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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dirty undergarments

372 replies

watchingrnfire · 03/03/2022 23:27

Where does everyone put their dirty underwear that need washing? I wouldn't put it in wash basket with the rest of my clothes. I ask because I let mine pile up (weekly) and then put in for a wash as they don't get washed with any other clothing. What I have been doing is putting them in a medium sized laundry mesh bag, that I leave in the bathroom, not in open apparent space. But if you look around well enough, you will be able to spot it!
My issue is having to move it when we have workers round (boiler is in the bathroom) or even guests. Our downstairs bathroom is quite far from the living room so our guests unfortunately decide to go to our family bathroom upstairs as it's much closer. Just annoys me that I have to move it any time someone comes over. We've had 3 workers in the last 3 week that required work in the bathroom.
It got me thinking where do people put their underwear that need washing.

OP posts:
RosesAndHellebores · 04/03/2022 07:23

In case it hasn't come up already, blood needs to be soaked in cold water with a bit of bio. Hot water sets it.

@ThumbWitchesAbroad - how is your electricity cheaper at weekends?

I do darks, lights/whites and hots (bedding/towels). Usually two/three darks in the winter but I do separate my clothes from the socks, pants and Jamas. More because the stinky stuff gets done at 40° and my frocks at 30°. I do a maintenance wash once a week at 95° with bio and bung in cleaning cloths and tea towels. I prevents stinky machine.

Monsterpage · 04/03/2022 07:23

@XenoBitch

Honestly, you must have some serious nuclear level discharge coming out your vagina if you feel that you need to isolate your underwear from everything else. Do you use a different washing machine too? Maybe one in a distant outbuilding?
Grin
Gonnagetgoing · 04/03/2022 07:23

I can see why you do this but it’s a bit extreme.

But as others say laundry basket with separate compartment.

lookingforjobinspiration · 04/03/2022 07:24

OP: AIBU?
Everyone in entire (MN) world: YABU
OP: No, I'm not!!

Yawn.

@watchingrnfire your way is weird. The end.

Sceptre86 · 04/03/2022 07:25

I put them in the laundry with all the other dirty clothes. I'd never wash my underwear separately. I change underwear every day so I don't get stains on it unless I'm on my period and even then it's rare. For period stains I will hand-wash to remove the stain and then put in with normal laundry. I don't like the sense of othering womens underwear, we have periods it is natural and normal, it's respectful of the person who does the laundry to wash a stain out but they don't need to be hidden at least in my house.

You can do whatever suits you so could hang your laundry bag on the back of a door hook, get a non mesh one so that if anyone finds it they won't know it's your underwear unless they actually look into it.

Gonnagetgoing · 04/03/2022 07:25

I do underwear, bedding and whites including tea towels at 30 but long wash with bleach and non bio.

Rest at 30.

Did used to do 40 degrees until more eco friendly to do at 30.

Sometimes add Ace gentle bleach.

Gonnagetgoing · 04/03/2022 07:26

Period stains (when I had them) I just rinsed and if really had biotex then in usual laundry.

Lottle · 04/03/2022 07:27

@watchingrnfire
Hi op. To actually answer your question. I do wash my underwear separately. Articles like this spooked me into doing it. www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/sorry-youve-been-washing-knickers-incorrectly-your-entire-life_uk_5d2442c7e4b0cfb595fb34bc it works for us as I wash them a bit hotter and tumble them but don't with other clothes

I do keep them in the laundry basket with everything else but I don't out them straight in from my body. They usually go on the floor for about 12 hours.

SalsaLove · 04/03/2022 07:27

@mnnewbie111

More cleaner 😂😂😂😂😂
The OP has some interesting diction going on as well as this howler. 😆
iloveruby · 04/03/2022 07:29

I leave mine on the floor with the rest of my clothes which when I do my laundry i then have to sniff to check if dirty or clean....

heyitsthistle · 04/03/2022 07:30

I even chuck handwash items in at 40°C because I can't be bothered to handwash them or take them to the cleaners 😂

Lovemusic33 · 04/03/2022 07:32

Everything gets chucked in together on a 40 wash. I can remember my mum separating washing into piles and having a ‘washing day’ once a week, I can’t be doing with that so we just bung everything in and hope for the best.

lollipoprainbow · 04/03/2022 07:35

Is this a joke Hmm

dfendyr · 04/03/2022 07:37

Stains don't always come out of clothes but am sure you all are fine with that, some of us are just more cleaner

Haha so we are all dirty because we wash our pants with the rest of our washing

Heard it all now

gogohm · 04/03/2022 07:38

In the washing basket with the other washing? It all gets washed together (well lights and darks)

TrickyD · 04/03/2022 07:39

@JohnLapsleyParlabane

When you say 'undergarments', do you mean normal underwear or do you mean Garments in the Mormon sense? If so I understand the need to segregate your washing. Why don't you keep it in your room?
What are ‘garments in the Mormon sense’?

(I bung the lot in together by the way)

skodadoda · 04/03/2022 07:39

@moonbedazzled

You isolate your underwear? But it touches your clothes all the time you're dressed. So what does it matter if it touches your clothes in the dirty wash box?
Quite! Just how dirty is your underwear? My underwear is white so it got in with the light colours.
SamMil · 04/03/2022 07:41

Mine all gets washed together too, except towels which get washed/dried to keep them fluffy.

I do wash period pants/pads separately, but this is only once a month obviously.

gogohm · 04/03/2022 07:41

Oh and my washing all goes in at 40 (except the periodical woollens wash) my underwear says 40 on the label

kittensinthekitchen · 04/03/2022 07:45

@MingeofDeath

If this is the case then I hope you wash your tea towels seperately as well. Germ wise they are far filthier then your under garments.
That really depends on the individual and the filth of their undergarments doesn't it mingeofdeath
thegreylady · 04/03/2022 07:45

In laundry basket every night. Washed at 40 with almost everything else.

Thewiseoneincognito · 04/03/2022 07:45

I do an underwear and socks wash OP. It’s the bane of my life, it takes forever to sort through but definitely worth it.

Hate the idea of washing underwear in with clothes.

Howshouldibehave · 04/03/2022 07:46

I wouldn't put it in wash basket with the rest of my clothes

I actually had to read that three times! WTF-what are you on about!!?

kittensinthekitchen · 04/03/2022 07:46

@Joystir59

I am reporting this thread.
Good job. Noone else thought to do that.
ThumbWitchesAbroad · 04/03/2022 07:49

@RosesAndHellebores - because I live in Australia, have a "smart" meter, and solar power.
During weekdays, we have cheap overnight electricity, "shoulder" price from 7am til 2pm and then peak from 2pm til 10pm.
At the weekend, there is no peak rate, so I can do washes all day without worrying about going into the expensive rate.
Washing during the day takes extra advantage of the solar contribution as well, thus reducing our costs further.