AIBU to think some families have cracked laundry and the rest of us are doing it the hard way? (AD)

[LibbyMumsnet]

This thread has been created in partnership with Persil

We did a quick straw poll at MNHQ about laundry (STICK WITH US, WE PROMISE) and expected the usual answers of separate your whites, don’t leave wet washing in the machine for an entire weekend and try not to shrink anything expensive.

Instead, it turns out some people are operating on an entirely different plane. There was talk of enzyme soaking, specific stain strategies, strict rules about towels and alarmingly strong views on drum capacity. Frankly, it was a lot to take in.

So now we want to know what are your genuinely next-level and achievable laundry tips? The things that actually work on food, mud, paint, grass, school uniform marks and the general evidence of family life. Do you pre-treat? Soak? Separate with military precision? Have a drying system? Know exactly when something is salvageable and when it should be quietly retired? We also want to hear from you if your laundry basket is an overflowing, accusing presence in the corner of the room - what would make life easier for you?

We’re working with *Persil Ultimate Non-Bio Capsules on this thread, so we’re especially interested in tips that help with busy family laundry and everyday mess, while still being gentle next to sensitive skin.

We will also be picking one Mumsnetter at random to receive a £200 VEX voucher as a thank you for taking part (T&Cs apply). To enter the prize draw, simply post on this thread by Friday 31st July 2026.

AIBU to think some families have properly cracked laundry - and if so, can they please tell the rest of us what they’re doing?

*Keep out of reach of children. LEARN MORE www.keepcapsfromkids.eu ©A.I.S.E.

I do washing daily so it never builds up. I never separate colours/whites. Sunlight usually removes any stains left behind. Also everyone in household knows how to use the washing machine and are fully aware there is no laundry fairy!

At least one wash on every day. Colour catchers help with mixed loads or those annoying dark/light striped clothes.

love a line dried load of laundry but tumble dryer is essential for bedding and towels in the winter.

everyone has a laundry basket and if it’s not in the basket it doesn’t get washed ( bedding and towels are the exception)

My biggest tip is not to let stains sit for too long. I pre-treat school uniforms as soon as they come off, don’t overload the washing machine and always wash similar colours together. Doing a small load every day makes laundry much more manageable!

Wish I'd got this sussed while my kids were small, but my way of making laundry manageable is to have a designated area with a container anyone can just throw dirty laundry in, a heated airer and a tumble drier next to the washing machine, I never hang outside - it can be counter-productive and it comes into the house wetter than when it was hung out! Everything is dry by morning with a heated airer and the room/garage is warmer too. 60 for towels, bedding and cloths and often just a quick wash is enough. Works for me!

My eco friendly tumble dryer is a game changer on a wet day. Uses very little energy and saves so much time and effort.

If there’s a stain I treat it straight away with a dab of washing up liquid, then leave it overnight. I try to do a load every other day but when the sun’s out then it’s a load every day. Love the sunshine for keeping whites bright.

I separate the whites and do one white wash a week but the rest of the stuff just gets chucked in together - machine is only probably about 3 times a week unless towels and bedding need doing.

don't use non bio
for tough stains and smells you need bio detergent. preferably powder

My 17 year old autistic ds has finally established a routine of bringing his laundry downstairs to the washing machine once a week, annd before he runs out of clean clothes, and I feel I’m winning at life.

My best laundry tip is to use mesh laundry bags. They work really well for delicate items like bras, and they’re also really handy for keeping socks together and it stops them from disappearing in the washing machine!

My mild hack for laundry, if you can call it that, is that we have three laundry baskets. That allows me to not have to put everything away immediately but can still get on with the next load. Other advantages of the multiple basket system are that I can sort clothes into me+DW, DS1 and DS2, and if DS2 is already asleep/having his nap, I can more easily put away the rest of the load.

I have a Miele washing machine which I absolutely love. That has a quick power wash setting so I tend to do two smaller loads rather than cramming everything into a big one. Multiple baskets means I can have them lined up ready to go!

Pre-kids I had no idea that, of all the crap you buy ahead of having a baby, a tumble dryer was going to be the MVP in your new life.

@LibbyMumsnet @BeckyAMumsnet

I'm still wondering why this thread wasn't marked as a sponsored thread. Even though in the opening line you talk about working with Persil, in the AIBU topic list you don't see this until you've clicked on the thread title. And this thread is clearly:

a) sponsored by Persil
and
b) research for Persil

You should have been more overt about this and not pretend that this is a genuine MNHQ thread.

Personally, I prefer Fairy to Persil. It washes much better, and it leaves my laundry smelling amazing.

Hello @BIWI there is a banner at the very top to show this. App users couldn't see it and so we responded to that by adding clarification in the OP and title.

Don't separate anything, life is too short. And saves things piling up waiting for more whites etc. Just wash whatever needs washing and wash together!

I don’t really give it much thought it seems….
Chuck washing in machine when the basket is full, separating whites as far as possible. Use a bit of stain remover if I notice. Hang on line if possible. Over winter I did borrow a dehumidifier which has really helped with winter drying, I have a tumble dryer but I hate using it, so expensive to use! I do put towels in for 10 minutes to soften them though. I’m in a rental house currently but when we move into our new house I’m seriously considering not having one at all.
I never use scent boosters, enzymes , heavily scented products etc.

Thank you for letting me know @BIWI I that this is a sponsored thread.
I didn’t realise.

I use vanish on stains, that works well
I stopped bothering with separating white and colours, i don't see the point
I do wash heavy items like duvet covers and towels separately to everyday washing
I also brought some shoe bags for when i am washing shoes to stop them damaging my machine

If Persil have sponsored ths thread please Persil bring back detergent tablets.
Persil - what is the ecological impact of those awful gel capsules you make. As do your competitors.

Hello, everyone. Thanks for posting on the thread. For anyone who has questions, please take a look at our latest thread with Persil where we have an actual laundry scientist(!) on hand for our new ask the expert. Everyone who posts will also be entered into a draw to win a £200 Vex gift voucher.

(I'm v keen to know how to get sunscreen stains out of whites so big thanks to the poster who got in there early with their question 😙)

www.mumsnet.com/talk/sponsored_qas/5562208-ask-a-persil-laundry-expert-anything-stains-smells-and-washing-machine-mysteries-plus-your-chance-to-win-a-ps200-vex-gift-voucher

The winner of this thread's prize draw is @UsernameHoarder- Congratulations!

Woo hoo, thank you Mumsnet!

I think dryers create more work. The people I know with dryers are always faffing about doing tiny loads because "it dries so quickly anyway, I might as well wash it now". Without a dryer, you wait until you can do a full load (and that's a lot of clothes if you have a 7 kg drum), hang it all out and forget about it for 24 hours (or 12 hours in summer). There's not much organisation needed.

I also try to do as few loads as possible because it means I use less washing powder, which saves money and protects the environment. And I don't spend money on any products apart from washing powder.

Is it best to put the powder straight into the machine?

Also how best to get underarm sweat stains out of adult boys white tee shirts?

My DH does it all. I don’t care what he does as long as I have clean clothes to wear