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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:
betterangels · 15/12/2023 12:38

Skirting boards? Bless you if you do those. I wish I had the energy. Currently trying to book someone to clean the oven.

Original poster
Viohh · 15/12/2023 12:40

Folding can be done on the sofa when kids are in bed. It really doesn’t take more than 5 mins.

OP posts:
UnbeatenMum · 15/12/2023 12:43

I'm not currently working but folding and putting away washing is easily 2-3 hours a week for mine and my 3 children's, DH does his. While I'm boiling pasta I'm emptying the dishwasher or washing up lunchboxes. Any time I'm not giving DS attention he's usually causing chaos (SEN) and he only does about 8-10 hours at preschool a week so I'd be very happy not to have to do laundry. Because it's not just about the laundry is it.

Original poster
Viohh · 15/12/2023 12:43

Everyone has buckets for whites, lights and dark.

If dh wants his darks doing he’ll go and grab a “dark bucket” from someone to make a full load - why are people spending so much time just sorting?

OP posts:
NC098765 · 15/12/2023 12:45

Putting in the machine is easy. Taking out and hanging to dry, more annoying. Folding and putting away, that's the killer.

VisionsOfSplendour · 15/12/2023 12:45

Viohh · 15/12/2023 12:40

Folding can be done on the sofa when kids are in bed. It really doesn’t take more than 5 mins.

How do you know everyone's laundry situation? You continue to sound smug and superior

Personally I dont have an issue with my washing but it's pretty unaware to not recognise that everyone's different and many people struggle to keep up

Bbq1 · 15/12/2023 12:46

I do a minimum of 2 loads a day. But hate the faff of draping and drying on the clothes dryer (especially in the winter( folding and sorting into five piles. Four is for bedding and towels, five is tea towels. I detest ironing even more so only do that ig absolutely necessary or dh does it as he's better than me.

gamerchick · 15/12/2023 12:47

It's not the washing, it's the drying in winter. Not everyone, has or can afford to run a ruddy drier and definitely the turning inside out for washing. Fastening zips and buttons. Faffy washing for deep colours, minimum spin for a different set of faffy washing etc

If you don't really care about the condition your clothes get in and just sling it all in with no thought then it's definitely easier.

Ploctopus · 15/12/2023 12:47

Because I have ADHD

TheChristmasElfCanGoNow · 15/12/2023 12:49

Laundry isn't hard. You just have to find a bag large enough for a week's worth of clothes, towels and bedding. Then lug it on to the bus to your local launderette and then either pay a fortune for a service wash or sit for ages while you self serve it, hoping you have the right money to feed the machines.

I am aware I sound curmudgeonly OP, but your experience isn't the same as other people's.

My washing machine packed up a week ago. When the new one is delivered it's going to take us a while to get caught up. And yes I said us because I'm not the laundry fairy. Other capable people also live in my house.

Comedycook · 15/12/2023 12:50

The actual washing machine bit is the easy bit.... drying is difficult in winter. I have a heated airer which I love but I always have more washing waiting to be dried. I have to iron some things...DH trousers and t shirts, school shirts etc. Putting stuff away is a pain...we live in a townhouse so loads of stairs and not enough storage really for clothes.

LegoDeathTrap · 15/12/2023 12:50

“Look at this job women do! It’s SO easy and worthless!”

Slitheringheights · 15/12/2023 12:50

The washing isn’t hard, it’s the washing different colours, trying to get stuff dry without smelling of damp. Having the heating on to dry is expensive. Putting washing away. It’s a chore. I hate it!!

PuppyMonkey · 15/12/2023 12:51

Folding takes two minutes? What, per item? Per load? Per day?

And what if you’re not having pasta that day? When does folding occur with another meal? Grin

tigger1001 · 15/12/2023 12:51

Washing is the easy part. Drying/folding/ironing the stuff that needs it /pairing what somethings feels like a million socks.... that's what takes the time for me. Add in work commitments/chauffering commitments etc often means little time for jobs around the house.

Is it really so difficult to understand that others have different priorities or different lives than you op?

Satsscores · 15/12/2023 12:52

I find it hard, I'm crap at it. We don't have a drier, so I have to hang it in a room where it never dries. I end up with a back log, I forget to take it out the machine and I struggle to find time to put it away, it ends up in piles on the floor or sofa. My kids don't put their own away because they are too little or don't listen. I'm just really tired.

boozeclues · 15/12/2023 12:53

Pretty much all housework is easy, you don’t need a degree to operate a broom.

But it’s a boring thankless task that I can’t be arsed doing most of the time, and usually I have better things to spend my time on.

And that’s why the bulk of my laundry goes to the laundrette for a service wash, comes back dry and folded ready to put away (if I can arsed putting it away…)

StrictlyComeSnoozing · 15/12/2023 12:53

I don't find it difficult. I put it in the machine or take it out whilst the kettle boils, and it takes me a few minutes to fold and put away, or put out to dry.

BUT... I only do my own laundry and don't iron.

Bumble84 · 15/12/2023 12:53

There’s not that many house jobs that are hard. It’s the relentlessness of them that’s the hard part.

Motnight · 15/12/2023 12:53

SoupDragon · 15/12/2023 11:53

here's your gold medal

Op has twins, the medal should have diamonds on it at least!

Getmeoutofheere · 15/12/2023 12:55

Putting it away is the absolute worst.

VisionsOfSplendour · 15/12/2023 12:56

PuppyMonkey · 15/12/2023 12:51

Folding takes two minutes? What, per item? Per load? Per day?

And what if you’re not having pasta that day? When does folding occur with another meal? Grin

Ooh, good question, do laundry and meal plans have to coincide?

Treehogger · 15/12/2023 12:56

for me it’s more the putting it away again after it’s dried. The washing is the easy part!

milveycrohn · 15/12/2023 12:57

Well, I separate out the clothes into types, after my son's chinos which had red stitching, the colour ran over everything else, including a nice white blouse.
I also separate jumpers, and wash on the hand wash setting (after once shrinking my DH's cashmere jumper)
Jumpers can't be put in the tumble dryer, and have to dry flat ( a bit of an effort there, getting out a clothes airer, which enables drying flat).

Workawayxx · 15/12/2023 12:57

I don't have a tumble dryer, just a heated airer so find the actual washing bit fine but the hanging on the airer is a pain, waiting for it to dry, some of it being dry and some not, next load ready to go on the airer etc etc etc. It's not a hard job in itself, it's just when it's on top of everything else, the mental load of it can feel like a bit of a thing.