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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:
BooksAndHooks · 15/12/2023 15:00

This time of year, it’s the constantly having to rotate the clothes on airers. Whilst the washing basket overflows as can’t put another load on with nowhere to dry it.

murasaki · 15/12/2023 15:02

The putting away is an arse and I hate it. Doing the wash is easy.

And what fresh madness is pairing socks?? All mine are black with coloured heels.and toes. They just go straight in a drawer and I hoick out two that match in the morning. Anything else goes in his drawer and how he wears them is his problem. Simple.

aloris · 15/12/2023 15:03

The problem is it's never done. You clear out your laundry room and "aaaaahhhh, nice and clean" and two hours later the hamper is full of clothes again.

murasaki · 15/12/2023 15:05

Very true, the laundry basket is never empty for more than a few hours.

And bed linen in winter is a pain, even with a dribuddy as it's too long and we have no useful bannisters. Has to be done in shifts. Fine in the summer as it goes on the line.

RMNofTikTok · 15/12/2023 15:11

Well done you, for navigating life without considering those with disabilities. Have a gold star ⭐️

ThreeRingCircus · 15/12/2023 15:13

Washing and drying is the easy bit (we have a tumble dryer). It's the putting it all away I can't stand.... particularly checking the labels on DDs' uniform as they are only one size apart and the uniform is identical so I can't tell without looking at the tag. It's not difficult it's just boring and neverending.

Stripyunicorn · 15/12/2023 15:14

It might not be hard but it's monotonous and unending.

mamahg · 15/12/2023 15:17

I do laundry every other day and the hardest part by far is folding them and putting them away. I always found that the most irritating and daunting part of laundry.

ZZGirl · 15/12/2023 15:27

It's boring.

Branleuse · 15/12/2023 15:28

its not the process of putting laundry into a washing machine and getting it out that is complicated, but its a constant battle with my family to get people to sort their rooms, sort their laundry out. Even if they do their own sometimes, they dont dry it properly. Sometimes they bring masses down in one go and expect the laundry fairy to sort it. Sometimes I spend ages sorting their clothes into whos is whos, and folding it, and then it sits there in the kitchen for days, and then a cat sleeps on it or someone knocks it or walks on it.
Sometimes they put it on a long cycle when i actually needed to get quite a bit done. Sometimes the utility room is a tip and im playing catch up with other chores. Sometimes im so exhausted from working all the hours doing shifts in the care industry, that i dont actually have the capacity to do every other fuckers laundry and dishes and cooking and dog walking and grocery shopping and everything else, and its not anything to do with whether any of the individual tasks are easy or hard, but a general difficulty in organising the constant stream of drudgery when you are in a family where both parents work.
What even is the point of this post? smug.

QAnoun · 15/12/2023 15:29

Out of interest OP, do you work?

Wellhellooooodear · 15/12/2023 16:02

Nobody thinks it's hard it's just relentless and always there (in my house anyway). No household tasks are difficult, just mind numbingly boring and have to be done constantly unless you want to live in a shit tip.

SwordToFlamethrower · 15/12/2023 16:09

Well, I line dry so that takes quite a while to peg and unpeg. Not all of us can afford to use the electricity.

ElaineMBenes · 15/12/2023 16:11

QAnoun · 15/12/2023 15:29

Out of interest OP, do you work?

This was going to be my question......

Original poster
Viohh · 15/12/2023 16:12

I work full time. I was a SAHM parents for the first 5 years. Kids are now 10.

OP posts:
SoLongDaisyMay · 15/12/2023 16:14

Viohh · 15/12/2023 12:02

Dishes are far worst

Why do people make such a meal out of dishes? The dishwasher does it for you!

Original poster
Viohh · 15/12/2023 16:14

1 in 3 people agree with me

OP posts:
Inertia · 15/12/2023 16:19

Ooooh yes you do sound smug.
I actually don’t mind laundry- but then I appreciate that I’m fortunate to have my own washing machine/ tumble dryer in my own house, rather than having to trek it all to a launderette / shared laundry room. We’re comfortable enough to not worry too much about the cost of using the dryer, so we don’t have wet washing all over the house. I’m lucky to not have a disability which restricts my mobility, so I can bend without pain, and get outside to hang washing in dry weather.

I don’t do all this while waiting for pasta to boil though- I use that time to make the pasta sauce.

tattygrl · 15/12/2023 16:20

SoLongDaisyMay · 15/12/2023 16:14

Why do people make such a meal out of dishes? The dishwasher does it for you!

Show quote history

If you have one!

My old house was rented and too small for a dishwasher. Can't wait to get ours up and running now we've moved.

Inertia · 15/12/2023 16:22

Viohh · 15/12/2023 16:12

I work full time. I was a SAHM parents for the first 5 years. Kids are now 10.

And how many extra hours after work do you have to spend working on your job while at home? On my work days I get home at 7pm, make dinner and clear up, then have hours more work to do. Finding time for laundry sorting/drying/ironing doesn’t always happen.

elm26 · 15/12/2023 16:27

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.

This is currently my situation.

I do 2 loads a day, I have a 7 month old who loves to get messy with food and a husband who works a trade and gets very dusty/dirty and we live in a 1 bedroom flat until January when we are moving into our 2 bed and I just don't have the space for a dryer. So trying to dry 2 loads of laundry in such a small space every single day is an utter nightmare.

Cheeesus · 15/12/2023 16:37

Viohh · 15/12/2023 16:12

I work full time. I was a SAHM parents for the first 5 years. Kids are now 10.

I can’t imagine being able to get 2-3 loads of washing done on a day in working. When on earth do you do it?

Original poster
Viohh · 15/12/2023 16:42

I’m a consultant so my workload varies massively.

OP posts:
ElaineMBenes · 15/12/2023 16:47

You work full time and do 2/3 loads of washing a day??
Goodness

RMNofTikTok · 15/12/2023 16:49

Viohh · 15/12/2023 16:14

1 in 3 people agree with me

So the majority disagree with you then? 😁