Do you mix your washing together?

[Flyingoutofcontrol]

This is kindof an AIBU, but I'm far too chicken to put this in there, but I want an opinion if I'm being unreasonable or a bit weird or possibly both!

So, I was talking about housework with a friend, and I mentioned that I feel much better with a more or less empty washing basket, so usually do a load every day or two (depending on what's been worn) for DS and I, and a separate load for DS as I don't like using fabric conditioner on his clothes.

So far, we're in agreement and no problems. Now, usually, I do a separate undies wash as again I don't like conditioner on my knickers, but I have been known (if going away for a weekend or requiring my control pants ) to bung my undies in with the normal load of washing so that I can have the stuff I need or have an empty basket ready for a huge load when we get back.

My friend was very and about this, and basically said that it was a bit minging to do this - but she couldn't really explain why.

So, AIBU to mix my washing on occasion? Is this slattern territory and will I be shunned ever more for admitting this?!

Towels are the only thing I do use conditioner on. I like a soft towel!

I separate towels, bedding, whites and delicates. That's probably more than enough!

I give all underwear a little quick hand wash before bunging it in the machine with rest sopping wet. I also avoid putting the tea towel with underwear.

I have so many different piles it's

I separate by colour only. I would never mix whites in with coloured clothes because even if the colours don't run the whites still end up a dingy grey. As DD needs white shirts for school and not grey, and I like wearing white T-shirts I would never mix them in with colours. My bras don't suffer from being washed in the weashing machine either so I don't see the need to handwash them. The only handwashing I do is a couple of jumpers that would shrink in the machine.

I separate by lights, darks, brights, bedding which all go on a 30 or 40 and then bedding and towels goes on a 60.

Why do you hand wash underwear before putting it in? Genuinely mystified...

I separate by colour - whites, lights, redish, blue/purple, darks - and then towels and bedding get done on their own.

Like everyone else I separate by colour and temperature. I was everything on 40 except towels and bedding which go on 60.

Op your friend is weird. Unless she has über expensive frothy undies which are delicate.

Oooh, check out the umlaut. My phone did that itself.

I separate whites, darks, brights, towels, bedding, underwear and delicates. I also separate by person - me and dh's I do together, then I do dd's separately and ds's on his own as he has eczema so everything gets washed in Fairy for him. I find it's easier to co-ordinate and put things back in the right place.

I love mumsnet laundry threads sad twat

Those people who just shove everything in - are you whites not awfully grey? I have a fit of the vapours if a sneaky black sock is left in my white wash.

OP - your friend is bonkers. It would not cross my mind to separate knicjers from the rest of the wash.

I do specific colour/type washes. So whites, blacks/very darks, bright reds and pinks, jeans all together, jumpers all together, sheets in with towels on hot.

I don't use fabric conditioner as I don't really like the smell.

Use the tumble drier for socks and old t shirts only, the rest goes on airers and the towels HAVE to be line dried (towels have to be crunchty, nowt worse than a soft towel )

Should the word umlaut have an umlaut though? I am troubled now.

yes, it should be with an über-umlaut.

Good grief!

I never knew there were so many washing options - and I'm glad to know I'm not insane.

And I think that this may be the most populous thread I have ever started . I am however worried about what this says about my interesting-ness

No I don't mix. I sieve in a little baking powder and fold gently until combined

@ msbossy

Depends what mood I am in! Organised domestic goddess = towels and bed sheets wash, lights wash and darks wash.

Can't be bothered = fire it all in and pray nothing runs (terrible for overloading too!)

As for ironing, I only do what needs to be done. School uniforms and formal wear. I have 4 dc, three loads of washing a day. I would be ironing FOREVER!

Msbossy, I came back to this thread to see how you use baking powder in a wash!!!

When I am reasonably on top of the washing I separate well, today for example I have a line full of turquoise or mostly turquoise clothes, face cloths and towels. I even pondered over whether to include babygro for over a minute as it was turquiose and red stripes.
It pleases me to see them on the line in their matching glory, in the simple way a brain addled by pregnancy and years spent with only a small child for company can be pleased.

notso I can stand and watch the washing blowing on the line on a breezy day. It pleases me.

baking powder is really usefull for brightening up whites...

Blimey, I'm clearly a laundry slattern. I separate only as far as lights and darks, and everything (sheets, towels, underwear, delicates) goes on at 40 degree with washing liquid and fabric conditioner (and stain remover if needed). Then I bung it all on a couple of airers in the spare room, where it dries in a couple of days.

Everything gets clean and smells nice, and nothing shrinks or grows. It works for me :o

Celia, I know what you mean. I love hanging washing out (except socks), but I really, really HATE putting it away.

'tis a beautiful thing Celia

I also hate putting it away, especially DD's as I know all my folding and iron will be undone in two minutes.

I know, notso. Ds2 and dd have just chucked carefully folded piles of washing into plastic bags. They are going on a picnic apparently .