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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:
Thesearmsofmine · 15/12/2023 18:23

It’s not hard but it’s relentless and when you don’t have a dryer it is a pain at this time of year.

Toesaresoweird · 15/12/2023 18:26

Meh I don't mind it. It's the four flights of stairs to get to the machine that fecks me off.

Plus, if you have a DH like mine, it's like playing laundry lottery. When he does it we have snowflake clothes (tissue left in pocket) or the super creased effect. I don't know what the hell he does but it's like magic or something. Even my jumpers end up two sizes smaller.

Icantbedoingwithit · 15/12/2023 18:29

Laundry is not hard if… you don’t let it build up until there is a mountain to do and also if you constantly use a dryer. I think people tend to get overwhelmed when they let it build up and it can seen insurmountable at that stage especially if you don’t use a dryer. Laundry is also not hard if you have older children to lend a hand, if you are a stay at home parent with no small children and also if you don’t suffer from any kind of disability or illness.

Narrows it down quite a bit.

ThisHouseWillBeTheDeathOfMe · 15/12/2023 18:32

Eleganz · 15/12/2023 11:59

Folding is 2 minute job? Maybe in your house...

Quite.

I also have twins. And a teen. Plus me and DH.

Our machine is on 3 times a day. Then the dryer three times. No, it's not hard. However, I need to physically be there when one load finishes to put into the dryer, and put the next load on. And at that time, take the last load out of the dryer and fold it, which doing so properly and making 5 piles for 5 people, takes a good deal longer than two minutes.

So, OP, you are correct. Laundry is very easy. Hanging around the house so you are there to put three loads on, dry three loads, fold three loads and put mine and DC away every single day, is not. Some of us have other things to do, which don't involve hanging round the house all day. Yes it takes 30 seconds to put one load in the machine and press start. That's not the "hard" bit.

telestrations · 15/12/2023 19:02

"I put everyone’s clothes on the stairs for them to take up"

So you don't do the bit which is the most time consuming, sorting and putting everything away for multiple people.

I don't mean this a ls a criticism at all, good for you! But this is the bit that most people are thinkin of when they complain along with gathering it all up and I'd guess if your household is capable and well trained enough to take it all up they're brining it down as well.

Not having a dryer all also makes a huge difference. As does not having in suite laundry and relying on a laundrette or big shared common laundry room (very common in N America but increasingly in big cities in the UK too).

SoLongDaisyMay · 15/12/2023 19:06

I know @tattygrl I was paraphrasing the OPs consternation at people who struggle to keep up with laundry

WhatNoUsername · 15/12/2023 19:07

Laundry is like painting the forth bridge. Constant and never fucking ending. There's only two of us. I really don't know where us all fucking comes from. I decide to make a huge effort to get on top of it, virtually empty the basket and the next day it's suddenly full again. I mean WTF. I think we may have someone in the loft secretly adding to the pile.

ChilledToTheBone · 15/12/2023 19:11

For me it's washing for 6 of us. Dh work clothes have to be washed seperate and an empty wash after to clean machine as so filthy
Then 5 x beds once a week. Loads towels etc.
But its the folding and pairing socks. Ironing that takes the time.
However i enjoy it

HighlandCowSaysBooNotMoo · 15/12/2023 19:27

Try having 6 kids. And no dryer. Laundry IS hard.

CandyLeBonBon · 15/12/2023 19:34

Congratulations on writing the smuggest post on the internet today. Have a lollipop.

Ruffpuff · 15/12/2023 19:56

Good for you, op.

I don’t find laundry hard. However, I work 50-60 hrs a week with a daily 2 hr commute as a single mum. It’s not the laundry it’s the time. The clothes never end up getting put away.

SaulHudsonDavidJones · 15/12/2023 20:08

NoCloudsAllowed · 15/12/2023 12:01

'Few tasks are more similar to the torment of Sisyphus than those of the housewife; day after day, one must wash dishes, dust furniture, mend clothes that will be dirty, dusty, and torn again. The housewife wears herself out running on the spot'

None of it's hard. But it's endless and dull and only visible if it's not done.

