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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask what your laundry routine is?

107 replies

bluesign · 09/01/2024 22:37

I've two medium sized wash baskets which I can just never get to the bottom of! It honestly feels endless and it's driving me nuts. There is 3 of us, me, DH and a 4 year old so it's not like we're a big family either.

I usually try and do one load washed and put away each day. At least one anyway, as I know if I leave it a few days the pile will be even bigger and the baskets will literally overflow.

I have a tumble dryer and a maiden. I try not to use the tumble dryer constantly but it takes hours to dry on the maiden so I'm thinking I might just have to start using it and possibly have a day of just doing washing.

Please share your tips! I dream of an empty wash basket 😭

OP posts:
Klcak · 09/01/2024 22:43

Use the tumble dryer, definitely

Ohyeahwaitaminute · 09/01/2024 22:43

I put in a timed wash before I go to bed at night which finishes around the time I get up - hung up and left to dry- and then one at the end of the day when I get home from work which is hung out to dry overnight.

Iwantmyoldnameback · 09/01/2024 22:45

Unless you all walk around naked you can never have an empty wash basket for long.

Original poster
bluesign · 09/01/2024 22:46

Klcak · 09/01/2024 22:43

Use the tumble dryer, definitely

The tumble dryer is good, but I feel mine runs a bit too hot and clothes seems to shrink if they get put in there a few times. Also DH has a lot of polyester sports style T-shirts which I think would get ruined in the dryer!

OP posts:
Original poster
bluesign · 09/01/2024 22:46

Iwantmyoldnameback · 09/01/2024 22:45

Unless you all walk around naked you can never have an empty wash basket for long.

Very true! But I just wish it was less full 😁

OP posts:
43ontherocksporfavor · 09/01/2024 22:46

I put a wash in when there is a load. Don’t have a tumble so just put in clothes horse and ceiling line in utility room. Then fold or iron. No routine just as and when. I don’t wash everyday after every wear apart from underwear. Can you spit clean some things?
3 adults in this house and I don’t wash clothes every day.

yikesanotherbooboo · 09/01/2024 22:49

DH and I plus student DS and working around other DS and his partners and family ;
Electricity is cheap on Sundays so I do clothes; blacks , darks , lights off. Ended. I wash almost everything on 30 degrees and low spin speed if I can.
Dry on airer in winter and line when fine. Towels wash on Sunday evening to dry out n bathroom radiator. Monday/ Tuesday bed linen and kitchen towels... ideally weekly but that doesn't always work with the weather. Every few weeks I do a hot wash for the cleaning cloths.I leave airer space for DS and family for the rest of the week; they have a baby and he works outdoors and gets muddy so they have a lot more need of the washing machine.

Original poster
bluesign · 09/01/2024 22:51

yikesanotherbooboo · 09/01/2024 22:49

DH and I plus student DS and working around other DS and his partners and family ;
Electricity is cheap on Sundays so I do clothes; blacks , darks , lights off. Ended. I wash almost everything on 30 degrees and low spin speed if I can.
Dry on airer in winter and line when fine. Towels wash on Sunday evening to dry out n bathroom radiator. Monday/ Tuesday bed linen and kitchen towels... ideally weekly but that doesn't always work with the weather. Every few weeks I do a hot wash for the cleaning cloths.I leave airer space for DS and family for the rest of the week; they have a baby and he works outdoors and gets muddy so they have a lot more need of the washing machine.

I also do mine mostly on 30 but the spin speed is high. Can I ask what difference it makes using a low spin setting?

OP posts:
Snozwanger · 09/01/2024 22:51

I have quite a few things that can't be tumble dried but when I do tumble dry, I do it when I've washed one load straight after the other. I put the delicate stuff on the airer and the remainder of the two loads in the dryer. It feels more efficient putting two loads in at once instead of just one, plus it's twice the capacity of my washer anyway so makes sense.

I usually try to do a load a day if I can (family of 4) but weekends are inevitably more getting uniforms and certain work clothes clean for Monday.

43ontherocksporfavor · 09/01/2024 22:52

Low spin means clothes are holding more water so longer to dry.

Original poster
bluesign · 09/01/2024 22:53

43ontherocksporfavor · 09/01/2024 22:52

Low spin means clothes are holding more water so longer to dry.

Edited

But isn't a high spin better as it will hold less water and therefore faster to dry?

