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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

How many loads of washing do you do per week?

61 replies

JenBehavingBadly · 19/01/2014 14:36

Two adults, one office worker, one factory worker. Two children, one nursery, one school.

I end up doing 4-5 washes a week. Does this seem a lot to you? How many do you do a week for what sized family.

OP posts:
LynetteScavo · 19/01/2014 14:38

There are five of us. I probably do 14 washes a week. Myclean laundry pile is insane and takes several hours to fold. Only work shirts are ironed around here.

farmwife · 19/01/2014 14:42

We're a family of 5; OH a farmer, me at home & 3 school aged children.
I always seem to be doing laundry, I swear it multiplies in the washing baskets.
A typical week might be around 10-12 loads of washing (incl bedding & towels)

Stellaface · 19/01/2014 14:42

OP, there is just me and DH and I often put on 4-5 washes in a week. I blame this on the size (L) of DH's clothes as most clothes washes are 80% his. When I lived alone, I put on about 2-3 washes a fortnight, including towels and bedding. We both wear clean tops every day, and sometimes change - I have gym kit, and DH has working-on-car clothes (which go in a separate wash) but it amazes (and irritates) me how much we - or rather DH - get through.

So no, 4-5 for a family of 4 seems perfectly reasonable (even low) to me! How do you do it?? Do you have a super-sized washing machine (mine is up to 6kg)??

Merguez · 19/01/2014 14:45

Family of 4 - 2 adults; 2 school-age children.

5 full loads a week, plus occasional one-off e.g. rugby kit (see my thread).

This topic often comes up on Mumsnet and if you are really interested a quick search will give you ample information on the laundry frequency of other Mumsnetters.

BigWellyLittleWelly · 19/01/2014 14:49

We have two DC, 3yo and 6m baby, I do 4-6 washes a week. Both dh and I have desk based jobs, only shirts and work dresses get ironed

CatAmongThePigeons · 19/01/2014 14:51

Probably about 10, 4 people, two adults, two children. DH is in a grotty job and regularly hasuniform; plus gym kit plus civvies. DS1 is at school. This includes towels, bedding and occasional coats.

Pregnantberry · 19/01/2014 14:53

Two adults, about 3 times per week, maybe 4.

From September, 1,000,000,000, or so I have been led to believe.

ilovepowerhoop · 19/01/2014 14:55

I do lots of washing. Yesterday I did 3 loads and today have done 1 (towels). We still have quite a lot left in laundry baskets but I have no hanging space left. I try to do at least 1 load per day but on some days do 2 or 3. Family of 4 (2 adults, 2 dcs) - dh goes to the gym 4 days a week and plays football 2 days. I do fitness classes 3 or 4 days a week. Ds goes to rugby and football and both dc's go swimming once a week. We seem to create a lot of washing due to lots of gym/football/swimming kit

ilovepowerhoop · 19/01/2014 14:56

p.s. 4-5 seems a small amount of washes for 1 week as I have done 4 washes over the last 2 days

StumbledintoMayhem · 19/01/2014 14:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SandyChick · 19/01/2014 14:58

I probably do 7 loads a week. We are 2 adults, 1 school age child and 1 toddler. Dh is only home on weekends so I only wash what he wears on those days. He washes his uniform at work. I do 3-4 dark washes, 1 whites, 2 towels at least.

SidandAndyssextoy · 19/01/2014 15:00

Two adults, both desk jobs but exercisers, three kids, 7/8 loads a week?

BetterWithCheese · 19/01/2014 15:00

Last month we probably did 4-5 a week for two adults working FT and one pre-schooler. Just had a baby so doing around 10 per week - she's a sicky baby!

Gerty1002 · 19/01/2014 15:01

10-15 and there are two adults and a four month old. However, DS has reflux and dribbles a lot, so if I don't do at least one wash a day I'll soon run out of his bibs, muslins and/or clean clothes.

Slebmum · 19/01/2014 15:03

Anything from 6-10, two adults and 2.5yo DTs Not including bedding and towels as my saint of a mil does them for me

throckenholt · 19/01/2014 15:06

about 6 a week - family of two adults and 3 11-12 year old boys. Excluding bedding and towels which tend to be done more sporadicly.

Showy · 19/01/2014 15:07

Four or five. Two adults, a 6yo and a 2yo.

Meglet · 19/01/2014 15:16

Me and 2 DC's (7 and 5). 14 loads a week.

My gym and work clothes have to be washed straight away so they get done that day. The DC's towels are washed after every use. DD gets breakfast on her pj's daily. School uniform has either mud or food on it.

I tried to cut down but had no where to dry it all and ended up with a hideous backlog. I find smaller, daily loads work best for me.

AngelsInWinter · 19/01/2014 15:19

4 or 5, do it all on Sunday. That's for me, DP (manual job), and 3 DC - 5, 2 and 1. Not too bad actually... But we have just saved up and bought an 8kg capacity washing machine, I love it Thanks

Catsmamma · 19/01/2014 15:24

i am lucky if my machine is on just twice a day..and I am certainly not washing everything every time it is worn. I suppose I could maybe do two fuller loads instead of three on occasion, but I like to keep it sorted nicely and don't feel it washes well if it is all rammed in

there's five of us, youngest is 16, three dogs and three cats, So there is a fair bit of stinky dog pet stuff.

My heart's desire is an extra machine for the pet stuff.

JemimaMuddledUp · 19/01/2014 15:28

Two adults, 3 DC (11, 9 and 7). Fresh school uniform every day for all three as they never come home from school clean. They also play lots of sport which generates lots of kit.

I do 2 loads of washing a day, more at weekends when sheets and towels get washed as well as clothes. It probably works out at around 20 loads a week.

Fifyfomum · 19/01/2014 15:29

7

Mrswellyboot · 19/01/2014 15:32

Two adults one baby 4-5 per week, that is on a good week. Have bought extra gro's ect so I don't have to wash every single day.

acsec · 19/01/2014 15:34

2 adults 1 child - it varies, but about 5 I think. Most of it is DH's stuff! I don't know how he creates so much washing!

JenBehavingBadly · 19/01/2014 15:41

When I lived alone I did one wash a week, either darks or lights. Now we seem to get through masses of stuff every week and mine is still the smallest amount!

Yes I have quite a big drum washer, but have been thinking of getting a new one with a larger drum and quicker washes. I have a mahoosive dryer which I think is 9kg.

So it seems like we're doing quite well with 5. Now I'm worried I'm not washing stuff as often as I should. Grin

OP posts: