precious for my mother to allow children to touch. I taught my own girls how to do laundry from about 11 or 12.

Are we related?

I don't think so. I worked it out as a teenager.
I've taught DD and I'll teach DS when he is older.

Not at all. Nor have I taught my dc. They can all do it.

Given a quick run through of how to sort clothes, use washing machine and dryer aged 11 and left to get on with it ever after.

I wasn't as a child but was as I got older and definitely by mid teen. My 10 year old can use it to do a basic wash and spin, and can then transfer it to the tumble dryer and use that.

Yes I was. And the Dairy Diary taught me about washing symbols.

Thank you. Really interesting replies and about 50/50.

Honestly can't remember if/when I was taught. But I did teach my ds when he was in his early teens, as if he forgot to put his dirty clothes into the wash basket on a Friday night, they'd not get washed on the Saturday and it was up to him to wash them.

He actually told me he appreciated it when he went off to Uni a few years ago

No. I just had to figure it out when I moved out of my parents house

@ShirleyPhallus

No I wasn’t taught how to use it. But it’s common sense, surely....?

That was my thought, how hard can it be? There's always a manual if you're really stuck! Even OH, whose mother wouldn't have men in the kitchen, managed to use a washing machine and all the other kitchen stuff.

Yes I was taught to use a washing machine and.....how to was by hand!

I was also taught how to wash cashmere and silk by hand, mum being keen on her clothes

I wasn't taught but it's not hard!

My kids use the washing machine and I've given them hints like to wash new jeans on their own because of the dye but other than that they are designed to be simple. Even in holiday lets Rhys know to look for the quick wash and set temperature low for their clothes.

Yes I was, my mum would be horrified to learn that we don't separate colours/ whites now and just bring it all in together

I was taught, I have taught the DC sadly DMIL can't use a washing machine and DH struggles.

I was taught to use ours when I was about 12. I made sure dh knew how to when we got married (he did) and taught our 3 kids to do it when they were about the same age. Dd1 has moved out but ds (19) does all his own washing and dd2 does when reminded!

My three year old helps me most times I do the washing. She separates the colours and turns to dial to the picture she knows we use. She puts the washing tablet in and the colour catcher. She is 3. By the time she is a teenager, she will be more than capable to do the washing by herself.