Laundry is not hard

[Viohh]

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.

We don't have a tumble dryer (or anywhere to put one) so everything has to be hung up on clothes horses or over doors/bannisters/radiators. So we can't do multiple loads a day and we have to plan what we're doing when to ensure we have the space available for drying. If we fall out of schedule one day, it buggers up the rest of the week and further.

It's really not a big deal that takes up much of my brain space normally, but it is a nuisance I'll complain about if someone brings up the topic.

I've an 8/6 washer dryer, and two sets of clothes wouldn't be a full load, and I don't put my washing machine on unless I have a full load :)

I also don't have a heated airer and I don't want one - I wouldn't want any extra electric costs.

But thank you for explaining. I couldn't understand how I wasn't getting my washing dry in a day on my airer, as you hadn't mentioned a heated one :)

YABU.
I don't make a meal of it, but:

15 seconds to put in?

Go upstairs, tip laundry baskets into one. Collect up any extra clothes from DD's room, or towels, bring downstairs. Sort out things for first load into machine, add tablets and conditioner, switch on.
That isn't 15 seconds, that is 5-10 minutes.

2 minutes to 'fold'?

We don't have a drier (expensive and unnecessary).
Pull out of washing machine. For underwear sort into groups of like objects (for ease of putting away later), hang up. For shirts/trousers, turn DD's the right way round (anxiety means she doesn't currently do), hang up.
That is 5-10 minutes

Iron clothes that need it (mainly DD's)
15-30 minutes

Put away
2-5 minutes

Plus
You have to realise it needs doing and be in to set it off, even if on a timer, and in to hang up afterwards. This counts as 'mental load'.

I can see that! It was genuinely meant for OP!

@rorret my machine eco cycles are really good they only take 30 minutes too. I do wash daily as the nature of my partners job means his clothes do need a wash he can’t get away with wearing them twice

the heated maid is amazing it uses 3p a hour on the electric (believe me I have monitored) it’s a lot cheaper than using a dryer

It’s the Groundhog Day. Same repetitive thing everyday.

Four loads done and most of it half dry on the line on a mild but windy day here in north east. Washing outside week before xmas is great... must get a life.😇

My partner does a LOT at home. He definitely pulls more than his own weight (I have a chronic disease that comes with chronic fatigue, so I under-perform badly at times). The one thing he just absolutely cannot do is laundry. That's like the one thing that always falls to me. And I'm happy to do it - like you, OP, I just don't think it's that bad at all. But my God, how hard can it be!? 😂

(My post is very light-hearted, I have the best DP!)

I mention the dog as he gets his towels, mats washed probably every other day in winter. We walk him in a copse next to our house.

So I see the hard bit is considered putting it away - would placing laundry on the stairs and taking it up when you need to go upstairs not work? No extra work involved beyond placing in drawers/cupboards.

It’s housework so it’s never going to be exhilarating.

Im sorry but maybe a mind shift change would help some posters. Some are really exaggerating how difficult it is.

Yes it can never be completely done, but it’s easy to gauge if you are on top of it or not.

Urgh. Did you also find it so easy peasy when you had 2 toddlers?
My stairs aren't wide enough to safely use as laundry storage, would almost certainly result in a trip to A&E. How would your system hold up in a little house with little kids?
So smug.

Honestly, my DH makes laundry look like the most difficult task in the world. A few weeks ago he said he wanted to help me out more with housework so I said he should start with our endless laundry. He got up early one Saturday morning to do it and when I came down, I found piles and piles of clothes all over the kitchen floor. He insisted I leave said piles for him to sort so I did and they remained there for hours driving me nuts. I then couldn’t find a thing when it got to Monday morning, he hadn’t put anything away in the right drawer… I haven’t asked him to do it since.

This!! I have 2 baskets one for stuff that needs ironing and one for stuff that doesn’t!! I have to refold it all daily after DS 16 has been in there looking for socks!! The socks aren’t even kept in those baskets. There’s a small round one for that!! Sick of showing him! I’ve also told him I would go in his room and put his laundry away if his room didn’t resemble a crack den!! 😳

Putting it in the washer and dryer are easy, very easy!

But if you dont have a dryer, or you dont use one because its expensive

Then the hanging up to dry, finding somewhere to dry it, waiting, taking it down then having to put it all away is hard work.

I'm ND and laundry is a big stress factor in my life, it's only me and 2 kids and I find it all so overwhelming and difficult to keep on top of

Good for you that you find it so easy to throw it in the machine and then the dryer 😅

For interest, I just timed myself

Taking laundry out of machine, hanging up to dry = 4 mins 50 seconds

Putting next set of washing into machine and adding detergent = 20 seconds

I don't understand why some people find this onerous (health issues / ND aside)

@Mumof2NDers would it help to have one basket for each family member, and they put their own away / iron it?

I think often , its not so much about the task at hand, but that its left to one person, usually the mum (not always!) Its the unseen labour and the fact that it doesnt end because the next day, thees more. Its boring. But , yeah, if you're comparing it to handwashing with a washboard its easy.

I also think laundry is too much complained about. Maybe some people have a shared laundry room in their appartment building like they often have in Sweden, you have to book in your laundry-time, carry your laundry downstairs, go back downstairs to put it in the dryer or carry back upstairs to hang it in your (too small) appartment. I know that's often the case in the cities in Scandinavian countries, but not in the UK, right?

Ironing. I don’t mind ironing. I’ve just done mine watching 10 Things I Hate About You 😀

I’m the same as you; large dog and twins and do at least 2 loads a day. Momentum is key, if it’s allowed to stack up it can become overwhelming and easy to avoid. I find it’s the same with other household tasks. I can’t relax fully if I know that’s laundry to be done, the dishwasher to load etc so like to try and keep on top of everything as much as is possible (thankfully DH is the same so we both do it). Some people just don’t have the same attitude and are more comfortable ‘getting round to it later’, not a dig just an observation.

Single, lone parent and work full time in a high pressure field here - laundry is not hard, but not everyone has the spare time to do one load let alone three per day.

I do the washing, drying, sorting and folding. But fuck me if I don’t HATE putting away. Just can’t stand it.

So we have piles of washed, sorted, folded clothes around the house.

@Viohh

Is there anything you find difficult that others do not? Maybe that’s the issue. Everyone is different, as are the things they find difficult or not so difficult. Your post is just a bit smug.

Do you have a job other than washing?
do your family put their own clothes away?

How old are your twins? I have 3 age 5 and under and no one is putting their own clothes away, I do it all… so it is time consuming.

Apology acced.

Edit: Just read your other posts after I got a bit arsey. Sorry!