Page 3 | 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.

savemytimezone · 15/12/2023 12:18

I believe I have undiagnosed ADHD. Anyway, I can't cope with things being made complex and "fussy". So no separating fabrics/colours. No different powders/gels. No different washing machine settings. Just makes me want to run away.

I know this won't be for everyone, but it's how I cope, and I always have clean clothing to hand.

I wear a clean top, socks and knickers daily. A couple of different jeans a week and a couple of different jumpers, bra, etc. Everything is coloured. I don't wear whites. No fussy fabrics. They have to be machine washable and able to be tumbled. Occasionally, if something is really special I will put it wet on a hanger to dry, but that's rare.

I have a laundry box with a hinged lid in the bedroom.
Dirty laundry gets thrown in there.
Once a week, it is full to the top.
A full laundry box = a full machine load
I chuck a couple of pods in the machine and hit START.
When it's done, it all gets transferred to the dryer.
I don't iron EVER.
It all gets put on hangers/in drawers for the week

That's it. About 5 minutes a week on clothes.

I do towels as a different load. Also bedding.

Stressfordays · 15/12/2023 12:21

I don't find laundry hard at all. But I do find other jobs hard that some people won't? Like I really dislike washing the pots and mopping. We're all different.

Leafysuburb · 15/12/2023 12:22

Putting it away is though. I can just about get it on to wash and get it dried around my work schedule but then it gets lumped in a heap we have to search through in the morning to find clean clothes. I often wonder if we should just get rid of our wardrobes and drawers and just live from the heap officially.

GabriellaMontez · 15/12/2023 12:23

Happy for you.

VisionsOfSplendour · 15/12/2023 12:23

Viohh · 15/12/2023 11:58

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

Have you thought about giving lessons, why not monetise your unique talents?

MrsMiddleMother · 15/12/2023 12:23

We're a family of 5 and no, it's not the worst job but it is time consuming and daily. Hanging up and waiting for the washing that can't be tumble dried is the worst part. Even the clothes that say they can be but you know from previous experience that they'll shrink. It's being too busy for a few days to get some done and it quickly piles up.

Leafysuburb · 15/12/2023 12:24

savemytimezone · 15/12/2023 12:18

I believe I have undiagnosed ADHD. Anyway, I can't cope with things being made complex and "fussy". So no separating fabrics/colours. No different powders/gels. No different washing machine settings. Just makes me want to run away.

I know this won't be for everyone, but it's how I cope, and I always have clean clothing to hand.

I wear a clean top, socks and knickers daily. A couple of different jeans a week and a couple of different jumpers, bra, etc. Everything is coloured. I don't wear whites. No fussy fabrics. They have to be machine washable and able to be tumbled. Occasionally, if something is really special I will put it wet on a hanger to dry, but that's rare.

I have a laundry box with a hinged lid in the bedroom.
Dirty laundry gets thrown in there.
Once a week, it is full to the top.
A full laundry box = a full machine load
I chuck a couple of pods in the machine and hit START.
When it's done, it all gets transferred to the dryer.
I don't iron EVER.
It all gets put on hangers/in drawers for the week

That's it. About 5 minutes a week on clothes.

I do towels as a different load. Also bedding.

Do you have DC? My DC with ADHD are so messy they often need 2 outfit changes a day, new pj's every day as they spill everything down them etc. the tea towels we get through from spillages alone takes up a wash a week.

MumChp · 15/12/2023 12:26

You are lucky having your own washer/drier.
We share with other flats in the basement. So yes, I find it difficult at times.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 15/12/2023 12:26

It’s not that it’s a hard or taxing job, @Viohh - it’s that it is never ending. The washing basket is filling up again, before you’ve washed, dried, sorted, ironed (where necessary) and put away the last load. And it will be the same tomorrow, and the next day, and the next….

Then you get the teenager who tidies their room by scooping all the clothes off the floor where they’ve thrown them, including the pile of clean, ironed and sorted clothes you gave them yesterday to put away, and decanting them back into the washing basket.