Exactly. Sure, washing isn't difficult. Neither are many daily chores. But it's incessant, a million 'easy' things add up to overwhelm, exhaustion and things building up.

Sugarsun · 15/12/2023 20:09

If you’re doing 2/3 loads a day how are you getting it all dry?
Are you using a tumble dryer with every load?

Most people don’t use a tumble dryer due to cost or space.

Having a tumble dryer would make doing laundry a lot easier.
Just like it’s so much easier during the summer.

I don’t find the actual laundry difficult.
I find doing all of the housework difficult as well as working FT, being a single parent and trying to get enough sleep and hobbies.
I sometimes say I don’t like doing laundry but it’s not the laundry alone that’s the problem.

Sugarsun · 15/12/2023 20:10

SaulHudsonDavidJones · 15/12/2023 20:08

Exactly. Sure, washing isn't difficult. Neither are many daily chores. But it's incessant, a million 'easy' things add up to overwhelm, exhaustion and things building up.

Show quote history

I agree.

jammysocks · 15/12/2023 20:14

Same @Kwasi family of 6 here!

orchardsquare · 15/12/2023 20:20

I quite like doing the laundry in summer, hanging it outside to dry and making the most of the warm air. In winter, there is never enough space to hang it all inside (we don't have a tumble dryer). The worst of all is in rainy summer, where you can't hang it outside but it's too warm for the heating to be on.
The putting away is the hardest bit.

SandraTeaspoon · 15/12/2023 20:41

Well yeah it's not hard as the machine does it for you. The hard part for most people is getting it dried especially in winter time

Ohmahgaws · 15/12/2023 20:47

Washing part is super easy.
drying .. v v hard in winter . It does not dry outdoors and if you dont have a drier or cant afford a warm house and an airer … its hard !

Allfur · 15/12/2023 20:52

I don't understand why you are doing 2/3 loads a day?

madeinmanc · 15/12/2023 20:54

Conservatories are seen as outdated these days but what I wouldn't give to have a nice big conservatory to bung my two clothes airers in and leave it with a dehumidifier to dry and not affect the main house!

LifeofBrienne · 15/12/2023 21:21

Laundry is one of the most time consuming chores and there’s no sense of achieving anything. If I clean the bathroom, I have a nice clean bathroom. If I cook a meal I get to eat it.
But with washing I start with a rack of dry clothes and an overflowing basket. After lots of sorting out and putting away of dry washing, more sorting out and hanging up of wet washing, I have a rack of wet clothes and a slightly less overflowing basket. And repeat every day….

Copperoliverbear · 16/12/2023 00:09

It's not hard sorting and loading the washing, but I do dislike hanging it up for some reason. X

SallyWD · 16/12/2023 08:15

LifeofBrienne · 15/12/2023 21:21

Laundry is one of the most time consuming chores and there’s no sense of achieving anything. If I clean the bathroom, I have a nice clean bathroom. If I cook a meal I get to eat it.
But with washing I start with a rack of dry clothes and an overflowing basket. After lots of sorting out and putting away of dry washing, more sorting out and hanging up of wet washing, I have a rack of wet clothes and a slightly less overflowing basket. And repeat every day….

Exactly, it's the relentless, neverending nature of it. No matter how much you do, the basket will soon be overflowing again.
We're lucky to have a dryer and a warm room upstairs we rarely use so can dry stuff there too. A lot of people have little space and no dryer. Drying things in the winter can take days.
Also if you're out at work all day, then spend the evening driving kids around, tidying up, cooking dinner, getting the kids to bed etc - it can be difficult to find time to stay in top of the laundry.

PurpleNebula84 · 16/12/2023 08:19

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 :)

My first washing machine was a twin tub... This was only back in 2003... It had been rescued from the back of my grandads larder (in full working order) and saved me forking out for a washer as a student... A few hours of a job and OMG if the clothes ended up in a knot 🙈🙈

sakes · 16/12/2023 09:16

And yet it causes the most arguments in our house