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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Uniform staying on after school?

113 replies

MissJ87 · 28/03/2023 12:11

need other Mums advice Here, as i dont think I'm being unreasonable. Two daughters, 15 and 16, one happily stays in Her uniform after school, the other doesnt like to. Ive recently noticed how much money ive saved on electricity by doing half the washing i normally would, if they both changed. Is it that unreasonable for me to insist they both stay in uniform after school? To have Her tell it i'm made out to be the devil. Money is tight right now, and any money i can save, i will. Its not like it isnt a nice uniform, smart white shirt, nice tie. Ie got so much to do around the house, an extra pile of washing isnt a nice sight lol.

Are your kids happy staying in uniform? does it save you time and money also?

Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
Breezycheesetrees · 28/03/2023 13:02

What on earth is a 15/16 year old doing to get so mucky of an evening that clothes need washing after a few hours?

Cyclistmumgrandma · 28/03/2023 13:05

So the after school stuff goes into the laundry basket after one wear? Solution, remove from basket (without washing), fold and return to pile of clean clothes to be put away. Repeat until clothes start to smell.....

Zhougzhoug · 28/03/2023 13:06

If Child A is wearing their uniform for less time than the Child B then surely Child A's uniform also needs to be washed less frequently? They have both worn clothes for the same number of hours so the amount of washing should be the same for each?

LouLou198 · 28/03/2023 13:08

I wouldn't want to be at home in my work uniform so I don't make dc do it. I have one at primary and one at secondary. Both shower and in pjs when they get in, unless they have after school activities which all have uniforms/kits to wear.

Scarlettpixie · 28/03/2023 13:08

I wouldn’t be telling them what to wear at that age.

However I would expect them to wear their evening clothes (especially bottoms) more than once and do pull DS up if he puts his jeans in the wash after wearing them for a couple of hours.

BreviloquentBastard · 28/03/2023 13:10

I get out of my work clothes and into loungewear as soon as I get in, seems a bit unfair not to let my daughter do the same.

She and I just re-wear the same outfits a few evenings in a row, surely they can last a while before needing washing? Unless she's a coal miner as a hobby I can't see them getting dirty enough to need washing every wear.

Itsnotyourbusiness · 28/03/2023 13:12

cocksstrideintheevening · 28/03/2023 12:55

Why?

I don't like to sit in my work clothes all evening and I wouldn't expect my kids to. They shock horror wear their uniforms for a couple of days and their home clothes for a few evenings .

Show quote history

Trying to reduce illness as the school said if we don’t we will go to court for attendance I thought this may help

Clingfilm · 28/03/2023 13:15

School clothes cost more, they always come off. Lounging clothes last days before washing.

Everydayimhuffling · 28/03/2023 13:50

I would think it would be easier to tell her to re-wear her evening clothes rather than stay uncomfortable in her uniform. You could always offer that as a choice.

I used to change out of my uniform and now change out of work clothes when I get home. I wouldn't expect my DC to be uncomfortable.

ravenia · 28/03/2023 13:56

First thing I used to do on getting home from school was to tear off my smart shirt, skirt and tie and change into comfies - absolutely hated my uniform, it was SO uncomfortable! I still change as soon as I get home from work, even though my work clothes are not uncomfortable. It helps with mentally switching off and relaxing too.

The stuff I wear at home doesn't have to be washed as often, I can get a couple of days out of a pair of leggings and a tshirt - it's only worn a couple of hours at a time.

Whatsallthisabout · 28/03/2023 14:20

Mine always got changed into joggers and hoodies or t shirts. Those joggers etc went into a "worn it" drawer to be taken out and worn again. As PP says they can wear those several times as they are only in them for a few hours. Every half term I wash whatever has been left in the worn it drawer. We all have one.

MrsWidgerysLodger · 28/03/2023 14:26

Our DD changes into a onesie after getting home from school, then into PJ's after shower and bed. The same onesie lasts all week (barring dinner disasters) as it's only worn for a few hours.

ObamaLlamas · 28/03/2023 14:27

concernedalot · 28/03/2023 13:02

mine get out of their school uniform straight after school, they put tracksuit or loungewear on for the time between school and evening bath, this outfit will last them 4 or 5 days before washing unless anything spillt on it. Then put PJ's on after bath, which are worn for two nights, then changed. They have a clean white school top every day, but change trousers/school jumper half way through the week. Works for us. I would feel a bit mean keeping them in their school uniform. After school is a time to relax or get on with homework, and getting changed helps them feel like they've really finished school for the day.

