Page 14 | Washing machine loads - the new MN chicken?

Singlebutmarried · 2022-02-22T14:39:26+00:00

Is it just me or are there a lot of ‘5 loads of washing a week, what are you doing, we’re a family of 5 and only make 1 load of washing a week’ Full disclosure Family of three At least 8 loads a week. Do these one load a weekers have mahoosive machines?

PurplePansy05 · 22/02/2022 20:34

Family of three, I have a big load washing machine. It's 6 loads a week here and I've already cut down a lot (the logistics that have gone into it...!).

I used to do two loads a week when it was just me and DH and ashamed to say, boasted about this. That time is long gone, since the arrival of the little person it's definitely impossible

Bellie710 · 22/02/2022 20:44

One thing I have realised although I am doing an obscene amount of washing I very rarely clean the pets beds! Who knew this was a weekly task (shock)

PinotPony · 22/02/2022 20:47

Are none of you aware of the increasing cost of electricity..?! 😱

Since WFH I've worn the same onesie every day for two years. I wash it on a Friday and make sure I don't schedule any zoom calls for that day as I don't want my colleagues to see me naked.

flowerycurtain · 22/02/2022 20:48

I've done 5 loads alone today.

1 normal colours
1 normal whites
All my cleaning cloths after the cleaner
Farm clothes
Rugby kit

Have to do at least a load a day plus a day like today to keep up. The joys of a rugby playing farming family.

UsernameInTheTown · 22/02/2022 20:52

There are loads of smelly fuckers in the UK, most of them Mumsnetters by the sounds of it.

JackieWeaverHandforthCouncil · 22/02/2022 21:00

I don’t think not having the washing machine running constantly means you’re a smelly fucker at all. It probably means you can afford more than one set of clothes.

apprenticewage · 22/02/2022 21:02

Does ANYONE just fill a wash basket with all sorts and then just fill the washing machine when that is full...whites, towels, underwear, swimming stuff...all in together. Chuck in a colour and dirt absorber and turn it on...no?just me the..

Marmelace · 22/02/2022 21:04

@apprenticewage

Does ANYONE just fill a wash basket with all sorts and then just fill the washing machine when that is full...whites, towels, underwear, swimming stuff...all in together. Chuck in a colour and dirt absorber and turn it on...no?just me the..

I do most things on the same cycle.

poorbuthappy · 22/02/2022 21:13

We are 5 plus dog who likes to sleep on blankets. I used to spend time sorting colours. I don't any longer. As soon as things are washed twice they usually stop running. (Not the red Christmas tablecloth though) so it all just gets chucked in. I reckon I do between 5-8 loads a week. Towels get used more than once and bedding lasts longer than a week. We are yet to be thrown out of the village social scene so reckon we don't smell.

UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea · 22/02/2022 21:14

@PinotPony

Are none of you aware of the increasing cost of electricity..?! 😱

Since WFH I've worn the same onesie every day for two years. I wash it on a Friday and make sure I don't schedule any zoom calls for that day as I don't want my colleagues to see me naked.

Life goal ⬆️

UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea · 22/02/2022 21:15

@flowerycurtain

I've done 5 loads alone today.

1 normal colours
1 normal whites
All my cleaning cloths after the cleaner
Farm clothes
Rugby kit

Have to do at least a load a day plus a day like today to keep up. The joys of a rugby playing farming family.

How many cleaning cloths and why can't they be chucked in with other clothes?

UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea · 22/02/2022 21:18

@apprenticewage

Does ANYONE just fill a wash basket with all sorts and then just fill the washing machine when that is full...whites, towels, underwear, swimming stuff...all in together. Chuck in a colour and dirt absorber and turn it on...no?just me the..

🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️

We're all fine, our clothes are fine, we don't smell. we don't even bother with the colour and dirt absorbers what even are they?

UserWithNoUserName · 22/02/2022 21:34

@UsernameInTheTown

There are loads of smelly fuckers in the UK, most of them Mumsnetters by the sounds of it.

Most clothes do not need washing after every use. The only things I will wash after use is knickers and T-Shirts (because I sweat a lot). Everything else gets at least 2-3 wears first.

Original poster

Singlebutmarried · 22/02/2022 21:53

I don’t chuck my cleaning cloths in with my clothes as some of the cleaning cloths are particularly grotty (oven cleaner etc) and there are some products that contain bleach. So I always wash the cloths by themselves.

OP posts:

SockFluffInTheBath · 22/02/2022 22:51

@UsernameInTheTown

There are loads of smelly fuckers in the UK, most of them Mumsnetters by the sounds of it.

🤣

liveforsummer · 22/02/2022 23:09

@apprenticewage

Does ANYONE just fill a wash basket with all sorts and then just fill the washing machine when that is full...whites, towels, underwear, swimming stuff...all in together. Chuck in a colour and dirt absorber and turn it on...no?just me the..

