Changing School Uniforms

[wingingit1987]

Having a chat with a friend today and I mentioned ironing the uniforms tonight for the week ahead. I said I iron a fresh uniform for each day of the week and my friend says she recycles a uniform for a few days then swaps it out. Am I giving myself more work than I should be?

fresh uniform daily- YANBU
recycling it for a day or so- YABU

It depends if its dirty surely? I used to have 5 sets we'd wash at the weekend and then he'd need fresh every day in KS1 but now changes polo/shirt everyday and trousers and jumper every few (or more regularly if dirty).

I did 5 full sets for nursery and reception, but went down to 3x jumper and trousers in year 1, when it seemed to get less paint and spilled dinner. I do still insist DS takes of his jumper before tea if we're having something messy, and occasionally have to sponge of small spills.

DD2 has two skirts, one tie and one blazer for secondary school. She has enough shirts to wear one a day if she wants to.

@nameitagain I haven’t worn a suit to work for years. I wear a smart dress/skirt/jumper etc all of which can be washed at home. And yes, I wash them after each wear. It’s just basic hygiene. I can spend 12 hours a day in one outfit once I’ve commuted there and back so it obviously needs a a wash 🤔

I only have primary but I do 5 full sets every day and then wash at weekends. My life’s busy enough without wondering if there are clean uniforms. All hung up ready to
go so on a morning I just grab 2 hangers

So what would you suggest for people who do wear a suit. Suits are standard in many industries. I guess you think they are all revolting and dirty people because I can assure you, no one is dry cleaning their suit daily.

It's perfectly possible to practice good hygiene without washing all of your clothes every day - yes I would wash underwear or anything which directly touches my skin, plus anything which got really dirty/smelly, but if something looks and smells clean then it can be aired and worn again! Please don't suggest that those who don't wash every item of clothing after every single wear are not following 'good hygiene'.

Yes to clean every day but no to ironing. We have polo shirts. I’d have to rethink that if they were buttoned school shirts.

DD1 is just going into year 4. She wears pe kit 2 days a week. I have 2 polo shirts as come in a pack of 2 and she'll wear a clean one every day. She has multiple pairs of black leggings for pe days as she wears them for other activities but if not dirty then she'll rewear leggings. She'll have 2-3 shirts and wear a clean one every day and 2 pairs of trousers/skirts/pinafores, depending on what she chooses. She has one pe hoodie and 2 cardigans which can be cleaned if necessary and sponged off in an absolute emergency. She'll rewear these if clean enough to do so, wear a clean pair if not. I always do a midweek wash so will be able to wash ready for the end of the week. There's no way I could afford a separate uniform everyday, plus having a full uniform going in the wash every day would mean an extra load of washing a week which would add to the cost. When DD2 starts school she'll need more as they tend to get much dirtier but I'll still reuse cardigans/bottoms that are clean enough and pop a load on midweek to clean uniform from the beginning of the week. DP and I wear a clean top and underwear every day but will always rewear bottoms and jumpers that aren't dirty

Dd5 is in new uniform every day but we have 3 sets of everything with a midweek wash inbetween. I couldn't fathom having 5 sets of uniform and the cost of it all.

DS 6 has 3 sets of everything. One on the child, one in the wardrobe and one in the wash.
Hes minging when he gets in from school, covered in all sorts!

My son is 9 and wears a clean uniform every day. He is past the stage of getting food down it so occasionally, a sweatshirt may be used more than once.

However, he plays out at school and often gets muddy 🙄 or gets board pen on his jumper etc.

I wouldn't want him to go looking scruffy/dirty.

I wash it Fri night and iron for the whole week over the weekend - it doesn't take long and I do my work clothes at the same time.

I don't have a tumble dryer so no tumble drying happens.

Six sets of everything, clean, new set of clothes on every day. Can't be doing with washing stuff mid week.
Also why would they not need clean clothes every day? Teenagers tend to be whiffy and I can't stand dirty cuffs and collars.

Also have two sets of PE kits as they gave PE twice a week. Luckily the children are both the same sex so can use hand me downs and no blazers in their uniform.

I change uniform if it's dirty, other than polo shirts that have 2 days max as close to skin.

This is to save money, housework and for environmental reasons.

I also re-wear clothes.

Neither me or my kid smell!

@cinnamonfrenchtoast you make kids bath every day when they get in from school? Do you run their ruler and pencils through the dishwasher too? They'll have some tricky behaviours to untangle as adults, blimey.

How on earth did you cope during covid?

I don't have children 🤷‍♀️

But yes, I had a bath every day as a child in the nineties.

Exactly - I think those who sell cleaning products (washing power, spray cleaners, shower gel etc) want to condition us in to thinking we really need to wash ourselves, our clothes, our environments more than we do. Of course we should all follow basic hygiene, but it's a myth that every item of clothing must be washed after every wear, airing works fine for many items!

Exactly this.

I think I'm more amazed that people iron so much!
Ours comes out the washing machine and either goes straight on the line or on hangers on the airer.
I occasionally use my hair straighteners on the collar of the polo if it's twisted but that's it. I only iron if stuff is left sitting in the washing machine for too long that it creases.

I can understand this @Idtotallybangdreamoftheendlessnotgonnalie, we are often shaped by our background experiences. I think that you probably have lots of be proud of, in yourself and your kids too, so if one day you just don't manage to get them in a sparkling new outfit (because of a whole host of potential reasons, such as you being unwell, the washing machine breaking, etc) don't let it get you down too much either!

Also I never iron school uniform- or anything else. Shirts are non-iron, I hang everything up as soon as ithe machine finishes and nothing needs ironing.

Younger they are the more they need. I wouldn't be able to afford 5 secondary school blazers, for example.

Thats ridiculous though, my kids don’t have 5 outdoor jackets (which is essentially what a blazer is). Outdoor coats, jackets and blazers get sponged down and washed when needed.

Clothes close to their skin get washed after each wear, can usually get 2/3 days out of skirts but tights, pants, socks, polo shirts all changed daily.

They have enough uniform for a clean set each day because trousers come in packs of two (so two packs) and polo shirts in packs of 5. My DD wears black skirts, I buy 3 new each year and she wears the previous years that are still ok now she’s not growing so quickly.

I think I'm more amazed that people iron so much!

I prefer clothes to be ironed, takes an hour on a Sunday to iron for me and the kids uniforms, I don’t iron casual or play clothes but my work stuff and their uniforms get ironed.

I actually do wash DD2's blazer once a week with other dark colours and it washes very well. Depends on what they are made of.

A full new set everyday seems excessive, your electricity bills must be so high. I’d only change trousers / jumper if dirty or smelly but fair enough a clean t-shirt each day.