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AIBU?

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Original poster

3 wet knackered phones... and now I have washed his passport!!!

31 replies

jazee · 16/03/2010 10:37

Um . . ? ? I ask myself. Why the hell do I find I keep washing items in the washing machine. . . Where do all these items come from . I never wash MY phone or MY money or even MY passport!!!! so how come eveyone doesn't pause to think "have I emptied my pockets before I put these items in the laundry". HELP Well I suppose it could possibly be my fault as half the time I am the one who scoops huge bundles of stinky clothes off the bedroom floor.
You see I do live with 4 males. That explains eveything. Or does it?

OP posts:
Minshu · 16/03/2010 10:48

Wonder why none of them have learned anything from the previous incidents...

What to do? Announce that in future you will check pockets before washing and keep any cash as payment?

notquitenormal · 16/03/2010 10:52

I would scoop the huge bundles of clothes into a bin bag, never mind the machine.

UpToMyTitsOf · 16/03/2010 10:54

That will teach him, don't replace yourself the damaged stuff, let them go through the trouble.

oldernowiser · 16/03/2010 10:55

In last two weeks I have washed and tumble dried:
1 mobile phone
1 ipod
2 memory sticks (they still work!)

Perhaps the kids will start checking their pockets before putting in laundry basket/throwing on the floor!

Tortoise · 16/03/2010 10:56

I keep putting lip balm through the wash. They melt nicely in the tumble dryer! Luckily not expensive items!

Morloth · 16/03/2010 10:57

Why are you scooping clothes off bedroom floors? If it isn't in the washing basket it doesn't get washed is my rule.

I check my pockets and I double check DS's (but he has been taught to do his own as well). DH is expected to look after his own.

Original poster
jazee · 16/03/2010 11:07

so is it reasonable just to wash things that have been put in the laundry basket....I would have such a back log. My youngest two put their own clothes in the basket. DH'S things quite often get put on the floor of his cupboard, in a heap by me, as a can't stand looking at them on the floor. Looks like a bloody jumble sale. Any tips?

OP posts:
WhereYouLeftIt · 16/03/2010 11:10

Surely when they run out of clean clothes, the penny drops?

ScreaminEagle · 16/03/2010 11:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

CarrieJF · 16/03/2010 12:05

Hello, and welcome to my life

One weekend a couple of years ago my DP washed the upstairs tv remote, the home phone and his mobile phone.

The TV remote had been tangled in the duvet cover, God only knows how he washed the home phone and his mobile was in his cycle jersey back pocket.

Everything was opened up and dried out on the radiators and back in full working order before I got home though.

I don't check pockets, but do keep cash I find roaming free in the tumble drier.

I should check pockets because DS1(15) is extremely anti-litter and put all wrappers (including sandwich bags) into his trouser pockets. These sandwich bags are thin enough to get into the impeller drainage system of the washer - as I found out last week after flooding my kitchen and spending 30 minutes on a wet kitchen floor poking bits of plastic bag out of the filter.

yellowcircle · 16/03/2010 12:08

I check the pockets of every item I put in the washing machine for every member of the family including me. Through bitter experience - have previously washed and buggered a watch and an electronic car key on different occasions. The worst thing I have recently washed and tumble dried is a raisin. I can cope with that, but I was cross about the earlier itmes.

TottWriter · 16/03/2010 12:21

I'd make a habit of either checking pockets (and then maybe hiding the things you find so that they panic a bit before the 'reveal' - though that won't work too many times) or simply not washing anything that hasn't been put in the laundry bin.

Why should you have to wade through it all? Don't let them get away with it because they're 'men'; my Dad is one of the most fastidious people I know when it comes to washing. Pockets are checked and socks only washed if they are in pairs. My male cousin who lives with him atm is just as bad. I've seen him stood at the sink hand washing some of his T-Shirts (ordered online) so that the slogans aren't damaged in the washing machine.

It's not their gender - they're just lazy. And I can say that with impunity as someone guilty of leaving clothes in a bog old heap on her bedroom floors for pretty much my entire childhood. I'm only just growing out of the habit now. (DP is hopeless too, but I can hadly complain being as bad myself. At least he empties his pockets after his mum washed his own passport.)

tapas · 16/03/2010 12:26

After a night of crying, teething baby I accidentally put a nappy in the washing machine...

It exploded..the mess was indescribable...

haggisaggis · 16/03/2010 12:34

I had a "disussion" with dh about that once who reckoned it was the resonsibility of whoever does the washing (ie me!) to check the pockets. I don't agree but to avoid disaster I do check (and keep the cash!)

groundhogs · 16/03/2010 14:35

Gah!

I'm assuming few on here caught the 'Women' programme on BBC4 last night..... on Mothers... It was fascinating!

Lotkinsgonecurly · 16/03/2010 14:40

I've washed a mobile phone before and ds has a habit of putting coins in his pockets. Unfortunatley I forgot to check one morning and the filter was clogged, resulting in a visit from washing machine repair man, a filter change and vow not to buy anything with pockets again.

ReneRusso · 16/03/2010 15:48

I washed DH's ipod the other day. It's buggered, but I've left it in the airing cupboard hoping it might recover. Of course it was my fault, despite the fact he left it on the floor next to the washing maching, in the pocket of his sweaty running shirt.

Original poster
jazee · 16/03/2010 16:02

groundhogs

What was the programme about women like . . . please tell more

OP posts:
MisSalLaneous · 16/03/2010 16:20

Ds (almost 2) added a whole pomegranate to the washing machine the other day in the brief moment that I turned my back before closing the door. It was not pretty...

bellavita · 16/03/2010 16:22

Not just me then that does this...

borderslass · 16/03/2010 16:26

I always check pockets myself found a few notes over the years.

LittleSilver · 16/03/2010 20:01

I've done that tapas; only I washed 3 disposable nappies at once. Not a good day. Have also washed my mobile once, DH's three times (he thinks twice, I dried it out in time), his car keys, most of the cash circulating through the south west and DH's wallet.

badgermonkey · 16/03/2010 20:07

Rene, I washed my iPod Nano, dried it out thoroughly and now it's as good as new So there is hope!

groundhogs · 16/03/2010 21:12

jazee it was illuminating, all these wonderful supportive men, all saying that there was an equal say in the household and that there really was no boss....

but...

Who did the cooking? She did
Who did the cleaning? She did
who did the laundry? she did
Who looked after the DC.... yep you got it...

Even those that (in comparison to me..) that have got it good, have not got it THAT good iycwim....

The men - in their defence - did appear to squirm when asked the questions... I just felt faintly sickened.

BBC repeat it at some point this week... also iplayer, it's very interesting, worth a look, seriously.

have a feeling the last programme is next week?

mummychicken · 16/03/2010 21:23

I'm lucky that my DH does all the washing (no ironing, or putting away) so he maks sure he checks his pockets. Now if I could only thrain him to tell teh difference between whites and coloureds , he'd be nearly perfect!