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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not wash all the clothes I took on holiday?

76 replies

Macaroni46 · 02/08/2021 07:06

This is a lighthearted thread.
Just returned from holiday with a friend. We were discussing washing (like you do!).
She said that she washes all the clothes she took on holiday regardless of whether they were worn or not, because they're dirty from being in the suitcase.
I was surprised and said I only wash the clothes that have been worn.
So who is being unreasonable here?
To my mind, washing everything seems excessive or maybe I'm just a bit of a skank!

OP posts:

PeterPomegranate · 02/08/2021 07:09

I only wash what’s been worn but sometimes when I get home I find the clothes smell ‘funny’ of the place where we’ve stayed so I might wash them all.

LawnFever · 02/08/2021 07:09

I only wash what I wore, and have a separate laundry bag that I chuck stuff into once it’s dirty.

I wouldn’t consider something dirty just because it’s been in a case - what’s wrong with her suitcase that it makes things dirty?

SuperCaliFragalistic · 02/08/2021 07:09

My suitcase isn't dirty so no I wouldn't.

Tombero · 02/08/2021 07:13

I plan to just wash what’s dirty, but often it all smells a bit funny so I do it all.

It’s also a future ambition of mine to get my clothes to days ratio perfect so that everything does really need a wash as it got worn.

Ivy48 · 02/08/2021 07:13

I wash it all, even though I store it back in the suitcase until next years holiday. But mainly as I think of germs from being in the wardrobe or bed bugs etc

Flavabobble · 02/08/2021 07:14

If I've been on a beach holiday, I inevitably find everything smells of salt and sand whether I've worn it or not.

CecilyP · 02/08/2021 07:19

Neither of you are unreasonable. Sometimes the clean clothes that have been in the suitcase can smell a bit fusty but there is no right or wrong about washing them.

icedcoffees · 02/08/2021 07:21

I wash all of it as I agree it all smells a bit fusty and weird.

Summermum123 · 02/08/2021 07:21

I wash them all! They usually all smell of hotel or suitcase after a week or so, plus I’d worry about bringing home any bugs

dudsville · 02/08/2021 07:22

Neither of you is being unreasonable. This is a personal preference.

ineedaholidaynow · 02/08/2021 07:30

@Ivy48 you have a complete set of clothes you only wear on holiday?

Wjevtvha · 02/08/2021 07:30

I only wash what’s dirty unless it smells a bit stale

Wtfdoipick · 02/08/2021 07:33

I wash everything however there were only 2 items i didn't wear. How much are people packing that they are bringing so many unworn things home?

MrsJBaptiste · 02/08/2021 07:35

I wash whatever is dirty then iron everything else that comes out of the suitcase in a creased mess!

SquirryTheSquirrel · 02/08/2021 07:36

I don't wash everything. As I wear stuff on holiday, I put it into a big drawstring bag for washing - this is then packed on top of any unworn stuff so when I get home it can be lifted out in one and go straight in the wash.

FastFood · 02/08/2021 07:36

I'd wash everything.
But for a start I would wear everything. I always take as little clothes as possible.
If something's not worn, its not dirty per se, but feels "unfresh".

YouMadeABear · 02/08/2021 07:39

I wash everything too. Dirty stuff gets packed separately in bags but the clean stuff still always smells "wrong". My mum always did the same.

PeonyTime · 02/08/2021 07:40

Wash it if it's been worn.
Back in the cupboard if its clean.

BUT, I'm not planning on doing any washing while I'm away (aparently this is unusual), so nearly all of it will feed washing. If I've planned it right, there will be one emergency set of clothes left clean.

teraculum29 · 02/08/2021 07:43

It'd depend, if the worn clothes were mixed with clean ones then yes I would wash all of them.

Lulu1919 · 02/08/2021 07:50

I only wash what we wear
Two suitcases of clean clothes go on holiday
On the way back one case full of unworn clothes etc and other case full of the dirty clothes beach towels etc
I always over pack.....especially if UK bases holiday !!!

BeenAsFarAsMercyAndGrand · 02/08/2021 07:54

@Ivy48

I wash it all, even though I store it back in the suitcase until next years holiday. But mainly as I think of germs from being in the wardrobe or bed bugs etc

Eh? You have a set of clothes you only wear on holiday, so they are packed away for the rest of the year? Or have I misunderstood, as I've never heard of anyone doing this before.

Re: washing, sometimes things smell if they were next to dirty clothes in the suitcase, so I judge it based on that.

ZenNudist · 02/08/2021 07:55

I mainly do my washing on holiday and try to bring back largely clean! I also pack in packing cubes.

MrsSkylerWhite · 02/08/2021 07:56

YANBU.

Vbree · 02/08/2021 07:57

Ridiculous to wash clothes that haven't been worn!

Aposterhasnoname · 02/08/2021 08:03

[quote ineedaholidaynow]@Ivy48 you have a complete set of clothes you only wear on holiday?[/quote]
Doesn’t everybody?

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