MIL turned all my washing inside out!

[JanS17]

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??

My mil went through a stage of doing this when I had newborn babies. I was well on top of the washing and she was only trying to help I know she was just trying to help me and be kind but oh Jesus someone messing with your washing it just infuriated me. I never said a word to her because I knew it was through love and kindness but leave my washing alone 😂

She overstepped but it came from a good place. I always turn clothes inside out to dry on a sunny day.

^ This

Fading, as others have said.
And if you'd forgotten to bring it in at night, it would have stopped the right side getting darked on.

I don't understand why it's a problem when someone touches your washing?

Some washing labels specify "Wash inside out" for this reason.

We always turned everything inside out before washing, for reasons already given here, ESPECIALLY socks, limits pilling, helps retain colour especially dark coloured items.
However we wouldn’t hang dark colours out in blazing sunshine, early morning would be fine.
When you peg anything inside out the peg marks don’t show.
We hang shirts, dresses tshirts, on nylon hangers onto the line/whirly, secured with a peg, dry in no time and keep their shape.
We hang trousers with heavy waistbands especially, by the waistband as with everything, heaviest part closest to the line, in deference to gravity.
Sweaters and loose tshirts can go over the line inside out of course, pegged at the underarm.
It’s better to iron some clothes inside out too.

There are good tips on here OP, suggesting pointers you may not have considered yourself, or ever been shown.
why are you so cross, you are meant to be on holiday enjoying yourself/ves, relaxing, yet you are on here, griping?
Are you miffed because you didn’t think of doing this yourself?

I'm sure she was trying to be helpful, but yes that's annoying. I remember when my mil used to try and help by washing up, I had to put it all back in the sink as there was always food left all over it, so just made extra work for me.

I would agree with you there. if this is the worst the woman can do, let her crack on. The OP is obviously looking for something to be outraged about.
A question for all the the pps who are saying she should not touch (as if some law has been broken by doing so) does this extend to bringing in the washing if it started to rain? Or is she allowed to touch it then? Who decides when something can be touched or not? I need to know.
It baffles me sometimes how families live. I can't imagine going on holiday with someone who could cause such outrage because she touched my washing.

You sound delightful! This is why the OP feels annoyed - she is probably getting the same patronising vibe from MIL's actions as this post.

Most of my clothes are inside out by the time they get to the washing basket.

I hang colours inside out in the sun to stop fading. I wouldn't rearrange someone else's washing though 🤣

MIL has this one right! Doing laundry inside out protects the visible side of a garment. During washing, it lessens rubbing and pilling and snagging of more delicate fibres. During drying, it prevents colours and patterns fading under a hot sun. It also protects from bird and insect poo, which can stain quickly. Whites can be sun-bleached back to brilliance though.

She was obviously just trying to help but goodness me! why can't people just mind their own business!

No, whites should be right way out so the sun bleaches them.

What a ridiculous over reaction to someone doing something helpful. Is nothing too small to be offended by when done by a mil?

I am going to assume this is another example of MIL overstepping. I admit this would annoy me too - but I wouldn’t have gone on holiday with my (now ex) MIL, lol.

Your MIL is right! Clothes should be washed, dried and ironed inside out to prevent them fading in the sun. Also, the pockets dry quicker.

😂😂

Yup - that.

Get over yourself OP 😎

I wash things inside out as it stops buttons etc getting damaged in the machine. I then hang them inside out (no sun, insect damage) . I iron & put away the same. Kids know if it's inside out its not been worn (pairs of jeans etc, shirts fresh daily anyway)

You are being silly.

And I've picked up some laundry tips!

Op do you feel judged or criticised by MIL for doing this? I wonder if you would have felt the same if it was a friend you were away with instead?

Last year I brought in some washing for a friend we were away with because she was busy with her baby and it started to rain. I finished it off in the dryer then folded and left on the side.

She appreciated it because it was me but I can see she would take offence if her MIL had done it as it’s not an equal relationship.

I have never washed or hung clothes inside out and never will. In fact, if anyone puts their stuff in the wash inside out then I turn it the right way out. It irritates the fuck out of me otherwise.

Your MIL should have kept her beak out. I'd have been tempted to tell her that, but probably would hold back if it was a one-off because she probably meant well.

I don't buy this "stopping it from fading" bollocks. I find sunlight helps remove the final vestiges of some stains too. It is washed and hung the right way out here and that won't be changing.

Not to be dramatic but my in-laws died quite recently. My mil was often trying to help. Sometimes I got a bit annoyed. Glad I had the sense not to say anything but I wish now I’d had a bit more patience and time for her. You’d be suprised how much you might miss them.

Your husband can turn them back the right way round can't he? Why's it your job?

Also no one has considered the bird shit. If a bird shits in your clothes better on the inside than the outside as will still be wearable.