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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU - clothes are either clean or dirty

159 replies

legofootcasualty · 15/10/2021 20:55

DP is currently decorating a chair with multiple items of clothing.

He says they're airing out and are neither fit to hang up or be washed again.

IMO clothes are either clean enough to hang up and wear or need to be washed. Where is the grey area??

He says I'm being ridiculous and it's totally normal.

AIBU?

OP posts:
nordica · 15/10/2021 22:42

I'm somewhat in the middle I think. Usually only the "outer layers" get worn multiple times so that's cardigans, jumpers, pinafores and other dressed worn over other things, and also jeans and trousers (but not leggings). Those go back in the wardrobe.

Then I have a chair for items I may wear multiple times at home for a few hours so they feel clean - a hoodie worn over pyjamas on an evening etc.

Everything else gets washed after one wear. Would never put a worn t-shirt back with clean ones for example.

Stressybetty · 15/10/2021 22:42

We do this. I have the chair but at a maximum I have a pair of jeans and a cardigan on it. I have set DH up with a small laundry basket for his 'pending clothes' I do filter it during the week to take out socks and pants. At the end of the week I go through it and basically sniff and check and wash what's needed. After 11 years I have virtually given up on trying to train him

titchy · 15/10/2021 22:45

It's just a way of filing. If they went back into a drawer/wardrobe I'd forget which pair of trousers or jumper still has a day or two of wears and possibly wear something too long.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 15/10/2021 22:48

@MintJulia

Ds gets in from school and changes into a t shirt he might wear for 5 hours. That goes back in the drawer to be worn another 5 hours before going in the wash. Jeans and sweaters are good for at least three days before they get washed (no direct skin contact).
What goes under your jeans?!
Physicaljerks · 15/10/2021 22:48

Put them back in wardrobe, but inside out so you know they've had a wear.

I have too many clothes. I forget.

FWBNC · 15/10/2021 22:48

@legofootcasualty

OK so this might be a thing...

But then there should be a proper place for the in-between clothes to go, not just creating a permanent mess!

A separate hanging rail or something

There's no might about it!!

You shouldn't put worn clothes in drawers or wardrobes as it attracts moths.

It's ridiculous to wash things like jeans & jumpers every wear, so they need to go somewhere

I'd wager very few people don't have a chair, door, bannister, floor where 'worn but don't need washing' clothes.

The chair/floor/bannister'spot IS annoying, you just have to choose the least annoying place.

Mine are mostly on a chair, but I also have a hook that my 'school runs cardi' lives on in Autumn, before it gives way to 'school run coat' 🤣

Cocogreen · 15/10/2021 22:48

My clothes go on the bedroom chair.
Husbands worn clothes get chucked on the window seat.
Underwear or anything actually grotty straight into the clothes hamper.
Every couple of days I'll hang up the chair stuff or put it away if I haven't worn it again.
Clothes don't have to be constantly washed unless it's summer ( I'm in Australia).

StrawBeretMoose · 15/10/2021 22:49

So OP @legofootcasualty do you put your work clothes back in the wardrobe?
In some parallel universe is your DH writing a thread about you doing this and everyone saying he's got a crazy DW.

My clothes chair is great, things can be clean enough to wear again but I don't wear the same tops on consecutive days but if I've been sitting at home on Teams meetings all day I haven't exerted myself (physically) so it would be wasteful to wash those clothes, but they're not going in my wardrobe.

Oneforthemoneytwo · 15/10/2021 22:53

If they’re clean enough to wear again they’re clean enough to go back in the cupboard. Couldn’t bear having random clothes draped over chairs and bannisters

Chloemol · 15/10/2021 23:00

Mine go on a chair

earthyfire · 15/10/2021 23:01

My husband seems to think the chair under my dressing table is his to drape clothes on.

Reflections2021 · 15/10/2021 23:03

For this purpose, we have something like this with nice hangers, next to the wardrobe and a nice big mirror, so all looks in keeping and it’s resolved the issue.

www.argos.co.uk/product/7128428?clickSR=slp:term:clothes%20rail:15:50:1

MakingM2 · 15/10/2021 23:04

I don’t think you’re being unreasonable. Any textile left lying around our home gets thrown in the wash regardless if it’s lying around when I’m cleaning. I’m sure I probably wash things they’ve removed from the wardrobe and not even worn, but just haven’t put them away again but that’s ok - my dislike of clutter far exceeds my dislike of laundry!

Frlrlrubert · 15/10/2021 23:06

I've got a set of those over the door hooks arranged so they hang on the outside of my wardrobe door for this purpose. My work cardigan will go most of the week unless I spill my dinner on it, but I don't want to put it back with the clean stuff.

chaosrabbitland · 15/10/2021 23:06

i do your husbands thing all the time , iv got a shelf in the kitchen they go onto and stay unitl a few days got past and i put them on again , sometimes there are quite a few garments piled up on it

Just10moreminutesplease · 15/10/2021 23:08

I’m with your husband. Worn things never go back into the wardrobe (that’s only for freshly washed things Grin) but they can sometimes be worn again.

GatoradeMeBitch · 15/10/2021 23:08

I do this too. Like jeans. I get several wears out of them, but I don't want to put them in with clean clothes because I worry my wardrobe might start to smell like a charity shop.

gogohm · 15/10/2021 23:09

He's right, I don't put clothes I've worn away but rewear them

FlowerArranger · 15/10/2021 23:09

@legofootcasualty

OK so this might be a thing...

But then there should be a proper place for the in-between clothes to go, not just creating a permanent mess!

A separate hanging rail or something

Sorry if this has been mentioned....... but isn't this what those over the door hanging racks are for?
CherryPieface · 15/10/2021 23:10

I’ve recently got a bed with drawers built in and I have dedicated one of the drawers to my in between clothes. Much tidier than my old chairdrobe!

echt · 15/10/2021 23:10

I'm fortunate enough to have walk-in wardrobe, so clothes to be worn again: jeans, woollens are turned inside out and hung on hooks/ back of the wardrobe door for a day or two before being put back on the rack.

LookingGlassMilk · 15/10/2021 23:11

My wardrobe has two rails. I hang freshly washed clothes on the top rail, and clothes that have been worn but are not dirty on the bottom rail.

Mymapuddlington · 15/10/2021 23:11

But then there should be a proper place for the in-between clothes to go, not just creating a permanent mess!

It’s called the floordrobe chair

scarpa · 15/10/2021 23:19

I have The Chair too, sorry OP. If you hate the chair, why not get one of those decorate ladder things or something to hang wearable clothes over?

imnotacelebritygetmeoutofhere · 15/10/2021 23:22

Your DH is correct, there is a half way. I have hooks instead of a chair for the same purpose. The clothes are not dirty and don't need washing, nor are they fresh enough to be in the wardrobe as new. So they hang on a hook ready to be worn again a few times until they need washing.