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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:
KosherDill · 04/03/2022 03:27

I wash ordinary underwear in with the jeans.

Delicate wash for nicer lingerie.

Wouldn't dream of mixing tea towels and clothing!

PinkNails1 · 04/03/2022 03:38

Ew how dirty are your knickers?? Mine are washed with the rest of the contents of the laundry basket. Unless there’s blood. I’ll hand wash if that’s the case. I wouldn’t put period pants or normal knickers with a bit of blood on in with the rest of the clothes.

Windypants21 · 04/03/2022 03:51

I knew someone who did this. She separated everything. Made me feel like I was a complete dirt bag. She was my exes sister. As time went on I realised she was a bit of a clean freak. She wouldnt eat at our, or anyone elses, house. He pointed it out, I hadn't even noticed, just assumed she was thin because she wasnt a greedy gorb like me. She also ironed her underwear. I, on the other hand, let my fat ass do that.

As a suggestion why not just put the bag in the clothes bin, they've been in contact with your clothes anyway. I sometimes put really dirty or damp stuff in the washing machine until i need to do the wash. My basket is wicker so I dont like it getting too damp or dirty. Each to their own.

Blancmangetout · 04/03/2022 03:53

How absolutely bizarre. It goes in the dirty laundry basket and then into the washing machine. No way would I do a wash for just a week's worth of pants. Holy fk. This place is crazy sometimes.

Nezuko · 04/03/2022 03:54

I come from a part of the world where women hand wash their knickers before putting it in the washing machine with all their other laundry! If it isn't laundry day, I just air dry it in my room & pop it in the laundry basket afterwards Grin (wouldn't want anyone to come across my discharge stained undies tbh)

shrunkenhead · 04/03/2022 04:04

Only on Mumsnet....

LovedayCL · 04/03/2022 04:05

Have we talked about mooncups in the dishwasher yet?

Nezuko · 04/03/2022 04:13

Your undergarments & tea towels together?! That's vile

marvellousmaple · 04/03/2022 04:14

I don't understand how in threads like this someone always says - I only wash twice a week. I do at least 2 loads a day, usually 3.
OP - If you are that stressed about the inordinate number of tradies coming into your bathroom to see your stash of dirty undies keep them in a bag in your laundry basket. I have a covered laundry basket in our bedroom. Could you not do that?

1forAll74 · 04/03/2022 04:24

How dirty is your underwear ha ha, just put it in with your other stuff,! You could put it in a dishwasher if you have one !

WTF475878237NC · 04/03/2022 04:35

Not sure if you'll see this but I also do this. My system is I have a mesh laundry bag that hangs inside my larger laundry basket to separate underwear to be washed at 60 from general clothes to be washed at 30 with fabric conditioner.

HoneyItIsntGoodLuck · 04/03/2022 04:46

I honestly cannot believe the things some people don’t have the wit or wherewithal to figure out, without having to come onto MN for guidance.

If you HAVE to keep it all separate OP - just put your bag of knickers in a room other than the bathroom. How hard is it…..?

Bifflepants · 04/03/2022 05:01

Honestly OP, you are just making unnecessary work for yourself. I am a very clean person, but I just wash all my darks together at 40, and my whites together at 50. No need to separate your knickers. It all gets clean.

ufucoffee · 04/03/2022 05:09

@watchingrnfire

Honestly I can't with this type of people, just because you don't think it's normal doesn't mean it isn't. I also don't use fabric softener on underwear but I do for the rest of my clothes, so that is also another reason for separation. Quite frankly I think it's disgusting you would wash your period PANTS with clothing of the rest of the family. So you may think am weird but I think your way is weird so 🤷‍♀️ Stains don't always come out of clothes but am sure you all are fine with that, some of us are just more cleaner

The poster that mentioned eating at their friends with period stain underwear in view - there you go my point proven

You can't what with this type of people?

It's not normal because it's bonkers.

Thefaceofboe · 04/03/2022 05:10

don't know, but I have always done this, and clearly thought it's what most people do but obviously not it would seem

I don’t believe you thought most people did this Hmm

WutheringHeights66 · 04/03/2022 05:10

OP, this is bonkers for many reasons.

How long does it take to get enough knickers to do a full load?
Are you knickers all the same colour?
Is all you underwear made of the same fabric?

I would never wash my white skimpy underwear for under white jeans with my big black cotton comfy pants and my lacy red bra together, it’s madness.

I sort my washing according to lights, darks, coloured and yes those white knickers go in with my white tea towels.

TooEarlyForBreakfast · 04/03/2022 05:25

Mine are in the abandoned rocket that's about to hit the moon💥

Chihuahuapower · 04/03/2022 05:28

Unpopular opinion but I'm coming to bat for the OP.

I wash all the family's pants and socks together on a 60 wash.
Clothing on a 30 or 40.
It make sense to me that items with more bacteria have a higher temperature. But I do have it all in the wash basket together and just sort into loads on 'washing day'

OP, why don't you keep the mesh bag in the wash basket? It would be used daily so always near the top.

olympicsrock · 04/03/2022 05:40

I do put my underwear in a separate laundry basket but that’s only because it is pale/ lacy/ delicate and I want to put it on a 30 degree delicates wash to prevent greying .
Could you have two laundry baskets?

PollyPage · 04/03/2022 05:41

Only thing that doesn't go in the wash basket is period pants.

ThinWomansBrain · 04/03/2022 05:42

if you want to keep them separate, not sure why, just put the mesh bag inside the main laundry basket when you want to be discreet with it when you have guests

CeeceeBloomingdale · 04/03/2022 05:44

No pants apartheid here, our shirts and trews are accepting of all undercrackers so all laundry lives together in harmony in the washing basket. Ebony and Ivory do go in separate washes though.

RedRobin100 · 04/03/2022 05:47

@ChipButtyCurrySauce

Mine go straight in the wash with everything else! I do minimum 3 washloads a day.
Three washes a day..?!
HoneyItIsntGoodLuck · 04/03/2022 05:47

@ThinWomansBrain

if you want to keep them separate, not sure why, just put the mesh bag inside the main laundry basket when you want to be discreet with it when you have guests
I’m still boggling that someone actually needs to have this explained to them.

OP - you need any help crossing the street? You know you have to look both way, right?

RewildingAmbridge · 04/03/2022 05:48

I have a padded laundry bag I use for lots of my underwear not because of hygiene but so it doesn't get destroyed, the bog standard stuff goes in with everything else on a 40, but my nice things need a delicates/handwash cycle so go in a laundry bag and get washed when I have a load to do with other delicates