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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:
Daisies12 · 15/12/2023 16:49

I agree, we just wash things less. People on MN seem to wash clothes the minute they touch them.

RMNofTikTok · 15/12/2023 16:55

Viohh · 15/12/2023 16:42

I’m a consultant so my workload varies massively.

Perhaps you should work more so you don't have time to brag about how you achieve 3 wash loads a day and boil pasta at the same time, then we wouldn't have to listen to this nonsense 🤔

Original poster
Viohh · 15/12/2023 16:56

I do a load in the morning and then one in the pm. If it’s needed the kids will do one after school. But it’s not often we need to do 3 loads a day. Only when school kits are needing a wash etc. My boys can figure this out for themselves.

OP posts:
LindorDoubleChoc · 15/12/2023 16:56

I wish people wouldn't exaggerate. How can folding be a 2 minute job? Such a daft thing to say.

PaulaPocket · 15/12/2023 16:57

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 :)

tongues? Ouch! I miss my twin tub though.

soscarlet · 15/12/2023 16:58

Viohh · 15/12/2023 16:14

1 in 3 people agree with me

2 in 3 think you’re unbearably smug

Kwasi · 15/12/2023 17:03

If you're not at home all day, it's timing. If you only have evenings and weekends, it eats into family time. If you don't have a dryer, it takes ages to strategically hang up a wash load and most people don't have space to hang more than one load at once. Towels and bedding are an absolute nightmare.

I got a dryer two years ago and it's been a game changer, but laundry a lot more creased than if air-dried.

Folding isn't a two minute job. It's at least 20 minutes a day to fold and put away. Then it's 60-120 minutes of ironing every Sunday morning depending on the season.

forgotmyusername1 · 15/12/2023 17:09

A lot of people are avoiding using driers due to the expense. That makes it a bit trickier. Much easier in summer when it doesn't take 3 days to dry

Avacardo2023 · 15/12/2023 17:14

Viohh · 15/12/2023 11:58

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

Ah this is where I'm going wrong. I use that time to shave and prepare the truffles.

forgotmyusername1 · 15/12/2023 17:20

a typical tumble drier is about £1.76 per go

if you are doing 5 of those a week that is £40 a month during the winter months

hence why a lot of people get the airers out - it is then no longer a quick process.

Lordofmyflies · 15/12/2023 17:23

It's a PITA. Both my DC play a lot of muddy sports/felt tip roulette etc so there's usually spot treatment needed first. Then there's usually a tissue or gum shield or timetable that I've missed in a pocket which is needed and produces a snow storm in the machine. Then hanging it all out. Then the ironing...boring.

Katemax82 · 15/12/2023 17:39

I probably win here, I do about 5 loads a day

Sususudio · 15/12/2023 17:42

Wow @Katemax82 I do maybe 4 loads a week. How big is your family? Or sporty?

phoenixrosehere · 15/12/2023 17:48

I wish people wouldn't exaggerate. How can folding be a 2 minute job? Such a daft thing to say.

Definitely not, but wouldn’t call it a 20 minute job either. I would say 10 minutes max.

Switchandflake · 15/12/2023 17:55

Um… gold star? 🌟

I hate laundry. Not because it’s hard, but because it is monotonous, endless, and ungratifying. Things are worn and tossed back into the basket within 24 hours sometimes. I have three preteens who get through a TON of clothes in a week between various activities and school (we live in a country without uniforms).

We also own a lot of hand wash wool items. Those require time and care.

Maybe stop judging people and just enjoy the fact you find it an inoffensive and manageable task.

rorret · 15/12/2023 18:00

forgotmyusername1 · 15/12/2023 17:09

A lot of people are avoiding using driers due to the expense. That makes it a bit trickier. Much easier in summer when it doesn't take 3 days to dry

Try living in one of the wettest parts of the UK. We can't even dry outside in summer.

rorret · 15/12/2023 18:03

Viohh · 15/12/2023 16:56

I do a load in the morning and then one in the pm. If it’s needed the kids will do one after school. But it’s not often we need to do 3 loads a day. Only when school kits are needing a wash etc. My boys can figure this out for themselves.

Op are you tumbling everything? Where are you putting airers?

I live in a small-ish house, I have a pulley in my utility and it currently has two sets of bed linen on it - they're almost dry, I'll take them down tomorrow and wash another set of bed linen and hang it up (have had visitors).

I have two airers in my living room. One full of my clothes, and one with a horse rug on it.

The one with my clothes is dry but I'm out tonight and I can't cope with dealing with it coz ADHD.

I'm sorry my disability offends and confounds you so much.

user1471538283 · 15/12/2023 18:03

Laundry isn't hard but it's expensive, boring, never ending and thankless.

rorret · 15/12/2023 18:06

Also "maintain momentum"?

WTF?

I struggle as soon as I have anything else to do my focus shifts, and I can't maintain momentum. It's an actual consequence of my actual disability - it isn't that I don't want to be good at 'maintaining momentum' it's that I have a disability that means I actually can't maintain momentum.

janfebmarchapril · 15/12/2023 18:12

The laundry isn't the hard bit for me, it's the putting jr away. I hate it

LambriniBobinIsleworth · 15/12/2023 18:12

Good for you, I guess 🤷🏼‍♀️

It's fucking never ending is my problem with it. I use LaundryHeap once a week as a treat to myself. Other Laundry services are available.

Kwasi · 15/12/2023 18:14

Sususudio · 15/12/2023 17:42

Wow @Katemax82 I do maybe 4 loads a week. How big is your family? Or sporty?

I do 3 loads just in towels and bedding.

Allfur · 15/12/2023 18:16

You do way too much laundry

systemadilema · 15/12/2023 18:17

It's all the folding and putting away that takes time. It's a real pain.

RobertaFirmino · 15/12/2023 18:19

I don't find laundry hard. It's still a massive pain in the arse though.