Page 15 | Laundry is not hard

Viohh · 2023-12-15T11:49:34+00:00

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.

TheRealProfessorYaffle · 18/12/2023 08:54

I could build a Taj Mahal of dried folded laundry and put it in the stairs and only my husband would take it up. My three kids would need x reminders each (multiply X by age and disposition of child) and would leap frog said fabric structure until it became easier to just build a flying fox over it. And then I reckon they'd prefer to do that. I blame the parents.

SoupDragon · 18/12/2023 08:56

TheRealProfessorYaffle · 18/12/2023 08:54

I could build a Taj Mahal of dried folded laundry and put it in the stairs and only my husband would take it up. My three kids would need x reminders each (multiply X by age and disposition of child) and would leap frog said fabric structure until it became easier to just build a flying fox over it. And then I reckon they'd prefer to do that. I blame the parents.

I once put Christmas lights on the mountain of clean clothes in DS2's room. He still didn't notice it.

Stormyweathr · 18/12/2023 09:28

@UnNiddeRides he does have more than one set of clothes however as mentioned previously due to the nature of his job I wouldn’t want the dirty clothes hanging around in a basket, my machine is also eco friendly and the instructions say the eco cycle uses half the amount of water that a full wash would (it’s a small machine so a full wash would Only be 4 jumpers, 4 pants and 4 lots of underwear and socks) the method I use does help me keep on top of washing

Eskimal · 18/12/2023 09:28

You’ve taken it out of the context of all the other housework. That’s why it sounds a bit smug. Also how do your twins carry it up the stairs (I presume they’re babies? Otherwise why mention it)
i hate checking pockets but I know my kids and husband will forget. My husband is a labourer so doing his dirty work clothes is a pain.
my older kids have sport every day so keeping PE kits washed is a pain when they need them again the next day (too expensive to buy a second set)

Perhapsanorhertimewouldbebetter · 18/12/2023 09:32

Viohh · 17/12/2023 23:18

Obviously this post is not really directed at people with health conditions such as ADHD

Your post was a general post.
It was directed at anyone on MN.

Sorrynotsore · 18/12/2023 09:35

I know it's been done but here👑👑queen of laundry we'll done gold stars and medals too ⭐⭐⭐🥇🥇🥇🥇

Sorrynotsore · 18/12/2023 09:37

Viohh · 15/12/2023 16:42

I’m a consultant so my workload varies massively.

Of course you are. Consultants are literally famous for offering opinions of stuff they've got no idea about haha!!

YuleDragon · 18/12/2023 09:44

why is it hard.. well.

Lets preface this b pointing out before we go any further, that i'm disabled.. physically disabled, and i also have ADHD.

It hurts to carry the laundry down the stairs.
It hurts to hang it out
It hurts to bend over putting it in/out of the washing machine and tumble dryer
it hurts to stand and fold it
it hurts to carry it back up the stairs.

Knowing that it hurts, and i frequently have to rest and/or sit on the kitchen floor to do much of the sorting of loads, putting in/out of the washer/dryer, it compounds the issue that i procrastinate due to my adhd.

Funnily enough, i'm not exactly enthusiastic to start a chore that causes me a lot of pain.

So i'm Glad you find it easy. I don't.

Katemax82 · 18/12/2023 10:07

ToffeePennie · 18/12/2023 07:51

For me it’s drying! Our tumble dryer is in the garage, that means I have to get the washing out of the machine, walk through the house and put it in the condenser, empty the water tray at the bottom and clean the lint trap, then go back inside and wash some more.
When that’s washed, I hang it on the airer, but it can take anywhere from a day (for a couple aprons and tea towels) to a whole week to dry the stuff (my husbands jeans, hoodies/jumpers etc) in my house it’s the lack of drying space and the very long dry time that causes laundry to build up, I can only do two or three loads a day, and I have washing hanging everywhere, all around the living room, on the stairs; on doors etc to try and dry it and maximise space

Same here! We have a heat pump condenser dryer which takes 2.5 hours to dry a load. So my life is a constant cycle of washing, taking stuff out to the garage, bringing stuff in from the garage and so on. Also we can't dry indoors as we live in a bungalow with a damp problem

TeenDivided · 18/12/2023 10:40

Personally I don eat plain pasta with my fingers and no drink. So while pasta is cooking I am prepping the rest of the meal, laying the table, doing drinks, putting away washing up etc.

Zonder · 18/12/2023 11:03

So many excuses it’s comical. It’s
laundry not the building of the Taj Manal

Personally I find laundry takes up a lot of time. I sort, I put in the washer, I sort into tumble and hanging items, I hang, I stick in the tumbler, I take down and fold, I sort into piles for each person, I leave on the worktop in the laundry for family members to go collect and put away.

However I don't have a problem with dishes as we have a machine. You clearly find dishes harder. Yet somehow you don't understand that for other people it's the other way round.

Allthegoodusernamesareused · 18/12/2023 11:06

Laundry isn't difficult, true. It is time consuming and relentless though, especially when you don't have a tumble dryer and the weather is rubbish for drying... and you work full time shifts so coordinating time critical laundry (school uniform when I'm on 12 hour shifts over the whole weekend) is a huge pain in the arse.

