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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Unnecessary Laundry

141 replies

MyLemonWriter · 11/12/2024 12:53

A few months back I noticed whilst loading the washing machine that most things were actually clean. Has anyone else cut down on the number of times the launder their clothes?

OP posts:
snowlady4 · 11/12/2024 17:40

Get them to take turns at doing laundry. They will soon come round to your way of thinking!

mambojambodothetango · 11/12/2024 17:40

I fold DS's non dirty items and put them back on his bed with a reminder that I am not the laundry fairy and unless something is visibly dirty or smelly it's not going to get washed.

whoopsnomore · 11/12/2024 17:42

People washing things after one wear, I imagine you are also showering regularly (I won't open that can of worms too wide though!), so unless you are doing physical manual work or in a very smelly environment (chip shop? Abbatoir? cheese dairy?) why do you need to wash clothes which are essentially clean? What are your energy bills like?

drowninginsick · 11/12/2024 17:43

Poppins21 · 11/12/2024 13:51

No I love the smell of fresh laundry. Towels washed after ever use, pjs every use. I wash bedding on a Tuesday and a Friday and I starch them. :-) I know life is too short but it’s worth it for that freshly washed bedding feel especially on a Friday evening after a long week.

This is insane how do you find the time? Do you have a job? Kids ? Hobbies? I have so many questions

ReadingSoManyThreads · 11/12/2024 17:44

@Bananalanacake

A woman after my own heart 😊

Nc546888 · 11/12/2024 17:47

Some of this is insane!!

I have a baby and toddler, anything stained gets washed. Clean stuff is sniffed and then either washed if milky or worn again.

i wear tops 2-3 times. Jeans for months. Towels and bedding every 2 weeks. Pjs every 3 nights.

only socks and underwear and gym kit after 1 wear

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 11/12/2024 19:54

Bras get washed when I have a space in the laundry queue but I would like to know how often they should be washed as DD will soon need one and I'd like to instil some good habits! How many/how often do you wash them?

If worn for 4+ hours, so pretty much daily. I wear comfortable cotton Tommy Hilfinger sports type bras. So they just go into the laundry with everything.

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 11/12/2024 19:56

TipsyKoala · 11/12/2024 17:07

With the exception of underwear, I only wash clothes once they smell or are visibly dirty. Waste of time and money otherwise.

You’re probably nose blind at this point.

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 11/12/2024 19:58

whoopsnomore · 11/12/2024 17:42

People washing things after one wear, I imagine you are also showering regularly (I won't open that can of worms too wide though!), so unless you are doing physical manual work or in a very smelly environment (chip shop? Abbatoir? cheese dairy?) why do you need to wash clothes which are essentially clean? What are your energy bills like?

Yes shower 1-2x a day.
No, don’t have a manual job or work in a dirty place.
They aren’t clean after 1 wear because we all sweat, excrete oils and slough off dead skin cells.
Energy bills are low. EDF just lowered our monthly direct debit to £46/mo for gas and electric because we were building up a credit balance paying £155/mo

IncessantNameChanger · 11/12/2024 20:05

With four kids I check the hoodies for a smell or visible dirt. It's it's OK it goes back in the kids wardrobe and so far, 10 years plus no one is any the wiser.

SeeMyself · 11/12/2024 20:07

@SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice and @Poppins21 do you both work full-time outside of the house?

teatoast8 · 11/12/2024 20:08

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 11/12/2024 13:08

I don’t agree. I wash anything after wearing for 4+ hours. Towels are washed after 2 uses, or every other day.

That's mad

nildesparandum · 11/12/2024 20:15

Poppins21
I bet you dread your electric bill.

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 11/12/2024 20:58

SeeMyself · 11/12/2024 20:07

@SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice and @Poppins21 do you both work full-time outside of the house?

I’m hybrid- few days on various sites and a couple of days at home.

SeeMyself · 11/12/2024 21:02

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 11/12/2024 20:58

I’m hybrid- few days on various sites and a couple of days at home.

I guess I could work FT and wash towels etc after work every day. But I think I would find it exhausting.

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 11/12/2024 21:05

SeeMyself · 11/12/2024 21:02

I guess I could work FT and wash towels etc after work every day. But I think I would find it exhausting.

I have a heat pump tumble dryer. It’s a game changer.
I admit being home a couple of days on average during the week really makes it easy.

hazelnutvanillalatte · 11/12/2024 21:06

whoopsnomore · 11/12/2024 17:42

People washing things after one wear, I imagine you are also showering regularly (I won't open that can of worms too wide though!), so unless you are doing physical manual work or in a very smelly environment (chip shop? Abbatoir? cheese dairy?) why do you need to wash clothes which are essentially clean? What are your energy bills like?

Worn clothes turn musty after a day so I just wash clothes after wearing (not including jeans/outer layers). Shower daily and don't work in an abattoir. I thought that was normal.

whatsappdoc · 11/12/2024 21:09

Poppins21 · 11/12/2024 13:51

No I love the smell of fresh laundry. Towels washed after ever use, pjs every use. I wash bedding on a Tuesday and a Friday and I starch them. :-) I know life is too short but it’s worth it for that freshly washed bedding feel especially on a Friday evening after a long week.

Perhaps if you did less washing it wouldn't seem like such a long week?😜

garlictwist · 11/12/2024 21:12

I've been wearing the same top for three days. Just took it off and it still smells totally fresh so I'll wear it tomorrow too.

Auburngal · 11/12/2024 21:15

I wear tops 2 days. Joggers/yoga pants 3-4 days.

Only wear tops once if it’s hot. Shorts - I air off for at least 24 hours before I wear them again

teatoast8 · 11/12/2024 21:16

hazelnutvanillalatte · 11/12/2024 21:06

Worn clothes turn musty after a day so I just wash clothes after wearing (not including jeans/outer layers). Shower daily and don't work in an abattoir. I thought that was normal.

My clothes don't smell after 1 wear. I must admit. I wear my jumper longer than a week before it goes in the wash

Auburngal · 11/12/2024 21:18

PJs, towels, bedding - once a week. With duvets covers, once a fortnight.

teatoast8 · 11/12/2024 21:19

Auburngal · 11/12/2024 21:18

PJs, towels, bedding - once a week. With duvets covers, once a fortnight.

Bedding definitely doesn't get washed once a week. Maybe 2 weeks

user2848502016 · 11/12/2024 21:19

I only wear knickers and socks once, and pyjamas usually twice. But other than that only wash stuff when it's dirty or needs freshening up

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 11/12/2024 21:21

hazelnutvanillalatte · 11/12/2024 21:06

Worn clothes turn musty after a day so I just wash clothes after wearing (not including jeans/outer layers). Shower daily and don't work in an abattoir. I thought that was normal.

It is normal.

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