to buy 11 white polo shirts for my 4yos school uniform, so I don't have to wash them as often?

[User1789]

DS started reception this week, and predictably his tops look like the 'before' shirts in an Ariel advert.

However, I don't really have that many white clothes, particularly autumn/winter, and DH only goes into the office 2 days a week and doesn't wear shirts any more except on high days and holidays.

This means I only do a whites wash about once a fortnight usually.

I had bought 5 polo shirts for DS to wear with his school uniform, but this does not a whole load make, or include a spare for him to take in in his bag. I figured out that the £9 extra quid on 6 more polo shirts will pay for itself in about a term and a half if I don't have to do an extra load every fortnight (excluding the cost of tumble drying/detergent/stain removal!). So, AIBU?

I think that's fine, and they're cheap.

I always buy at least 6 tops for school in case I don't manage to do a white load but if shirts were cheaper I'd buy more!

Yeah go for it, I'd do the same. To feel better about the environmental impact I'd try to pass them on to another child when your DC grows out of them.

I did that last year. And he's still wearing most of them this year bar a couple that got destroyed.
They get worn less often, washed less often and so have held up well.

Glad to know I am not the only one who has run the numbers and come to the same conclusion.

WRT to environmental impact, I will pass them on to the preloved school uniform sale if they are in good enough condition when he grows out of them, and was even considering volunteering my services to the PFA for this. I have to say that there were absolutely no 4/5yo white polo shirts at the preloved uniform sale I went to in the summer, so I assume they are just all wrecked.

To answer questions about sheets and towels, we changed all our bedsheets to navy blue ones last year after we never got on top of the suncream stains. We also replaced all our white, worn-out wedding gift towels with dark grey ones recently too because, well, periods exist!

My DS has not been able to wear a piece of clothing two days running since he became mobile. I have never been able to wear a white piece of clothing two days running as long as I have lived. We are clearly a mucky family!

Yeah we have dark towels, so much easier to deal with even though I much prefer lighter colours from an aesthetic point of view

I don’t do separate white washes, I do a light and dark

White socks and shirts for my daughter is practically part of the weekly or bi weekly shopping list other mums always comment how white her uniform stays lmao but I remember wearing grubby uniform as a kid so I try my best go for it

Go for it, although you may find that asignificant food stains don't wash out very well if they have been.in a washing basket for nearly 2 weeks. I always have loads of socks and underwear so I know I can get away with not washing as often.

I tumble dry practically everything, nothing has shrunk!

For those who mentioned colour catcher environmental impact I got a reusable one in supermarket not so long ago. Looks bit like a facecloth does the job

I just wash ours with bed linen, it all goes on at 40 degrees.

I do this for myself, nevermind the kids!

I have loads of white tops for this reason, but you will also find you won't need a clean one every day. Once winter comes and jumpers and cardigans are worn, the tops stay clean. I set out for my 5 year old to have clean uniform every day but soon figured this was unnecessary.

@AtomicBlondeRose when you say binning, you mean putting them in the textiles at the tip right? Not literally putting them in the bin?

Yep - both DCs have about 10 white short sleeved & 10 white long sleeved polo shirts each. They'll last the year & either go to the younger DC or the secondhand uniform sale.
Means o can do a proper hot white wash. Oh & those saying colours don't run have never accidentally washed a red gingham dress with your whites - now a lovely pale pink!

So rather than spend 9 quid on items op needs and wants your advice is to spend much more on items she neither needs nor wants? Hmm makes sense 🤣🤣🤣

@Fallenangelofthenorth - no. I’m saying if she only ‘needs’ polo t shirts for the week, maybe buy a few other items child or family might also need in same colours, now or as time goes on. Most 4 year olds grow, when he needs new vests, basic t shirts, or similar maybe buy some in white. Even if she buys 9 for this year, it would help next year onwards

Wash them by hand.
just spin them in the washer.

If they are really dirty then soak them over night first.

In your shoes I would absolutely do it. My white underwear was wrecked by dh washing in a mixed load.

Alas, with 4dc and a husband in white shirts I have enough to do a white load every week.

The tip about getting polos the same colour as the jumper is a good one. I believe state primary uniform is not yet compulsory. Small adaptations like this make life a lot easier. Particularly when that colour happens to be navy or black.

We had ten white shirts for my son for this reason, we only washed them together, when he grew out of them at the end of academic years they would be as white as the newly bought uniform, so we could donate them to the seconds shop at school.

Definitely do it. You'll probably recoup your costs by using the machine less often
I don't wear white either

You struggled so much with this decision you had to ask for opinions on a forum?

Just buy the bloody polo shirts.

This thread has made me think of the scene in Derry Girls where Mary is obsessively looking for more darks to make up a full load.

"There's no shame in doing a half-load, Mary."
"I can't, Sarah. A half-load goes against EVERYTHING I STAND FOR."

Still none the wiser about the environmental impact of colour catchers?!?

Yanbu. I make DS rewear white shirts more than twice in the week. I usually just spot clean - don’t do a full wash until I have enough for a load.