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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you rather do a load of laundry every few days or 2-4 in a row over a day- or two

109 replies

washerr · 09/02/2025 16:52

Just having this discussion with my mum.

She's the type to always want an empty laundry basket and it bothers her to have a full one / or anything in it really.

I let it build up and do it all over the weekend. It would stress me out to be constantly doing laundry / putting away laundry.

We have enough clothes to do this and I use a dryer. For example this weekend, I've done 4 loads of laundry. My mum would have done that during the week. It makes no sense to me because I like to have all my DD's school uniform clean for the week ahead.

OP posts:
MikeRafone · 09/02/2025 17:38

I check the weather forecast and do it on the brighter dry days - that way its all done and inside airing off, then put away.

Hate wet washing hanging around, love the smell of clean dry washing

its rare there isn't a fe3 days a week without some dry windy spells

morellamalessdrama · 09/02/2025 17:39

We do a load every day. And then multiple loads at the weekend as we will do the sheets and towels.

I think if we left it all until the weekend then I would struggle to get the sheets and towels done. It's just part of our daily routine and I can't remember the last time we didn't have a day doing some washing!

Peaceandquietandacuppa · 09/02/2025 17:40

So many variables.

  • are you home during the day
  • do you use a dryer
  • do you have enough uniform etc

I wash on days where I’m WFH, hang it up and finish in the heated airer. Don’t have a dryer so I can’t let it build up too much. Weekends end up being about 2-3 loads even though I’ve done some in the week.

I love it when it gets warm enough to hang outside!

Charlize43 · 09/02/2025 17:43

With the cost of living crisis, I can't afford to run the washing machine as often as I'd like to... so I tend to handwash and hang things in the bathroom every couple of days. On days over 10 degrees (rare in winter) I'll hang it outside...

Flossflower · 09/02/2025 17:45

I don’t mind washing at all. I never have. I do 1 to 2 loads a day. I love it in the summer when it goes on the line.

SnoopySantaPaws · 09/02/2025 17:49

I like my washing to dry outside, so if it's a day where it will dry outside, I put a load on. I get quite a through breeze where the washing line is so even if it's not terribly bright the washing will mostly dry outside and then it finishes drying quickly on the airer.

I don't have a dryer because I don't like them, but I do have one good spot in indoors for an
airer that getsgood air circulation and if the heating is on the heat from that.

I separate my washing out a lot so can usually make use of a bright sunny day!

In the winter, all I need do one load so that it can fit on the indoor area if necessary in the summer all bets are off and if you stand still, you take the risk of getting shoved in the washing machine!!

fallingrocks · 09/02/2025 17:50

Charlize43 · 09/02/2025 17:43

With the cost of living crisis, I can't afford to run the washing machine as often as I'd like to... so I tend to handwash and hang things in the bathroom every couple of days. On days over 10 degrees (rare in winter) I'll hang it outside...

It’s been done for quite a few years before, so that is absolutely fine. And probably what more people should do instead of washing half a load or a couple of items in the washing machine (guilty).

Coconutter24 · 09/02/2025 17:54

I just put a load in every day

Puddleclucks · 09/02/2025 17:54

I do a load a day, but I'm very lucky to have a utility with loads of hanging space, so it's not in the way, and it goes in people's baskets to be taken up, so I don't need to put it away straight away. If I left it all to the weekend I'd feel tied to the laundry, but my way is 10 minutes effort in the morning, and 10 minutes in the night, so it hardy feels like effort

Snowpaw · 09/02/2025 17:55

I have to do a load a day - DP's job involves a lot of mucky kit which in itself is two loads a week, then there's normal clothes, DD's uniform, towels and bedding. I also wash a load of cleaning cloths once a week too. So it adds up and I couldn't get it all done in a weekend.

In the week I put it on first thing in the morning, hang it to dry with the dehumidifier in spare bedroom when I get home from school run. Put the dry clothes on the spare bed then I use the weekends to put it all away usually. I work from home so its no big issue doing the loads during the week.

