to as how long ‘stuff’ lasts for you and your family

[Merryoldgoat]

I’m doing to laundry after a week of sickness so we’re folding a mountain.

My towels are looking threadbare.

Underwear has developed holes

Stuff looks old even though it not.

I need new sheets even though the current ones are only about 2 years old.

I feel like I’m constantly replacing stuff. Am I the only one?

I don’t buy cheap stuff but it’s not the most expensive you can get. All 100% cotton etc.

Are we just hard on stuff or is this standard?

Extremely soft water here too and I don't own a tumble dryer.

In the last few years I have made trips to the laundrette to dry bed linen and towels (only if I had a journey there anyway) and I have really noticed that the bed linen and towels have started to degrade since then.

So I've stopped going. I've had to repair a few holes in the bed linen and I'm trying to make them last as long as possible (frugal)

I'm still using a couple of Dorma brand duvet covers bought in 1976 (45 years ago). Just beginning to wear thin.

I don't have a tumble dryer, and my sheets are fine - and old. My towels are like sand paper but i wouldn't say they were knackered, just what happens to towels, no? My dish clothes and tea towels are full of holes, so must be the temperature.

The towels are fraying and pulled in places

We have one towel that looks like that, but it still functions as a towel, so it still gets used. It came from Amazon after a recommendation from here.

Most of our towels come from Asda, the Egyptian cotton ones, they seem much better.

I don't think I've ever paid more than £10 for a bath sheet as I'm not fussed about what colour they are so pick them up if I see them on offer.

direct.asda.com/george/home/towels/denim-blue-egyptian-cotton-towel-range/GEM677695,default,pd.html?cgid=D26M07G07C09

We also have a random Matalan hand towel, which I don't remember buying, but that seems nice too.

DSs are using bed linen that was bought for me to take to 6th form (boarder) in the mid 90s. I do tumble dry too. Towels were all wedding presents 11 years ago. DH’s hair wax eventually ruins pillows (grrr) so I have taken to buying a double duvet set every couple of years in the John Lewis sale and rotating.

Oh yes, I never tumble dry anything. Things get thin and wear but it usually takes 10 years + until they get too thin.

Hmmmm. My last towels are from a year ago and look decidedly scruffy.

Sheets are less than 2 years old.

What thread count should I be getting?

Maybe my expectations are unrealistic then? Reading these posts it sounds like my towels are normal ‘used’ towels.

🤔

I've thrown out tonnes of cheap bedding, undies , socks , T towels etc in the past, used to love a certain style of M&S underwear which lasted years, the last lot I have had seems to last less than a year as the elastic comes away from the main part.
Towels - Washed once a week tumbled dried in Winter mostly Dunelm or Christy ones from TK Maxx have had those about 8 years ..I only buy white so they get a hot wash and wash with powder with a scoop of Napisan
Sheets/Duvet covers - Dorma from Dunelm some have a ten year guarantee , expensive to start with but wash and iron well and stay white, just got rid of one that was a threadbare and about 10-15 years old.
Pillows are a right bugbear , can never seem to get the 'right' ones

@Merryoldgoat

I’m guessing it’s the tumble dryer then - I tumble nearly everything.

The towels are fraying and pulled in places

Little holes are appearing on underwear and t-shirts etc

Maybe I need a washing line.

So even in the glorious sunny weather you tumble dry? Can I ask why? I mean why is that your preference? Just wondering if you feel it’s easier or whatever.

Tumble dryer obligatory here between late September and probably April, due to freezing temperatures and risk of being snowed on.
We also have really hard water.

I think the quality of things has declined generally. Stuff that was bought 10 or 15 years ago was probably better made then equivalent products today.

I bought some cheap towels in The Original Factory Shop in 2012 and they're great, really thick, no different now to the day I bought them.

Went back to get some more in a different colour a couple of years back and they were very noticeably worse - incredibly thin - so I didn't bother.

@NiceGerbil

This is going to be the new MN chicken isn't it!

OP you're doing EVERYTHING WRONG.

I have towels that were woven in 1758 and they are still fine! We use them for everything-

Tents for camping
Protecting plants outside over winter
Lining the compost bin
Mopping up split drain cleaner
Testing the sharpness of garden forks by shoving them through the towel into the lawn

A quick wash and they're good as new!

Some people tut tut.

1758? How nouveau. I’ve just dried my hands on the swaddling clothes that first wrapped the Baby Jesus. I line dry, spritz with linen water, and use them for everything from drying the dog to a wedding veil.

I have towels that are 20 years old. They’re definitely not every day towels, but there’s nothing wrong with them.

We’ve got a quilt cover and pillow case set for out bed that’s about 10 years old - perfectly fine. My nephew is using a bedding set and sheets that’s all been through 2 kids before him and is over a decade old, and been washed once a week since being bought - still looks great.

Since getting a tumble dryer I’ve noticed a marked difference in the longevity of clothes/towels/bedding.

Maybe my expectations are unrealistic then? Reading these posts it sounds like my towels are normal ‘used’ towels.

I use towels whilst they still function as towels. When they're really scruffy they go to the yard to use on my horse. But of course I use things that look older rather than new. Why wouldn't you?

@GrrRightBackAtYou

I think it’s a few things:

My DH and I both work (me 4 days) and detest housework. The laundry usually gets left until the weekend leaving two days to wash and dry 4-6 loads so the drier just ‘sorts it’ whilst we’re in.

I find the ‘did you get the laundry in?’ ‘Fuck, it’s raining now’ stuff really irritating.

Both our boys have additional needs too so sometimes you need to turn things round really fast.

I’m lazy.

Towels last 10+ years (Egyptian cotton admittedly, were mid range John Lewis) I only replaced because after exh left I wanted girly coloured ones

Sheets 2-3 years and i replace. I tumble dry everything

I have tea towels that are 20 years old: they’ll still be in use in another 20 years most likely. They aren’t every day ones. They used to be. But now they’re second tier tea towels 😆

Just looked on Amazon and the towels I bought from there are five years old.

The bath sheet is a bit pulled but not badly so but not threadbare or frayed. The bath towel and hand towels that I got at the same time are in much better condition, no signs of any wear at all. All in constantly use and washed weekly.

Usually line dried or go back on the towel rail to dry. Might tumble dry in winter, but realistically, this is probably about 5 times a year or less.

We're not particularly careful with things and one towel I have an endless battle picking it up off the floor after kittens have climbed up it and pulled it off the rail, because we foster rescue cats and one of the bestest things you can give them to play with, after an old shoe lace or one inch square of cardboard is a towel on a towel rail.

Sofas. I grew up with one, that my parents had before I was born and only replaced when they downsized.

Mine don't last more than five years, current one is crap after four.

Second tier tea towels - I love it

@BertramLacey

I wonder if I’ve got some stuff going on here. We had very little growing up - everything in my house was old/second hand/scruffy/didn’t work properly etc

We were really poor so I think in my head I’ve got a ‘that’s not how it should be’ in my head but actually it’s fine for some things.

Maybe I’ll dye the towels?

@Merryoldgoat

Life is too busy for washing lines I find, no need to justify! (I have been using mine through this hot spell but normally I tumble 90% of laundry)

My towels - some are at least 10 years' old. Some sheets and duvet covers are old too

I have 20 year old towels! And my clothes tend to last a few years. I have some summer tops from Sainsbury’s Tu 2004 that I still wear… other stuff lasts less well. I don’t have a tumble dryer.

@RoseAddict I'm wearing an old maternity dress (pulled in obviously) I bought in 2000. I'm rather thrifty with some things