To take all our washing to the launderette once a week to escape the daily washing nightmare?

[head2toeinuniqlo]

A new launderette has opened in our suburb.

We are a family of four. I WFH, around 70 hours per week. I am also responsible for all the cleaning, cooking and washing for the family. The problem with the washing is its sheer relentlessness. Not only that, but none of these lazy fuckers put their clean washing away. It invariably ends up back in the dirty washing hampers and, if a pile of clean clothes is left unattended, our cat will shit on it so it will need re-washing. I am so exhausted and trying to take some of the daily grind off me.

The launderette has captured my imagination. I see it as a possible sanctuary. It is brand new and shiny with loads of machines and places to sit. I am thinking I could drive down on a Saturday morning, chuck all the clothes in the machines, get myself a coffee and a croissant and sit there for a couple of hours in peace, reading a book.

It won't be cheap, but can I justify it?

DD (17) does her own laundry and cleans her room once a week (dirty clothes in laundry, clean clothes put away, rubbish in the bin, books on the bookshelf). She would happily live in squalor if i didn't insist. Plus loads and unloads the dishwasher as her contribution to the shared housework in the kitchen.

If she doesn't I take her phone off her until it's done - switching off the WiFi is also an option. Housework is non-negotiable - we both contribute to creating the work so we both contribute to cleaning up.

You need to sort out your family instead of doing it all for them. Of course they won't do it willingly at first because they are used to being waited on hand and foot.

This sounds completely ridiculous. If you're both working 70+ hours a week without being able to afford significant paid help at home you need to rethink your careers. And fgs keep your cat's arse away from your washing, that is just disgusting.

Absolutely!! I do thus, I sort the clothes out in to separate washes and drop in all in for a service wash, they ring me when it's dry and folded, I just wash the undies and towels. Cost from £20. I work 60hrs a week, this frees up my days off.

I often do this when I was the bedding. R after a holiday etc. Great to get all done together.

You might need extra clothes etc if washing only once a week?

It does run expensive (I'm in ireland) but I've no idea what it costs to wash a load at home. I don't have a dryer anyway. Any of the other 3 who are adults should split the cost ... effectively pay you to give them a box of clean clothes.

Beware of going on a Saturday.. probably busiest time so you might end up waiting for machines, turning 3 hrs into 6. Could you bookend it into your workday.... drop to wash in the morning and pop in before lunch to put into dryer, then take out and fold during lunch (this is the longers part).

Bring separate baskets/bags if it's not too busy and separate as you take out of dryer. Then each person gets a box of clean clothes,not a pile to fall off bed and get mixed up with dirty.

Enjoy.

The only person you need to be doing chores for is your 12yo.

As you are wfh then it is easier for you to put the washing machine on, turn the oven on etc but that doesn’t mean that they can’t load the washing machine, prep the food, do the dishes etc.

But ultimately you are living a lifestyle that you cannot maintain.

You are saying that you work 10 hour days, 7 days a week and your DH works the same but you have a 12yo.
It’s just not fair.

You both need to reduce your hours and live within your means.

Gosh at those ages (and a husband!) they should absolutely be helping with housework that's rediculous. I'd not want to go to a laundromat because id hate to have to fold it all at once but if that works for you why not

Why is the cat shitting on your laundry?

I may have been unlucky with launderettes but when I have used them they don't clean my stuff as well, or take great care of it.

Obviously there are more issues here than the laundry. Yourself and your DH working 10+ hours a day SEVEN days a week, this is totally unhealthy. When does your 12 ever get to see you? Why is your 20 yr old not doing their own laundry - just stop taking any responsibility for it. Same with your DH’s laundry. Cat is a major issue too - if they leave mess everywhere, at the least confine her to one room in the house.

Funny

Has everyone gone mad? 3 pages I’ve read of everyone saying it’s a great idea. How? The launderette doesn’t put it away for you or stop the cat shitting on it. It’s more time and hassle not less surely.

Surely little and often is easier. I do 2/3 loads a day. I'd run out of gym / work clothes going once a week.