XjustagirlX · 09/02/2025 17:55

Monday - whites
tuesday - darks
wednesday - alternate between wool or jeans as they build up
thursday - bedding
friday - towels
saturday - nothing
sunday - swim stuff

i WFH so put the load on in the morning. At lunch I put most in the tumble drier and hang the items that can’t be tumble dried. After an hour ish I put away or put in the ironing pile which my cleaner does on a Thursday.

edited to add that in spring and summer I hang outside instead of using the tumble drier.

Bristolinfeb · 09/02/2025 17:56

It depends on your life style. One a day works best for me, although some times it’s more than one a day.

BashfulClam · 09/02/2025 17:57

I keeo on top of it through the week. I rarely iron (think I last ironed 6 months ago) and I don’t use my drier unless it’s really necessary as it’s so bad for the environment. If I keep on top of it then at the weekend I just do bedding and sheets.

lazyarse123 · 09/02/2025 18:04

I used to do one load during the week and the rest Friday or Saturday. Now I'm retired and there's only 2 of us I do maybe 2 loads a week depending on when there's enough. We both have going out clothes, lounging about clothes and pyjamas so wear things more than once.

NoWordForFluffy · 09/02/2025 18:05

We do it as we go during the week, depending on the forecast, as we dry outside (or try to!) all year. Our third wash today is almost finished, ready to go out overnight and get darked on!

nahthatsnotforme · 09/02/2025 18:08

I watch the forecast and time it for when it'll dry outside

Whimsicalgrape · 09/02/2025 18:11

I do loads on the weekend. Friday is uniforms and work gear, that hangs on the line. Saturdays is usually bedding, towels and the bathroom mat and shower curtain (towels, bath mat and shower curtain are done in two separate washes at 90°). Then I do another load on a Sunday.

Except for this weekend. It all went out the window as DS had a birthday party yesterday and my routine went to pot. Currently got sons wedding in the dryer, a load of towels on 90° wash at them mo, and the bath mat and shower curtain waiting to go in. Did a load of general clothing today and have ironed all uniforms for tomorrow.

obsessedwithfreshbread · 09/02/2025 18:11

I like to wash and tumble everything on a Saturday and iron it all on a Sunday.

DSC know all their washing has to be off their floors and in the basket by the time I get up on Saturday or they have to do it themselves!

If we are away for the weekend I get it all washed and dried during the week and do double ironing the following weekend.

If anyone is desperate for a particular item of clothing outside this they sort it themselves!

chattyness · 09/02/2025 18:20

I don't have set day to do it , I just get it done when the weather is good enough to get it outside for a little so it's not hanging around in the house for so long. This weekend has been lovely, so double spun everything before hanging out and it's all finished and put away already.

PonkyPonky · 09/02/2025 18:22

My family must create more laundry than most because I do about 10 loads a week so if I left it all until the weekend I wouldn’t be able to leave the house! Clothes get washed all through the week here then bedding and towels at the weekend along with at least one more load of clothes

Panda89 · 09/02/2025 18:23

I tend to do a load every 2/3 days.
There are only 3 of us and I prefer to use the heated airer (or outside line) rather than the dryer so it works better to be spaced out. I WFH so it’s hardly even a chore, just put it in the machine and hang it up when done, takes 10 mins max.

We are often busy or away for large chunks of the weekend so doing all at the weekend would not work for us.

LindorDoubleChoc · 09/02/2025 18:27

I've always done laundry at no more than one load per day pace. I can't stand using the tumble drier. I suppose I might do a load of clothing and a load of bedding on the same day if it's one if those extraordinarily rare things - a warm and sunny weekend day. We probably only had about 3 or 4 of those last year 😬.

Ihavenoideahowtodressforthisinterview · 09/02/2025 18:29

I do a wash most days, 5 of us plus a dog and DC do messy sports. I do bedding at weekends but the rest gets done as soon as there’s enough to justify a load.

Shubbypubby · 09/02/2025 18:43

There's too much for me to do it all at the weekend/ it would be overwhelming. I do the bulk at the weekend but also some mid week to keep on top of it.

Thisismeme · 09/02/2025 18:47

I do two loads of laundry for two days a week and get it all done. Occasionally I’ll run a quick wash of work stuff on a Friday too