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Housekeeping

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Original poster

Loads of washing. How many a week? Day?

38 replies

RockyAddict · 30/08/2011 13:31

I've just put on my third wash of the day, and sadly this is pretty normal. But I'm wondering whether or not it is normal compared to other people.

We are a household of 2 adults and 2 small-ish boys. When I have a wash day I do usually about 3 or 4 washes. And this must occur at least 4 or 5 times a week. So between 12 and 20 a week!

I confess that I like to wash towels and sheets once a week (if I remember) and then there's the endless shirts and pants and socks when it's term time. That's 15 shirts a week, 20 pairs of pants and 30 socks. And that's not including the weekend with football kits and such. Or even my clothes!

Blush Share your dirty laundry secrets with me...

OP posts:
TimeForCake · 30/08/2011 15:34

I probably average 3 or 4 loads a week for 2 adults and a 19 month old, but that doesn't include bedding or towels because I don't do those every week, or DH's shirts (he gets them washed and ironed as has got bored of the Sunday night ironing session).

I love seeing a line of washing in the garden though!

LordOfTheFlies · 30/08/2011 18:42

DH and myself + DS (11.6) and DD (9)

I do washes by colour- white, light colour, dark colour, black.

My DH and I wear white tunics to work, I also wear a Tshirt underneath. (I wash these seperate to our clothes)
DCs white shirt/blouses, hand towels, karate suit. Probably 2 washes a week.

Light colour 2-3 if I put in towels or bedding
Same with dark.
Black 2 a week.

I have an 8kg machine so it swallows washing.

I don't have a set wash day or it'll be like a laundrette in here! Usually Wed/Fri/Sat

bibbitybobbityhat · 30/08/2011 18:43

One a day in my 6kg machine for 2 adults and 2 children.

thereinmadnesslies · 30/08/2011 18:59

I do 12-15 loads of washing per week - two adults and two small boys. I do towels and bedding weekly. DS1 is messy so his school uniform needs washing daily plus DH is sporty so lots of his kit to wash. Its never-ending!!

LawrieMarlow · 30/08/2011 19:02

One adult and two children. About 3 or 4 loads a week I think (must check some time).

Cupawoman · 30/08/2011 19:04

I wash every day unless it's raining. It's pretty normal for me to do 3 washes a day - always something to wash - sheets, towels, dressing gowns,etc,and if the weather's nice, I go for it! BTW 4 of us including 2 teenage boys. Always line dry apart from Dec/Jan when we get no sun or warmth in the garden.

Beamur · 30/08/2011 19:05

2 adults, 1 or 3 children depending on the week - one wash a day most days.

mymumdom · 30/08/2011 19:06

There are 6 in our family and we do one or two washes a day.

OvO · 30/08/2011 19:07

2-3 loads a week.

2 adults and 2 children.

Thefoxsbrush · 30/08/2011 19:12

About 5 loads a week. We are a family of 5.

KirstyJC · 30/08/2011 19:13

We have 3 young DSes, 2 in washable nappies. I do the nappy wash every other day, come rain or shine (just tumble if wet outside).

Otherwise I tend to wash clothes every 2-3 days, trying to get the weather to dry them outside if possible. I wash towels when I notice they are dirty or when they get baby poo on, whichever is sooner! (Tends to be 2-3 weeks although hand towels are changed more frequently). Bedding gets done when the weather is nice enough to dry it, or when it starts to gather dust at the top, whichever is sooner.

The machine is on most days, but I sometimes do 2 loads on 1 day to get a day off the following day.

That is 3 nappy washes, 3 clothes washes min per week. So about 6-9 loads a week depending on how hard I look at the bedding/towels.

Can you tell I'm not houseproud!!Grin

takeonboard · 30/08/2011 19:17

2 adults and 1 child
1 load of coloureds every day, maybe 2 at the weekend
2 loads of whites on a weekend
so 9-11 a week, that seems like more than some on here but i can't see where I could cut back. I do the sheets every week but don't think thats excessive

susiedaisy · 30/08/2011 19:18

Between 10-12 loads a week, one adult two kids

dizzyday07 · 30/08/2011 19:19

There is me, DH and DD (6) in our house. I do 2 loads a week - 1 of whites/pales and 1 of coloureds. Add to them a load of either towels or bedding (I save them up until it's worth putting a load on!)

KirstyJC · 30/08/2011 19:21

See, you don't need to do whites separately you know, not when they're kids shirts covered in felt tip and mud anyway - just chuck 'em in with the rest of the clothes, makes no difference at all.Wink

Also, you can put a huge amount in the machine if you use both hands to force the door shut afterwards...Grin

ilovedjasondonovan · 30/08/2011 19:24

I can't believe people do this much washing.
3 loads a week including bedding.
Me, DH, DD(5) DD(3)

ilovedjasondonovan · 30/08/2011 19:24

And we don't stink!!

onepieceofcremeegg · 30/08/2011 19:25

I do approximately 4-5 loads per week. We have an 8kg machine, our old machine was only a 5kg so I used to do about 7 loads per week.
I do bedding/towels at 60. Light colours 40 (all on delicate cycle to save ironing). Dark/black colours at 40. White wash.
obviously more if have had visitors or wet beds or whatever.

I think the differences account for how frequently people wash things. For example, I happily wear jeans 4-5 times. I am happy for my dcs to wear school cardigans for 5 days (I do change them if dirty, otherwise they wait til Friday).
Items such as coats are only washed occasionally. Ditto items such as dressing gowns that are not worn next to the skin.
Towels are changed every 3 days or so, but I air them and then put them in the washing basket. I wouldn't leave a damp/wet towel to fester for a few days until I did a wash! Flannels daily but again I hang to dry before chucking in the wash basket.
We do change underwear, socks, t-shirt and shirts daily. I find it is not worth wearing shirts more than once as they get very sweaty/smelly.

onepieceofcremeegg · 30/08/2011 19:26

Just to add if I didn't separate the colours and/or was happy to wash everything on a standard 40 cycles, we could cut down to 3 loads. Possibly even 2 (8kg) loads some weeks.

upahill · 30/08/2011 19:28

Two washes a day minimum except on Sunday when it is at least 4.

Our biggest wash seems to be towels.
Ds1 gets through two bath towels per shower and often he showers 3 x aday!

The bedding gets done on Wednesday and Sundays.

The wash is

bedding
towels
dark = undies socks
lights t shirts and the like
fleeces gilets and jackets probably once every couple of months.
whites usually just my knickers in this one.

happybubblebrain · 30/08/2011 19:28

1 adult, 1 child. I do 2 to 3 loads a week. I have a designated wash day and don't do it any other time unless it's an emergency i.e. sick. All our clothes are worn once (maybe twice for some of my trousers, jeans). Coats get washed when they look like they need it. Bedding every two to three weeks. And, I think that is more than enough.

happybubblebrain · 30/08/2011 19:29

Towels - once a week, more than enough also.

tothesea · 30/08/2011 19:31

2 loads a week!I don't see how that is possible. And the loads are small enough to add towels/sheets to?!
Is this like the type of thread were people say they can be up, showered dressed, breakfasted and out the door in 10 mins looking presentable - no you can't!!!!

onepieceofcremeegg · 30/08/2011 19:32

upahill your ds gets through 6 large bath towels daily! Shock
Would he ever reuse one, or consider cutting down to one per shower? (or if he had white towels they could keep your white knickers company in the machine) Grin

Maiavan · 30/08/2011 19:36

6 of us here and I do 2-3 loads of just clothes a day. Towels, bedding are probably another load a day! It is never ending.