Or is this not how anyone does washing?!

[Sofiegiraffe]

Who is BU here, me or DP?

When I put a wash load in the machine, I pick up each item individually and sort of make a mental note of it so I have a rough idea of what is going into the machine (in case anyone asks where an item of their clothing is, or in case I'm wondering "where's that pair of black trousers of mine?", for example).

DP claims to just "pick up a load of stuff and shove it in". He doesn't put them in one by one. So if it's a darks wash that he's put on, and I ask "are my black trousers in that wash?" or "is DD's pink dress in that colours wash by any chance?", he won't know. All he knows is that he shoved a load of dark or coloured stuff in.

He thinks that's a perfectly reasonable way to do the washing. I think surely no one else does this? Surely most people look at what they're putting in so they at least have a rough idea of what's going in?!

Who is BU? Please settle this once and for all!

yes i make a mental note,. but thats more as i am sorting through stuff a bit to make sure i put things that can't be tumbled not in with a tumble wash.

So i'd note i was putting in some t0shirts with the pants/socks but i'd have seperated out jeans and trousers to wait for a wash without tumble. All shirts would go in their own wash (separate light from dark shirts)

But only 2 adults here.

I use a spreadsheet, everything checked in and out at every stage of the washing / drying process. Not lost a sock since 1992

Lights, darks, reds, whites, towels, then fling 'em in. If I have 2 half loads of the above I'll fling certain combinations in together, that's as much headspace as I can give it.

I do it your way Op. 👍🏽

With your DH on this one - separate lights and darks and put a load on.

I know that towels go in on a Sunday/Monday.

I know that all of dhs jeans are currently in the machine (because I just put them in along with mine).

I know that I have a basket of the kids undies and socks to go on next.

But aside from that - if it’s not in the wardrobes it’s in the wash

@RumDo

I do it your way Op. 👍🏽

Yay!

YANVVVVVVU! I don’t care what’s in the machine in the slightest. The owner puts it in darks / delicate / whites and when any section is full I grab it out and wash it .

@junglejane66

I use a spreadsheet, everything checked in and out at every stage of the washing / drying process. Not lost a sock since 1992

I hope you back it up every 15 minutes, imagine losing all the information while the machine is on.

Actually I actually do the same as the OP but it does not require more than just a quick mental note. We don't have loads of clothes between us and the washing machine is only on twice a week. I like to know exactly what is in the wash.

I don't expect others to do this though.

@TheDuckSaysMoo

I sort through one by one while splitting the wash into colours, darks, whites etc. but if there were more than two loads of darks then I wouldn't know what was in each load. I'd just pick up enough of the dark pile to fill the machine. If I knew someone needed something quickly then I'd sift through and put it in the first load.

That’s my method too

It's only actually in the washung machine for like an hour. Once it's out, you can look on the airer, and/or look in the laundry basket?

Don't check, shove it all and never had an issue.

Just for clarity: I do not have a spreadsheet 😂

I'm talking this sort of thought process: "must make sure that dress goes into the next wash as I need that for work on Monday... must make sure that outfit for baby goes in to the next colours as I want to dress her in that tomorrow... must put elder DC's school skirt in this one..." etc etc.

It's not:

"1 x Panda babygrow, check...
1 x stripy socks, check...
3 x knickers, 2 blue, 1 black, check....

Jeez. 😂

I just tip it out on the kitchen floor and put everything that isn't white in. Or pull DS's shirts out of the washbag and put in with towels or bedding. The clothes wash is clothes we've worn that week but I don't pay attention to what they are, except for things that weren't in the washbag like a hoodie or pair of trousers that are washed weekly or less frequently.

How much spare time do you have?! I gran a handful from the darks, lites or whites basket, shove it in the machine and put it on a 30. No disasters because I don’t have a list of the contents. Surely if it isn’t in the basket still its in the machine, so the person looking just needs to look in the basket, rather than asking you whats in there.

Yabu.

How much spare time do you have?!

In the past year probably an average of 2 hours a month. That's a good month, too.

I kind of know what you mean, I'll make mental notes of certain items like work trousers going in the wash, high vis jacket, particular tops so I know they've been done, but generally most stuff is just thrown in the machine

I have a basket that everyone puts their washing in. Separated colours/darks/lights. When it comes to washing day I pick up whichever section is the fullest and put it in the washer. Nothing goes in that basket without being sorted and turned the right way out. I will note what I’ve hung out as I do it though

I shove them all in but I do unconsciously make a mental note.

Usually it’s the main things like work tops that I want to wear or my DCs school uniform just to make sure I know they’ve been washed. But random things I wouldn’t know.

Sort the colours and put it in.Why does it matter where the black trousers are?The washing is out in an hour.Ifanyone is so fussy then so be it.Can’t see the problem.

I REALLY don’t understand why you specifically need to know what’s in the washing machine during the wash cycle. What about all the time it’s been languishing in the laundry basket or hanging up to dry or in a pile waiting to be put away?

I’m 100% with your DH on this one - just shove it in and shut the door.

This is bonkers I just shove it all in. Might notice more when hanging it out then if DP asks if something is in the wash I will answer if I can remember, otherwise they can go and look at line/horse.

I'm more amazed at how many people separate their laundry by colour, I just put everything in together, sometimes put a colour catcher in if I remember, sometimes not, never once had anything run or whites go grey. I couldn't afford the electrically to do everything separately, also, I couldn't be bothered to anyway.