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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Laundry is not hard

438 replies

Viohh · 15/12/2023 11:49

Why do people make such a meal out of laundry? The machine literally does it for you. All you need to do is put the clothes in the machine - a 15 second job? I do 2/3 loads a day no problem with a large dog and twins.

We have separate machines but even when we don’t use the dryer it’s not difficult. Just maintain momentum. And folding is what a 2 min job? I put everyone’s clothes on the stairs for them to take up.

OP posts:
Original poster
Viohh · 15/12/2023 11:51

Fair enough if you have to wash by hand but the job is done for you…

OP posts:
GasPanic · 15/12/2023 11:52

It's not hard but is expensive.

I remember the days of the twin tub where you had to fish washing out of the washer and put in the spin dryer bit with a pair of tongues. Washing was harder in those days. Someone was on here talking about the mangle the other day :)

audweb · 15/12/2023 11:53

Fine if you can maintain momentum. For those who are neurodivergent or have fatigue or other issues, that is a huge challenge. Glad for you it’s so easy!

SoupDragon · 15/12/2023 11:53

here's your gold medal

Laundry is not hard
Flower35214 · 15/12/2023 11:54

@SoupDragon 😂😂😂

AllIsWellish · 15/12/2023 11:55

God I hate ur, it's the hanging everything up and putting it away that's the worse. And there's always something needing to be washed

FriedasCarLoad · 15/12/2023 11:55

I do 2 loads most days (3 under 5, and reusable nappies/cloths/etc).

You've missed out the most time consuming bit - hanging it up to dry! I also iron some of ours.

Putting it in the machine is a quick job, yes, but definitely longer than 15 seconds for me. Checking that pockets are empty and zips are done up and stains are treated takes a few minutes I'd guess.

Still not a huge deal, and it's one of the household tasks I'm slightly better at keeping up with, but not the negligible effort that it seems to be for you!

DonnaBanana · 15/12/2023 11:55

The laundry is easy. You can even throw most of it in the same short cycle and put it on 20C with no colour runs nowadays as long as it's not really dirty. The most painful part is turning everything inside out back to how it should be. If you could train the kids to not put everything in the wash inside out, it would be so much easier.

Perhapsanorhertimewouldbebetter · 15/12/2023 11:57

I don't really understand this post - we all find different things easier or harder and all have different family circumstances. For me the issue with laundry is that's there's rarely the satisfaction of it being 'done' because there's always more to add to the pile.

soscarlet · 15/12/2023 11:58

Good for you 🙄

Original poster
Viohh · 15/12/2023 11:58

I usually fold when I’m waiting for other thing ie pasta to boil

OP posts:
HunterBidensBurnerPhone · 15/12/2023 11:59

Putting it in the machine is the least difficult part of laundry.

The absolute ball ache for me is separating it all afterwards and hanging out all the stuff that can't be tumble dried. Then folding all the dry laundry for five people and putting mine and the three kids' away. The kids are too young to put it away properly themselves. It takes fucking ages. So many socks! YABU for saying it's just a 15 min job.

Tinkerbyebye · 15/12/2023 11:59

@SoupDragon

thanks for the giggle!

HardcoreLadyType · 15/12/2023 11:59

Not sure who you are arguing with?

piglet81 · 15/12/2023 11:59

What’s the view like from up on your high horse?

SgtJuneAckland · 15/12/2023 11:59

I wear mainly natural fibres so can't tumble dry, it's a ball ache hanging everything making sure it's turned/drying then folding and putting away. I don't mind in the summer we have a 100ft garden and a washing line the length of it. I also hate ironing

Eleganz · 15/12/2023 11:59

Folding is 2 minute job? Maybe in your house...

Perhapsanorhertimewouldbebetter · 15/12/2023 11:59

Viohh · 15/12/2023 11:58

I usually fold when I’m waiting for other thing ie pasta to boil

I'm usually cooking the rest of the meal while the pasta boils.

Buttercup176 · 15/12/2023 12:00

Bore off Martha Stewart.

DryIce · 15/12/2023 12:00

I find laundry a pain - sure the machine does the washing, but the hanging out? The folding? The putting away? The pairing of the bloody socks?? That takes me ages.

It's also never finished, at least cleaning the kitchen has a tah dah moment at the end. Laundry is only done for however long until someone gets changed

Original poster
Viohh · 15/12/2023 12:00

I apologise for tone. Reading back I do sound smug and up myself. I just know so many people consider it the worst job but it’s nowhere near as bad as scrubbing the oven for example.

OP posts:
Perhapsanorhertimewouldbebetter · 15/12/2023 12:01

Viohh · 15/12/2023 12:00

I apologise for tone. Reading back I do sound smug and up myself. I just know so many people consider it the worst job but it’s nowhere near as bad as scrubbing the oven for example.

At least the oven doesn't need scrubbed every couple of days.

SgtJuneAckland · 15/12/2023 12:01

I pay someone to scrub my oven, the laundry is constant. We do 7-10 loads a week

betterangels · 15/12/2023 12:01

I mean, good for you. It's not as easy when you have chronic illness.

AffableApple · 15/12/2023 12:01

Not everyone has a dryer, and not everyone has a separate dryer (which makes things even easier). Not everyone has space to hang laundry (has to be timed around family life so kids/dogs don't pull at stuff). Space to sort laundry that isn't the sofa/corner of the kitchen/living room means you can do it any time too. Some people don't have any of this and it makes things harder. If everything is harder, this is accumulative. Space/time/machine privilege is real.

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