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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

MIL turned all my washing inside out!

356 replies

JanS17 · 22/06/2023 06:53

We are on holiday at the moment with DH’s family (me, DH, DD, MIL, SIL, BIL, and dog).

Yesterday I did a load of washing (mix of mine, DH, and DD) and before we went out for lunch, I hung it all up nicely on the clothes rack and put it out in the sun to dry.

When we got back from lunch, MIL said she had moved a few things around to help them dry faster. I was a bit confused as the clothes were hung up as I wanted them to begin with but shrugged and said ok.

Yesterday evening I brought the rack of clothes inside and found that she has turned every single item of clothing (except socks - thank goodness!!) inside out!!

I am equally confused and pissed off. Why would she see my nicely hung out washing, and think to herself that it’s a good idea to remove every single piece of clothing, turn it inside out, and put it back?? Why was she even touching my washing in the first place???

The clothes are now all creased where she’s hung them crooked, and I have an extra chore of turning them all back the right way round again.

AIBU??

YABU - she was just trying to help (??)
YANBU - what was she thinking??

OP posts:
frazzledasarock · 22/06/2023 07:20

Get your husband to help with putting the laundry away and turn it the right way.

ask her why she did it, if you’re in a hot country it’s probably to prevent fading the colours.

Spendonsend · 22/06/2023 07:20

She was trying to help probably due to sun bleaching and thicker seams and pockets

I dont think its a massive chore to turn things back the right way round. I wouldnt do it all In one go. Id just do it when i wanted to wear the item.

Its mildly annoying they are a little creased, but im sure you do mildly annoying things too from time to time.

ElizabethBest · 22/06/2023 07:39

You’re supposed to put clothes inside out to dry outside - it stops them getting faded by the sun.

NeverTrustAPoliceman · 22/06/2023 07:40

My mother would not only hang things inside out, but also turn them all round after an hour or so so that both sides got an equal amount of sun. So the inside back facing the sun and then the inside front.

She would have been horrified at not turning the socks inside out!

cuckyplunt · 22/06/2023 07:42

I sincerely hope that this is the worst problem you ever have in a long and happy life OP.

Wigggggly · 22/06/2023 07:43

This would wind me right up but maybe becasue it's something my MIL would do. Supposedly helpful but feels like judgement. You can hang your washing any way you want, you're a grown adult.

LubaLuca · 22/06/2023 07:44

MoveOnTheCards · 22/06/2023 07:03

I always wash, dry (and iron) clothes inside out. It helps protect the fibres and keeps them looking good for longer.

She was doing you a favour!

Agreed! I would do this for someone else as well, but I'd tell them why.

timegoingtooquickly · 22/06/2023 07:46

sandgrown · 22/06/2023 07:08

The sun is great at getting stains off white clothing so imagine what it does to your dark stuff. Your MIL was doing you a favour .

This!
I was surprised when on a different thread commented that they never hung washing out inside out. We all turn our things inside out before they go in the basket, then I iron inside out as that means you get no dodgy marks, then we turn them the right way round to put on!

Also great for knowing clean v once worn clothing 🤣

darkmodeon · 22/06/2023 07:48

Also gets it ready for ironing

maresedotes · 22/06/2023 07:49

I did not know this about hanging washing inside out and I consider(ed) myself a laundry 'expert'. It makes perfect sense.

FussyPud · 22/06/2023 07:50

While it may be advisable and her habit to wash and dry clothes inside out, she didn’t need to mess with the laundry that was already dealt with. It may not have intentionally been a PA move, but it was - signalling that OP is wrong, and needed correcting. That’s rude as fuck.

ReviewingTheSituation · 22/06/2023 07:52

I don't get this fading thing... clothes hang on the line for a few hours, and then you put them on and wear them in the sun. Surely you're not all wearing your clothes inside out to prevent fading?! They spend a lot longer on your body than they do on the line.

They're much more likely to fade in the wash than on the line.

EsmeSusanOgg · 22/06/2023 07:52

Whether she thought she was being helpful or not, it is a weird thing to do without asking. It also created extra work for the OP. OP is an adult, and does not need someone to re-do her laundry if she is happy with how it has been hung out.

Craftycorvid · 22/06/2023 07:55

To stop it fading. I’d do the same. Bit of a hangover from pre-tumble drying days. My mum did the same.

Mischance · 22/06/2023 07:56

Hey - take a chill pill. She was trying to help. It's how she does it - for whatever reason - and the world will keep turning.

SoupDragon · 22/06/2023 07:57

I usually turn things with pockets inside out so that the pockets dry. I do sometimes do it to things to prevent fading as well.

Trixiefirecracker · 22/06/2023 07:57

ReviewingTheSituation · 22/06/2023 07:52

I don't get this fading thing... clothes hang on the line for a few hours, and then you put them on and wear them in the sun. Surely you're not all wearing your clothes inside out to prevent fading?! They spend a lot longer on your body than they do on the line.

They're much more likely to fade in the wash than on the line.

Yes but you are not stood there like a statue wearing them in full sun all day?! You are moving around from light to shade, in and out of the house etc.

DaaamnYoullDo · 22/06/2023 07:57

YANBU Idgaf if it stops them fading. You're a full grown woman. Who takes ot upon themself to rehang someone else's washing. It's weird, overstepping and not OK.

pilates · 22/06/2023 08:00

I wouldn’t get het up about it tbh- no big deal but then I do the same.

Hankunamatata · 22/06/2023 08:03

It's washing, she was tryomg to be nice - unclench

EsmeSusanOgg · 22/06/2023 08:06

SoupDragon · 22/06/2023 07:57

I usually turn things with pockets inside out so that the pockets dry. I do sometimes do it to things to prevent fading as well.

Thing is, I don't think that this is a judgement/ debate on 'the best way to dry things' but whether MIL should have decided to re-do OP's laundry unasked. If MIL thought the laundry could have been put out to dry 'better' it would have been more appropriate to have a chat when OP came back and discussed different drying methods... Or whether OP even cared about fading!

oviraptor21 · 22/06/2023 08:06

FussyPud · 22/06/2023 07:50

While it may be advisable and her habit to wash and dry clothes inside out, she didn’t need to mess with the laundry that was already dealt with. It may not have intentionally been a PA move, but it was - signalling that OP is wrong, and needed correcting. That’s rude as fuck.

This really. Not quite rude as fuck but somewhat belittling.
I choose not to dry my clothes inside out as I can't be bothered with the chore of turning them back the right way. Took ages to train my kids to put things in the laundry the right way round.
Have never experienced clothes faded by the sun.
Have never experienced iron marks. I need some trousers and skirts the right way round in order to iron in the crease or pleats.
Just leave my washing my way please!

Flossflower · 22/06/2023 08:07

I think anyone who rehangs someone else’s washing is overstepping. Instead she could have mentioned to you why it is a good idea to hang inside out and you could have made your own mind up. If your MIL is not otherwise controlling I would not be bothered.

EsmeSusanOgg · 22/06/2023 08:10

@Flossflower pretty much this.

Pinkypie86 · 22/06/2023 08:12

She's brilliant. I always wash everything inside out and hang out to dry and iron that way>
Can I borrow her :)

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