Yes my ex - DD's school t shirt got washed there the other week and there is already a noticeable difference in shade of white of that one after just one wash and all the ones I wash on a white only. Over time they definitely look greyer if you wash whites with darks. Of course you won't notice if all your whites are gradually greying it's when you see the comparison

randomsabreuse · 22/02/2022 23:22

My DC's school polos are yellow which pick up other colours like no man's business. They go in with whites or get random blueish marks from dark stuff. Bane of my life those things!

I have darks (or anything I don't care about), brights if I have enough and (stupid yellow shirts and what I trust to go in with it. Towels are a separate wash but sheets fit the colour rules, generally used to bulk out the stupid school polo wash...

liveforsummer · 22/02/2022 23:26

@randomsabreuse

My DC's school polos are yellow which pick up other colours like no man's business. They go in with whites or get random blueish marks from dark stuff. Bane of my life those things!

I have darks (or anything I don't care about), brights if I have enough and (stupid yellow shirts and what I trust to go in with it. Towels are a separate wash but sheets fit the colour rules, generally used to bulk out the stupid school polo wash...

DC's school is white or yellow polos and yellow or black jumper, add in brownies and we do have a decent amount for a yellow load. People often ask how my yellows still look so good

apprenticewage · 22/02/2022 23:34

It's just as well we don't have white shirts etc in this house dc uniform polos are grey and navy. If my dh wears a white shirt then it's for a wedding at which it then gets sent to the laundrette. The only whites I have are a few pair of socks and dc vests.but that's what the colour catchers are for 👍

Sh05 · 22/02/2022 23:41

Family of 7 here, I do around 7 loads a week but my machine is old and only a 5 kg drum. I'm hoping it'll last me another year whilst I save for a new and bigger one.
To save on electricity I've bought a clothes airer so all washing goes on their for the night then I either put them on the line if it's dry out or tumble dry them for around 20 minutes to finish the drying process.

hamsterchump · 23/02/2022 00:35

@ToMockAKillingBird

Family of 3, 4 when DD home from Uni.

Bedding changed weekly. Towels used twice maximum.
Undies, Bras and socks changed daily.
DS has clean school uniform each day.
Pyjamas I change daily due to peri but everyone else wears twice.
Dog bedding and blankets changed at least twice a week.

We have a 10kg machine and it's on daily, so probably around 7 or 8 loads each week.

I'm amazed that families can get by with 2 or 3 washes in a week. How?!

They just wash things less frequently.

I wash bedding every 1-1 and 1/2 weeks (might change pillowcases in the meantime once) depends on the weather as I solely air dry laundry.

We use the one bath towel each for at least a week, more often two. I hang them to dry in the airing cupboard every day. Hand towels I rotate two in the airing cupboard drying and change the two maybe once or twice a week

Bras I wear for at least 4 days, maybe up to a week as they never really seem dirty. If I had got all sweaty for some reason I would wash them sooner but that doesn't usually happen.

Socks daily, pants twice a day as I sleep in new big pants every day. OH socks and pants twice a day as physical job.

Don't wear pyjamas (see sleeping pants above), wear dressing gown every day and only wash that maybe quarterly at most, maybe bi-annually.

Other clothes it depends on how dirty they are, tops I might get one to three wears typically. Jeans four or more wears easily. Jumpers could go a long time, I would only wash one if it smells or was stained or something. I never wash or dry clean coats, only spot clean.

Is the "sniff test" not known to everyone? It's well used in this house.

We have cats not dogs who don't use blankets or cat beds.

JaceLancs · 23/02/2022 00:41

2 adults 4 loads a week

hamsterchump · 23/02/2022 00:41

I've just realised it sounds like we only have one bath towel between us, to be clear we have one each at a time.

hamsterchump · 23/02/2022 00:48

Your machine must be tiny if it can only hold 3 sets of school uniform surely? You know you have to take the clothes off the child before you put them in the machine right? 😁

declutteringmymind · 23/02/2022 01:12

I wash my towels once or twice a week, and bedding every 1-2 weeks, but I have:

Husbands shirts, trousers and extra work fleeces as he's in the warehouse a lot

DS1: 5 x secondary uniform shirts/trousers, 2 x jumpers
2x football kit, 1 x gym kit, 1 x games kit, 1 x swimming kit, 1 x ski layers. It's winter so he wears skins for all outdoor.

DS2:as DS1 but he has Cubs uniform too (we used my jumper to clear the chalk off the floor mum).

I work in healthcare and have to wash my own uniforms - fresh on everyday, as well as the clothes I travel to work in.

Pyjamas are 2-3 days wear, then weekend clothes, going out clothes, delicates, white washes, coats that have got mud splashed up at the back of the,, football boots and wellies all need washing too.

Oh yeah and DS1 does outward bound every other weeks so that more layers, wet coat and waterproofs.

FML