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?

When would you be having a chilled 2 hours in the laundrette if you work 70 hours a week? That’s the cause of your stress. 2 adults working that much is ridiculous no wonder you’re exhausted. Your kids need to help but also sounds like you need actual family time and time off.

Although I do use the laundrette to get duvets cleaned twice a year and I used to use the laundrette to wash, iron and fold all our holiday washing. I didn't do it this year because the hotel had a free laundry room so I washed and dried our clothes so they only needed putting away when we got home. It smelt amazing!

Part of raising children is preparing them for independent adult life, ensuring they can take care of themselves. Teaching them to cook for themselves, launder for themselves, budget, etc.

When do you think you should start them on these life skills?

I think the laundry is the least of your worries if you are working 70 hours a week and your other half is working more than that. That’s no life for either of you.

Love that you include DH amongst the Lazy Fucker Offspring.

As already suggested by @Alongthepineconetrail - "Nothing gets washed until all clothes are put away." What they have sitting in piles on the floor/surfaces will just have to do them until they've all been worn, are dirty, and have ended up in the washing basket. Whilst there are still clean clothes lingering in piles, you do no laundry. If the cat shits on it, so be it. It will then be for them to deal with the catshit, not you.

But just as importantly, it is time to outsource the laundry to those generating the laundry - beyond time for your DS in particular. Your children need to be learning how to take care of themselves when they no longer live with you. Anything less, and really you are infantilising them. Starting with laundry. I'd be showing them how to sort it into loads, what programmes each load goes into, how much detergent, stains pre-treatment (especially to deal with catshit), even how to schedule so they're not clamouring to use the machine at the same time or at some ungodly hour - the whole kit and kaboodle. Take them through it a couple of times and from that point on be available in an advisory capacity ONLY.

They need to learn, if they are going to be functioning adults. DD is12, a perfect time to start her Independence Training. DS at 20 is going to have to play catch-up, and I would start by telling him that playtime is over and that whilst he may be happy to "fester in a filthy room surrounded by dirty clothes and mouldy McDonald's wrappers" this option is no longer available and it's time to grow the fuck up (or move out and fester away, out of your sight). No excuses accepted.

DH? He learns to puts his clothes away too, because you ain't washing anything whilst there's clean laundry sitting where it ought not to be, attracting catshit. If he runs out of clean clothes, that's a choice he made.

While this should free up some time and headspace, don't lose sight that this is also a matter or RESPECT. Right now your Lazy Fucker Offspring are treating you with a distinct lack of respect. That's another Life Lesson that needs to be hammered home here.

I married a lovely man from a lovely family who had to learn quite quickly how to look after themselves, primarily because they had lost their father at an early age, and they had a dear lovely Mum who could only manage a tiny bit of housework because of her health. She didn’t half try though bless her❤️ Every one of her seven children worked together to learn her high standards of cleanliness, how to cook, how to use the washer, etc…. They all contributed in different ways, some while married and raising their own families, some when home from Uni, others while still at school. Those life skills have made all of them fully functioning loving adults who are a joy to be married to, and the grandchildren have grown up like this as well. They all still help each other out as much as they can, despite having busy lives and not living all that close. Those skills learnt at an early age have paid dividends in terms of less stress, shared relationships, well parented children. None of the females feel put upon, none of the males don’t contribute.

Absolutely! It will still be the same chore and amount but bigger machines and if you wfh some time away from it and the lazy ones!

If you work such long hours, why are you doing all the housework? And going to the launderette won't solve the problem of everyone else not putting the washing away. I think you'd be better off getting stricter with the kids and insisting that they and your DH all put the clothes away and do their share of chores overall.

It's not the actual washing that takes the time - you can just stick it in the machine and go and work for a bit, transfer it to dryer and work some more etc. It's the sorting / ironing / folding / putting away. The launderette won't sort any of that.

Wash at home, let the family do the rest, go out for the coffee / croissant / book anyway.

We did this before we go our 1st home and I do sometimes think it was a good idea, all done and dusted in one go on one day, nothing hanging around at home.
Take a book, find a nearby coffee shop and carve out some me time.
Oh if you do take up the brilliant suggestion of booking a food delivery while you are out, don't forget to make sure it's your partner's phone number they have

I taught my child how to sort colours for washing, temperature and amd how much washing gel etc to use. If I ask him to put a load on, he can do it or if he sees the basket is full he will do it. He's been doing this since the age of 11.

Why does making them do their own washing achieve more than getting them to do all the washing? Makes no sense

I remember when my machine was broken and at butlims I’ve quite enjoyed the launderette but it’s a massive waste of money when you have a machine. I’ve got two cats and neither shits on my laundry. Why is it doing that? Also I have a box for DD and her clean washing goes in there for her to put away. DH’s I put on his bed. They do their own ironing- well DD does school shirts and I do anything else. I love washing though lol

Even better, get it booked on a service wash and get to the coffee shop away from the launderette

I do this as well. I like sitting in the laundrette either watching the tv or reading. It’’s so good not having wet or damp clothes hanging around the house.

Do it and see how it works. I am living your nightmare as well. I don’t even have Saturdays to myself as I visit my elderly mum for hours every week (this will be on a different post at some point) if you are not going to outsource this then use the laundrette as time away. Get a break, drink that coffee in peace and enjoy that croissant. Do what it takes to stay sane.

I did it!!! I packed up all our clothes, bedding, towels, etc and took the whole lot to the laundry. It took a little over an hour to wash and dry but everything is done now. DH and DD put their clothes away (DS is out) and now everything is clean for the week.

How much did it cost?

Good for you.

I said before, I do this after our big holiday if there's no washing machine at the hotel.

Makes me feel organised for a brief time.

My kids help me to do the family's laundry. It would be wasteful (water, power, detergent) for them to do two or three half-loads each, when there's plenty of other laundry to make up a load.

Unless your children are under the age of about 10years they and dad will be putting their own washing away. If they keep putting clean clothes in the dirty wash, they will be doing their own washing
Organise Sunday am for putting washing away for everyone.
Make a job rota cleaning jobs for everyone. If they don't do it they won't get any pocket money
Stick to your guns