Drying it is the problem. If I could book sunshine and a breeze I could clear it faster.

I don’t get this, I don’t think it would be easier for me to put it all in the car, get in the car and drive there and unload it.

i literally chuck on a wash in the morning, hang on heated drier or chuck in the tumble drier. Don’t iron a single thing

I also really enjoy putting clean clothes away so maybe that’s why I don’t get this

We put everything in one laundry basket and it all gets done together.
DS (20) washes his own bedding and towels and has done since he was about 16. I do his other things.

If he took the piss like OP's family members he would be doing all of his own.
As it is he is appreciative, puts his clothes away promptly, helps out where he can (e.g. by hanging clothes on the line) and only puts things into the wash when they need it. So I don't mind doing his.

It's obvious you need to sort your family out, not your washing.

I'd be getting rid of the cat tbh.

Family meeting. State min expectations. They're taking the piss. Sack off ironing. You don't have time.

I cannot emphasise this enough ... GO FOR IT!!!
And I absolutely share your laundry related pain

You are clearly exhausted and 'chasing your tail'. By all means take some time out but don't waste it at a laundrette. That kind of thinking is just another symptom of the roll your lifestyle is currently taking.

When you have had your quick break, sort out the root of the problem.

How difficult is it for the 'lazy fuckers' to find space to put clean clothes away ? Do whatever is necessary for there to be plenty of space of the clean clothes to be put away.

Give yourself another break by having service awash and putting things away as soon as they arrive back home. Get everyone involved for a few times til they get the hang of it then just hand them the fresh laundry when it arrives and get them to put it away right away

No food and drinks til it's put away sounds reasonable. Don't put it down put it away

No clothes out ever, they are either being worn or are put away.

That gives you some breathing space to tackle the important things in life. All the best.

In your shoes, I'd do my washing and DDs, and require her to put away the clean stuff as soon as you tell her.

Your DH and DS are old enough to do their own laundry.

It sounds as if you're loving the idea, so go for it!
But there's no reason the washing should be entirely your responsibility. If it is, you could ask those at home to do some cleaning while you are on laundry duty.

Oh my goodness yes, do it. If you want to justify the expense think what you'd earn in that time, and you can sit and read or have a coffee if there's a place nearby. When I was young the local launderette was next to a pub, that was good!

With over an £80k income (not incl DS), why on earth aren’t you buying somewhere?

The cat only poos on the washing because it’s not put away, or into the washer. The cat is the innocent party, albeit being enabled to make mistake as it isn’t thinking like a human would. However, I suspect the cat might be a higher functioning entity than at least one in the family🤔

All it needs is some good communication, some firm boundaries laid down, some tuition/parenting for the 12 year old, a will of iron and some blinkers to the mess for the OP until others around her get their act together. If it was me, and there’s room in a 70 hour working week, I would take every opportunity I could to walk out of the house, have a coffee and cake, take a book, go kick some falling leaves about, watch nature and enjoy the fresh air for at least an hour a day. If it’s affordable, I would have some kind of meal out as well, let the others at home learn how to feed themselves for a while. But feed the cat, it’s not Tiddles’ fault.

@kennycat Both DH and I worked FT with awful commutes for around 25 years. Damm right he did his own laundry. There was some starting a load off of for instance whites and chucking in a t.shirt or two of his and vice versa. It also means the whole men asking if they have clean socks, pants its down to them. That mental load that crushes women, just no. DS had his own basket in his room from 12. He was in air cadets so is better at laundry and ironing than anyone else in this house.

That mental load here is a further example. Myself and a friend met up for a weekend. At that stage we each had a young DS aged around 6 they were left with their Dads. My friend cooked two dinners in advance and left them in the fridge. I walked out the door. It’s societal pressure, the wanting to be seen as nice or thinking men are incapable so I must do it. I don’t know any man who worries about dusty skirting boards but I have met women who do.

My question is how can this happen? What are they wearing if the piles of laundry don't get put away? Surely they run out of clothes? I don't think the laundrette will solve this problem as it won't out the stuff away for you.