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Housekeeping

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Original poster

Laundry *yawn*

24 replies

DeathMetalMum · 21/02/2013 14:36

So how do you organise laundry/baskets for your family?

Currently there are three of us - soon to be four. We have two washing baskets one for me and dp and another for dd. Hand towels from the bathroom go into our washing basket then bath towels are hung until they are dried and I do a swoop around and collect the ones that need washing. I don't really ever do a whites wash as me and dp only have a few things that are just white.

Do you have laundry baskets in each room or do you have one for whites, colours, towels etc and where are they kept? I have looked for a basket split with whites/colours but can find one that I like enough to fork out say £40+ for all the ones cheaper look crap.

OP posts:
TomArchersSausage · 21/02/2013 14:41

We have one basket on the landing. In it goes (or not judging by the qty on dc's bedroom floorsHmm).

I then totter downstairs with piles of washing the size of K2 and spend most of my life in hand to hand combat with it all. It's like a great intestine of laundry in my house inching it's contents down and back up again.

Sorry not much helpBlush

Ruprekt · 21/02/2013 14:43

Family of 4. One big washing basket that everything goes into. About 1 white wash at weekends and a dark wash in the week. Bedding wash every other week, same with towels.

ladyintheradiator · 21/02/2013 14:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Arithmeticulous · 21/02/2013 14:55

One basket but with dividers in so lights and darks. It takes 1-2 loads of each, but since there's 6 of us I do a load of darks every day and lights 2-3 times a week.
At the other end, I have a set of 6 stacking crates and empty tumble dryer/airer direct into each named crate.
Towels and sheets I do separately and not via a basket.

anklebitersmum · 21/02/2013 15:09

Family of 6.

We I divide into the following;

Pants, sock, jammies
Towels
Uniform (weekly wash and splits into whites and non whites)
Bedding
Jeans
T-shirts/tops
Jumpers (hoody type and woolly have separate loads)
Fleecy jumpers/blankets

Pants socks and jammies can be washed together, dried together and then sorted into appropriate drawers by teen son.

Jeans and jumpers (hoody type) can be amalgamated in the event of a partial load as they dry at the same rate and both need ironing.

Grin
BackforGood · 21/02/2013 15:17

Family of 5, but bedrooms on 2 different floors.
1 washing basket on top floor landing which dh, dd1 and I use.
1 basket outside dd2's room (it's a long, thin landing which then goes round a corner)
1 basket in the main bathroom which ds uses (and dd2 sometimes if she's jumping in the bath / shower)

I collect everything on my way downstairs some mornings and sort into different washes by the washing machine. having sorted the dcs clothes that don't actually need washing, and returning them before I go down

QuinionsRainbow · 22/02/2013 12:16

One laundry basket box in the bathroom, with assorted piles of clothes of indeterminate state of usage on DCs floors, chairs etc. - the joy of teenagers! Basically, if it's in the box, I will wash it, and there's generally enough to separate whites/lights and coloureds efficiently, otherwise well-washed coloureds tend to get lumped in with whites. Bath-towels, hand-towels and tea-towels generally collected up once a week for a 90C wash. Our bedding, mostly light, gets washed once a week, DCs responsible for changing their own, which I will wash as and when it appears!

StupidFlanders · 22/02/2013 12:30

Family of 5. Wash 1 load every night (or following morning) then put in dryer. To make sure it's a full load I wash at least 1 towel each time (rotating) and parts of bedding (eg pillowcases or top/ bottom sheet).
Don't desperate anything but if I have a day to do nothing I'll look around for some whites to soak but there isn't a genuine need really.

Original poster
DeathMetalMum · 22/02/2013 19:09

Do you all do washing daily?

I have a washer dryer but also limited drying space and worried about damp/mould due to where we used to live. I try and do washing when it is nicer outside so I can get it on the line and have some hanging in the house with windows open. Using the drier when it isn't so nice.

I do washing 5/7 or a couple of loads on a nice day, eg I will save bath towels and bedding for day I know they will dry on the line or mostly.

OP posts:
HDee · 22/02/2013 19:14

Family of seven

No washing baskets upstairs. All laundry gathered from all rooms by me every morning and put straight in washing machine. Includes any towels/bedding that needs doing.

All clothes taken off in evening and put straight in washing machine.

Basket in kitchen for stray extras collected through the day.

Everything washed at 40 except bedding.

Everything tumble dried.

Everything folded straight from drier and put into basket on tumble drier, then put away once a day.

HDee · 22/02/2013 19:14

We do at least two loads a day, usually more.

HDee · 22/02/2013 19:15

We only use towels and tea towels once which is why we get so much washing, and I change the sheet on my bed (super king size) daily.

Mrsrobertduvall · 22/02/2013 19:16

One washing basket in the kids bathroom for the 4 of us.
At least 2 washes a day.

Ruprekt · 22/02/2013 20:32

I def do not do a wash every day. How boring! I reuse clothes from one day to the next so jeans can last a few days and tops 2 days.

I do insist on clean underwear and socks every day though.

Mrsrobertduvall · 22/02/2013 21:56

Everything in the wash here after 1 wear..well mine at least.

HDee · 22/02/2013 21:56

Tops that have been worn next to armpits need washing daily. Anything else is gross, and you will smell, even if you think you don't.

Cathycat · 22/02/2013 22:12

6 of us. Two wash baskets on landing, one dark, one lights. Have loads of laundry baskets and i take one or two down a day, moving it to the dryer, folding it when its done. Sort into rooms when i have a stock pile of filled washing baskets.

DTisMYdoctor · 22/02/2013 22:31

Two laundry baskets, one for me and DH and one for DS. During the week I do clothes usually two colours washes, two dark, one red, one white, one shirts, one socks/boxers, one delicates. Sorted by fabric type. They're not always full washes, but i'm obsessed about sticking to the care labels! At the weekend towels & bedding. I wash most days and iron (only when absolutely necessary) and put away as we go along.

Ruprekt · 22/02/2013 23:44

HDee - you might smell, wearing the same top twice but we dont!

If there are no dirty marks on the boys clothes, why wash em? Same with me. I wash regularly, wear deodorant, no dirty marks, why wash it?

Think we go overboard with the amount of washing that is done.........

BackforGood · 22/02/2013 23:49

Absolutely agree with Ruprekt.
Indeed, was about to post to HDee - 'You speak for yourself'! Shock

OrangeLily · 22/02/2013 23:54

Only me and DH but usually do

Colours
Whites
Darks x 2
Towels x 2

Bedding x 2 (pillows then duvets/sheets) or more as often have guests.

1 washing basket in ensuite. Towels get dumped straight in machine.

Sometimes a big cloth/dishtowel hot wash if a big clean has been done!

OrangeLily · 22/02/2013 23:56

Oh yes delicates/wool too

My new washable has a time delay selection.... I love that! Blush

Mrsrobertduvall · 23/02/2013 10:29

We have lots of sports clothes to wash....
Yesterday dh did a fitness dvd (so shorts/tshirt in wash) then played golf (everything in wash)
And has done the same today.

I find washing quite theraputicGrin.
have done 4loads already this morning.

Mrsrobertduvall · 23/02/2013 10:31

Oh and the pissing cat we have doesn't help...she is going through a stage of peeing on the kids' bathmat at every opportunity.

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