This - word for word is basically what we do

OP your kids are 15 and 16 - you can't insist they keep their uniform on after school. They're almost adults that's weird. Leave them alone.

inloveandmarried · 28/03/2023 14:43

I had this issue with my youngest teen. Would come home from school, change, wear the outfit for 5 hours and put it in the wash to change into PJs. That's an extra 5 outfits of wash a week! A whole extra load(s) to wash and dry.

I told them to re-wear clothes. When it happened again I just put the school uniform through the wash and put the full dirty (not really) laundry still in the laundry bag back in their room.

After that they were better and reused the clothes. Hoodies do not need washing after 5 hours wear.

Deadringer · 28/03/2023 14:53

My dc change into their pjs unless they are going outside. If they go out they have to change into their civvies first. Their uniform is not generic and very expensive so I encourage nag them to take care of it.

mondaytosunday · 28/03/2023 16:03

At that age they can be helping with the washing.
My daughter changes into jammies (she doesn't get home til almost 6).

Twizbe · 28/03/2023 16:28

When I was younger I stayed in my uniform. Mum and dad didn't want the extra washing.

I keep mine in their uniform too. I'm loving the reduction in washing.

If they have to change, they change into pjs.

JustAnotherUsey · 28/03/2023 16:29

I would suggest she changes into pjs. Then reuse the PJs for a few days.

Newnamenewname109870 · 28/03/2023 16:31

I agree with the others. If they change then it’s the same comfy outfit they wear all week. Or they can keep putting clothes in the washing basket but they won’t get washed until ‘X day’ so it’s up to them to decide how quickly they run through what’s left!

Jojo3234 · 12/05/2023 23:54

This reply has been deleted

We're taking this down whilst we have a look behind the scenes.

TangledUpinBlu · 13/05/2023 00:15

Surely if they they are wearing the uniform more you would be washing that more?
Mine changes and hangs up his uniform as soon as he gets home, into joggers or if it's shower night and we're not going out straight into PJ's.
I change as soon as I get home also, mostly into lounge wear or PJ's, if I was going out somewhere I would shower and put on clean clothes.
I work hard in a public facing role, I don't really want to be able to smell that when I'm relaxing at home or out and about after.
I want my son's uniform to stay clean and fresh, it's the only thing I iron so the less use the better, it's not to be lounging around in.
There is no way be would be allowed to play out after school in uniform.
If he really is wanted to keep it on I wouldn't insist but it's a habit since he started school, we both have sensory issues so it makes sense to go for comfort.

Jojo3234 · 13/05/2023 00:41

This reply has been deleted

We're taking this down whilst we have a look behind the scenes.

snitzelvoncrumb · 13/05/2023 02:41

Mine have to get changed as they get the uniform dirty. One likes to put clean clothes on every day after school, I just put them back in the ‘clean clothes to be folded and put away basket’. Saves arguing and washing.

Precipice · 13/05/2023 03:03

In what way is the uniform "nice", OP? Just that it looks smart? Most of them are heavy on the polyester and not that comfortable.

You (presumably, since you don't say so for comparison) don't have to wear a specific uniform for work (as opposed to just smart or semi-smart wear you've chosen yourself). So you get to choose your clothing day-to-day and wear things you find reasonably comfortable. Your daughters don't get that choice for most of the working day, because their schools impose a uniform. You now want to take her being able to relax in comfortable clothes she likes away from her. Why should she only wear comfortable clothes 2 days a week? How grim.

I got changed first thing I got home in my school days.

Very unreasonable. Just don't wash it after the 6 hours of post-school wear or whatever it is.

Precipice · 13/05/2023 03:21

Ive recently noticed how much money ive saved on electricity by doing half the washing i normally would

Also, are you sure this is really down to your other daughter not changing? It's not half the washing you'd normally do, since there are at least 3 of you and if one of your daughters is now remaining in uniform, that's not going to be half the wash. Your energy usage will have gone down a lot recently just generally, since we're in late spring and it's warm and light.

I don't know how efficient your machine is, but washing machines aren't that energy intensive. This https://inthewash.co.uk/washing-machines/how-much-electricity-does-a-washing-machine-use/ suggests energy usage on average of 27p per cycle. It lists some energy inefficient ones as 99p per cycle.

(This seems realistic enough: in 2018 the BBC reported that the average cycle was 9p- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44340082 )

You say money is tight, but is it really so tight that a few extra t-shirts a week are making any difference? Her comfortable clothes are going to be like one load a month. Is that really worth making your child uncomfortable to you?