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?

No food or drink bar water in the bedroom ever. I stuck to that rule break that rule you lose your phone, remote controllers.

I'd go for the launderette wash this week.

While there, contemplate your life.
70+ hours a week working is not normal or healthy, might be short term manageable for one partner. But both? WHY? What do any of you get out of this?

Task sharing in a household. Why is no one doing it? This is low level management stuff, are you as inefficient at work? What has gone wrong? You shouldn't be having to live like this.

Get a coffee and a nice snack and have a good think about how you would like your life to be and how to start getting there. You are not meant to break yourself.

I wouldnt get everyone to do their own but get everyone together and say you arent a skivvy. The clothes are clean. Tell them to take THEIR washing and show some respect to you.

In the nicest possible way. Get your cat sorted. There is no way they should be doing what they are doing

I've used laundrettes in the past and think they're fab. However - like others have said - I think it will not solve the issues at home.

How old are your kids? I've had to nag mine to put helping with laundry and chores, but they do get on with it now. I think what helps us is that when a load comes out of the tumble drier (or off the line if the weather is ok), I make the kids join me with folding it and putting it away (if they're not at school). It has to get done straight away (house is small and I get pissed off if it isn't put away). We also have to tidy stuff away as the robovac needs to be able to roam!! Luckily our cats don't wee/shit outside their litterboxes!!

Edited to add...the kids once tried to pretend they'd put stuff away (but hadn't) and then I found a load of folded clothes in the laundry basket. I put those folded/unused clothes back in their rooms.

Even on minimum wage, with 140h/ week between you, you should be bringing home over £5000 a month. I really can't see how that's not enough even when £2k+ on rent

I worked 60-70 hours a week for around 2 years. I don't understand why some people are shocked. I did get sick more frequently and felt quite burnt out towards the end but it's surely not that abnormal.

Why are you doing all the grunt work at home plus working 70 hours per week?!

Laundrette is an option but there are also companies that do service washes delivered to your home.

Probably the others have no clue to operate the washer.

I learnt to use the washer aged 8 when my parents were bedbound with 'flu.

My dds 12 and 14 often out their clean clothes into the washing basket. Does my head in!!!

They and dh leave their dirty clothes on the bathroom floor.

But I don't work so I guess i can't complain.

Especially if she’s from Thailand…

@booksunderthebed

I have PTSD from having to use launderettes

• Are you taking medication?

I’d focus on the issues that are making it worse.

Remove privileges until laundry is put away.

Don’t leave laundry in a place where cats can get to it (we have 5 cats, 1 who is elderly and poos everywhere).

Its not abormal, not exactly the norm either but its not so extreme that people are making out here

Theres another thread running at the moment with someone who has run up a manageable (in my view) debt that she cant get off a high interest rate for

The advice on there is to get another job until its all paid down, work extra shifts somewhere (where?).

Same advice on another thread running about someone running out of money for food for the next 10 days, can OP get a part time job and work some shifts!

This is what some people have to do it, it might be only for a few years but people are doing this up and down the country, in other countries too.

You didnt answer OP if you can get a cleaner/tidier upper, Im guessing not if money is tight

Of course you can complain. Or just not clean them. Just because you aren't working doesn't mean that they should renege on behaving reasonably.

@soupfiend we have a cleaner once every 2 weeks. I have to spend the day before tidying up after Lazy Fuckers so that she can actually clean.

You poor thing!!!!!!! Put some fake mouse droppings around his room 🤣

Can you look into getting tumble drier,will be much cheaper in the long run and when I used to use a launderette it ruined our clothes- fine for towels and bedding etc.

Can you up it to weekly and would she agree to be a 'lady who does', ie does all that and cleans and sorts the washing?

Some cleaners wont tidy I know.

I also tidy up for ours!!!

@ByMerryKoala

Both dds and husband don't do anything as I'm in the house 24/7 (lots of issues). They say that's my job.

Nigella seeds look just like mouse droppings 😂

Why don't you tackle their behaviour and build some better cleaning habits. I know you might meet resistance and it may take more energy initially than just doing it yourself, but it has to be better than this seething resentment that you have developed for your DH and children?

I have a tumble dryer but it takes 5 hours. We had a separate washer and dryer growing up that took about 3. I don't use ours as I thought it cost too much?
Also it doesn't totally dry things. Maybe I'm putting it on the wrong setting.

Stop washing their clothes if they won’t put clean laundry away.

Stop making their dinners if they won’t load the dish wash, Clear the table etc.

Stop paying their phone contracts, giving lifts to clubs etc if they aren’t pulling their weight around the house.

have a clear rota up somewhere for the whole family to see. Teens and even young children are more than capable of jobs like loading and unloading the dish washer, emptying the bins, hoovering, general tidying.

Why are you living this life?

What is the reason you have to put in more than double the amount of working hours of a full time worker, and more than a varying range but lets say quadruple the hours of a part time worker?