OP posts:
ICouldEat · 09/01/2024 22:54

If we have a lot of washing I put the dehumidifier on.
We really never use the TD. We have radiator racks and a clothes horse. I can get 3 loads hanging up if I also utilise the space on a curtain pole with clothes on hangers. The way DH spreads it about he can only get one done.

43ontherocksporfavor · 09/01/2024 22:54

Yes OP that’s what I said. Low spin takes longer to dry so high spin takes less time. Low spin will save energy though.

Wictc · 09/01/2024 22:55

Get a dehumidifier. We put a load on in the morning (or overnight if we are both in the office and peg out before work), leave to dry on the clothes horse upstairs with the dehumidifier on. Cheap to run and helps with winter air quality.

ZiggyZowie · 09/01/2024 22:58

3 of us in house , waSh once a month

Pants and socks changed daily.

Jeans,trousers ,sweatshirts worn a week,then put in wash basket.

T shirts worn 2 or 3 days.

Washing every day is very wasteful.

bigfamilygrowingupfast · 09/01/2024 22:59

I have three baskets (small-ish). One for colours, one for lights and one for towels/bedding.
I know that once a basket is full, it will "fill" the washing machine. I wash clothes on 40 and bedding/towels at 60 and then do an extra spin to get as much water out as possible. It mostly all goes in the TD, but more delicate items I will take out and hang either in the utility or the conservatory.
I only do 3 loads a week, very occasionally 4. Bedding and towels are put back immediately and then clothing is left in airing cupboard until I have enough time to sort it. Then each pile goes in relevant bedrooms.

teraculum29 · 09/01/2024 22:59

i have very nice short program 15min, then i do extra spin so clothes dry quicker,
i hang them on clothes horse and put the fun on so its move air around and also speed the process of drying.
washing done daily

lastchancesalmon · 09/01/2024 23:00

There are 5 of us, 5 double beds, towels, clothes, uniform, sports kit...

I think what you are already doing spreading it over every day hanging some stuff and tumbling others is already the right process. The main difference in our house is it's not just me doing the the laundry - can't you and DH share this responsibility? Everything seems less constant if you don't have to do all of it.

RosesAndHellebores · 09/01/2024 23:01

Probably three loads during the week and three to four at weekends. Three adults.

During the week. In the machine in the morning, hung in the evening on a heated airer in the spare room. Towels, tea towels, bed linens go in the tumble dryer.

Laundry basket on top of tumbler for folded towels and tea towels, etc.

Two laundry baskets in the spare room. One for dry stuff that doesn't need ironing. One for the stuff that needs ironing.

The cleaner does the ironing on a Friday.

I sort and fold all the non ironing stuff (socks, pants, nighties, etc) and do all the putting away on Saturday mornings.

It then starts all over again. I reckon it averages 15/20 minutes a day and I don't do the ironing.

Original poster
bluesign · 09/01/2024 23:01

lastchancesalmon · 09/01/2024 23:00

There are 5 of us, 5 double beds, towels, clothes, uniform, sports kit...

I think what you are already doing spreading it over every day hanging some stuff and tumbling others is already the right process. The main difference in our house is it's not just me doing the the laundry - can't you and DH share this responsibility? Everything seems less constant if you don't have to do all of it.

Honestly he could help, but he's so haphazard putting clothes away and folding that it really annoys me and I'd rather do it myself 😬

OP posts:
PickAChew · 09/01/2024 23:03

Wash it dry it wash it dry it wash it dry it....

Merryoldgoat · 09/01/2024 23:04

Three baskets - whites/darks/colours

Then shove it in the machine, move over to dryer.

I am lazy and often leave until the weekend and can do 4 loads in a day.

PickAChew · 09/01/2024 23:06

43ontherocksporfavor · 09/01/2024 22:54

Yes OP that’s what I said. Low spin takes longer to dry so high spin takes less time. Low spin will save energy though.

Edited

And be more likely to cause condensation and mould in your house.

justasking111 · 09/01/2024 23:06

Did four loads today. Two dark, one white, one woollies.

Tomorrow towels and bath mats and bed linen.

Someone on Mumsnet once said spin twice. Second time high speed. Brilliant idea stuff comes out so much dryer

Restinggoddess · 09/01/2024 23:10

Sunday for cheap electricity - usually 3 or 4 washes
Vivienne Westwood said we wash our clothes too much - so we do try and use the clothes for longer

When the clothes are dried I sort into a basket for DH of his clothes for him to put away as he is haphazard - that way I have time to put my clothes on hangers and fold properly - don’t do it all yourself