InefficientProcess · 18/12/2023 11:14

TeenDivided · 18/12/2023 10:40

Personally I don eat plain pasta with my fingers and no drink. So while pasta is cooking I am prepping the rest of the meal, laying the table, doing drinks, putting away washing up etc.

Well yes.

Ensuring everyone is fed (and the kitchen remains clean and hygenic) is another sysiphean task that takes more than 2 minutes.

But super-OP combines both laundry and cooking in one fell swoop. We should all bow down at her greatness.

I also find that while I’m trying to cook the rest of the meal, and tidy up, I’m also dealing with a 3 year old who has questions/demands or is just getting in the way with bloody toy cars. And also nagging a teenager to make sure that he is doing him homework/has his stuff ready for a club and so on. Or delegating stuff to him and then having to nag to make sure it gets done.

None of this put a pot of pasta on and then fold a dryer full of laundry on the island.

bonzaitree · 18/12/2023 11:30

It’s hard to dry laundry in a flat in winter.

Were moving to a house with a laundry room and more space. I think it will be 10x easier when we’re there.

But you’re right that lobbing it in is a 5 min job, hanging it out is a 5 min job and folding and putting away is a 5 min job.

FlyingUnicornWings · 18/12/2023 12:02

@SoupDragon 🤣 no need for me to read the rest of the thread, you nailed it.

Deathinvegas · 18/12/2023 12:03

TheRealProfessorYaffle · 18/12/2023 08:54

I could build a Taj Mahal of dried folded laundry and put it in the stairs and only my husband would take it up. My three kids would need x reminders each (multiply X by age and disposition of child) and would leap frog said fabric structure until it became easier to just build a flying fox over it. And then I reckon they'd prefer to do that. I blame the parents.

brilliant post, ❤️ this reply.

phoenixrosehere · 18/12/2023 12:40

forgotmyusername1 · 18/12/2023 08:46

I am shocked with how much washing some people claim to be doing. 2-3 loads a day?

We are two adults, two kids. Generally one whites and one or two colour washes a week. Don't use the drier unless absolutely have to. Additional bedding wash once a fortnight. We will rewear tops and trousers unless actually dirty. Obviously underwear is only worn once. Everyone has their own towel which gets washed after 3 uses - just hung up in between to dry.

If it is a dry day we may do two loads in one day to get ahead and get stuff on the line. If weather crap will stagger it to give other stuff chance to dry on airers.

I started being more conscious with usage with energy in April 2022 with the energy cost spike. Took my usage from near 8000 units to 3500 a year saving about £1500 a year In electric costs. The laundry was a large part of that particularly the tumble drier

I am shocked with how much washing some people claim to be doing. 2-3 loads a day?

Right. That’s what we do in a week usually.

CoatOfArms · 18/12/2023 12:49

I am shocked with how much washing some people claim to be doing. 2-3 loads a day?

I'm not. People boast about changing their sheets every couple of days, using a towel only once, clean pyjamas every day, etc etc etc.

forgotmyusername1 · 18/12/2023 12:51

CoatOfArms · 18/12/2023 12:49

I am shocked with how much washing some people claim to be doing. 2-3 loads a day?

I'm not. People boast about changing their sheets every couple of days, using a towel only once, clean pyjamas every day, etc etc etc.

Same people probably complain about paying £300 a month electric bill

Coconutter24 · 18/12/2023 15:06

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.

I think for most people it’s not the chore of doing the laundry it’s the struggle of getting it dry especially this time of year. Not everyone has a dryer, not everyone can afford to put the heating on just to dry washing and if the house is cold washing takes days to dry

Confusedx4 · 18/12/2023 15:07

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.

@Viohh i think it’s the relentlessness of laundry that makes most of us grumblers grumble about it. You never really get that ‘ah it’s done’ kind of satisfaction.

educatingrati · 18/12/2023 18:03

It's not hard but it has to be one of the most boring tasks in the world. Having R. arthritis means hanging stuff up is painful and slow, same as getting if off the line. Agree with others in that in never seems to end either. Cleaning the oven is quick(ish) and the results last several weeks, and a quick wipe down of the hob after using gives satisfying results, laundry is just endless, esp. endless sports kits that need washing after every use in the endless mud!

Whyohwhywyoming · 18/12/2023 18:27

I used to live in a tiny flat with no space to dry, no space to have a dryer, and I worked full time, someone else had to cook my kids pasta then we got home and everything had to be crammed into those few hours. I wasn’t home all day so heating wasn’t on and it took longer to dry, so a backlog built up. The pile felt overwhelming in my small space! I didn’t moan about laundry as I had no one to moan to but I certainly thought it!

laundry isn’t inherently hard but it is boring, thankless and repetitive, and made harder by lack of resources and circumstances. The more I think about it, the less i understand why you posted this in the first place.

Whyohwhywyoming · 18/12/2023 18:28

Oh and don’t forget the fun of mould and damp if your home is small and cold.

hangingonfordearlife1 · 18/12/2023 19:06

laundry is not a problem. It’s socks that are the problem. SOCKS. Balling them up, unballing ones that have gone in together and they are still damp from the dryer etc, odd socks. socks everywhere