Do you fold sheets before putting into washing machine?

[whethergirl]

My mum had put in a load for me recently, a rare occasion, and I was puzzled when I emptied the machine to find the bed linen all neatly folded.

She says this is the proper way to do it and stops it from creasing.

I think it's bonkers, have never heard of it in my life and I don't mind creased sheets. I say, surely the sheets don't get as clean, because the linen need to rub against each other and need to be loose for the detergent/water to reach all areas.

But DM looks at me as if I'm stupid and says the detergent/water will soak through and access all parts of the linen, and that shaking action of the washing machine is what loosens the dirt.

What do you say?

[midgetjems]

Having found neat patches of grime completely unshifted when removing folded sheets from the washing machine, also loaded and set running by my DM, I'm with you every step of the way OP.

[clary]

WTAF?

I would imagine a folded sheet would not get clean.

Anyway you are going to peg it on the line and then iron it so what's the point?

[TinyDancingHoofer]

I'm sure she is lovely but On this occasion your mum is wrong.

[whethergirl]

God no, I have never ironed my bedsheets, creased bed linen doesn't bother me. Although I remove washing machine as soon as it's done and shake 'n' dry so no mammoth crease issues really.

So weird, dm is SO particular about certain things and prides herself on her cleanliness and pristineness. Her house is spotless. But there are a few things she does that I think, sorry, but that's just not clean.

[ColdCottage]

No, very odd.

[whethergirl]

And she was all indignant about it, practically looking down on me for not folding my sheets before putting in the machine.

[whethergirl]

Right, well it's nice to know that I'm on the same planet as you guys and she is on her own folding unclean bed linen planet.

[clary]

@ "folding unclean bed linen planet"

[Princesspond]

Funnily enough I put a folded duvet cover in machine from hol washing today. When I took it out my first thought was damn that won't have washed properly. It looks ok mind

[Practicalpam]

I'm sure I remember from either Which? Magazine or Good Housekeeping that the correct way to put sheets/duvet covers in a machine is to hold them in the centre, put this in first, then put the rest in. So no "folding unclean bed linen planet" ????

[whethergirl]

Ooh I like that Practicalpam, something I can quote to her! As she would never take my word for it because I am not the cleanest person in the world, she is.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Practical Pam is right, your mum is quite odd

[DilysMoon]

My mum was recently horrified that I yank handfuls of washing out of the laundry basket and put it straight into the washer (already sorted into whites/darks etc). Apparently you're supposed to separate each item and put it in one at a time Am i completely slovenly or is she wrong??

[whethergirl]

Erm....I do actually put my washing in one at a time. But I'm not really a shove-y type of person, I'm quite painstaking with a lot of things.

[MERLYPUSSEDOFF]

Bleugh. Doesn't toe jam get caught in the creases?
Would you put shitty nappies, folded, into the wash?
No.

Just no.

[MERLYPUSSEDOFF]

Some washes you have to put in bit by bit.
Boy clothes have to be checked for pebbles, tissues and that socks are not inside out otherwise they remain full of grass.

[AdorableAbbie]

Sorry but your mom is absolutely wrong!
The bed linen should be loosen! how could be the dirt be removed if it is neatly folded.

[whethergirl]

I mentioned it to my mum again and the weird thing is, that she wasn't even the one who put the folded linen in the machine.

She put the linen in the laundry basket all folded up, and my cousin was the one who put it in the machine still folded up. (I had just come back from holiday, they were both at my house waiting to meet me).

So that's two people who think folded linen in the wash is normal.

My cousin and my mum (different sides of family) barely know each other so not as if they regularly discuss washing bed linen techniques.

[whethergirl]

And when I say folded, I mean really, precisely neatly folded. I've never even managed to attain some folding precision.

[whethergirl]

such not some

[Nanny0gg]

I do fold clothes into the laundry basket, can't see the point of adding creases.

Bedding I wouldn't put folded into the machine though.

[ThatBloodyWoman]

I put them in loosely rumpled.

Who has time to worry about creases on bedding?They're creased after a night shagging sleeping in them anyway!

[Giraffeski]

Merely- not just boy clothes! DD2s pockets have to be checked for pebbles. But to OP- no to folded sheets.

[ouryve]

Hell, no. There's no point.

I button up duvet covers, though, or else they turn inside out and eat everything on the way.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Nanny-you fold dirty clothes?