PostmansKnock · 15/12/2023 12:26

Nobody is saying the act of putting it in the machine is doing the laundry.

When do you make your pasta sauce or the rest of the meal?

Winniespooh · 15/12/2023 12:27

I don't find it hard, I do find it thankless and time consuming. We have a tumble drier but plenty of clothes can't be tumble dried so those need hanging up. There's also things like making sure swim kits and gym kits get washed so they're not sat round going smelly, keeping on top of DDs school uniform and clothes for her activities, DS has scruffy clothes for nursery so those have to be ready for his nursery days and he's still having occasional accidents so they'll be a wet outfit to deal with....it's never ending.

CoatOfArms · 15/12/2023 12:27

Some people do make a huge meal out of it though, mostly by washing stuff which isn't dirty. Or having separate programmes for everything, or a timetable for their washing like towels on a Monday, school stuff on a Saturday or whatever. And then it's all the bleaching or anti-bac stuff and ironing...

Life's too short. 95% of my washing is done on a 30c mixed load wash. Never iron anything, DH does his own work shirts.

Toooldtoworry · 15/12/2023 12:27

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 have a pyrolytic oven. It cleans itself.

I hate washing, probably because I'm the only fucker that does it.

Can't complain, DH does his fair share.

Original poster

Viohh · 15/12/2023 12:28

Pasta takes 7 mins to boil…enough time for me

OP posts:

stargirl1701 · 15/12/2023 12:29

It's the putting away we seem to fail at here!

savemytimezone · 15/12/2023 12:29

Leafysuburb · 15/12/2023 12:24

Do you have DC? My DC with ADHD are so messy they often need 2 outfit changes a day, new pj's every day as they spill everything down them etc. the tea towels we get through from spillages alone takes up a wash a week.

Show quote history

No, I don't and never have, so I can't say I know what that's like!

That's a lot of washing!

I would buy a washer that takes the largest loads possible and never iron.

But I can see that there is little you can do at the moment as children = mess.

I do have a dog who creates mess but he doesn't wear clothes at least!

Sususudio · 15/12/2023 12:29

I find it easier than figuring out what to cook everyday.

AgnesX · 15/12/2023 12:30

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 :)

Oh my mum had a mangle when we were wee. Great fun (helping mum when you didn't have to....!)

savemytimezone · 15/12/2023 12:31

For me, it's the oven, the windows, the skirting boards, deep cleaning of stuff. I just never see it/think about it until it's really manky. I can't keep a routine with stuff like that.

I have made countless lists and rotas and bought apps to help. Still the same!

Chriscarter23 · 15/12/2023 12:31

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

DottieMoon · 15/12/2023 12:32

Easy to say if you have a dryer. We don't as there is no room to put one so laundry is a pain in the bum, all around the house trying to get it dry in the winter.

madeinmanc · 15/12/2023 12:35

As said above, yes it's pretty thankless. And it's also one thing you can't get away with neglecting. Didn't hoover? Do it tomorrow. Didn't clean the windows? Just look out of a dirty window. But you can't go without clean clothes, or if you do it's usually a sign of serious illness (including mental).

Gnomegnomegnome · 15/12/2023 12:36

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.

Clean the oven after each use. ‘Why do people make such a meal out of it?’

Also, What has the big dog and twins have to do with laundry? 😂

Ohthatsfabulousdarling · 15/12/2023 12:36

You do sound smug OP,
What about pre-soaking the clothes?
I assume you have hands spare to lift said washing to and from those machines.
What if your family didnt/couldn't move their own washing from the stairs?

EliflurtleAndTheInfiniteMadness · 15/12/2023 12:38

Perhapsanorhertimewouldbebetter · 15/12/2023 11:59

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

Show quote history

Or calming down squabbling kids while also trying to load the dishwasher. I'd like a medal too please, though frankly I think I deserve a bigger one 🤣. We're rather chaotic here, the clean washing tends to form a mountain before it makes its way back into DCs wardrobes.