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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

If you really do three loads of washing a day....

357 replies

Clary · 30/10/2006 13:42

That?s 21 a week, right? What are you actually washing? I?m not having a go, just interested (following ?how many times? thread) in how many people claim to do this much washing.

Yes, some days I might do 3 loads (if one of the kids has a night accident eg) but the next day probably none.
Are you mega washers really doing 21 washes a week? Are you all really dirty? what?s your laundry list, come on, I need to know if there is laundry I am failing to do.
(I have three DCs btw)

OP posts:
ShinyHappyPurpleSeveredHeads · 31/10/2006 09:46

Yes, I think maybe having a tumbler makes us more inclined to wash stuff that doesn't really need washing yet..

Today I am in a less stroppy mood and this thread, although judgemental in places, has made me think twice about what I casually bung in the wash. I'm going to try to cut down further.

(My two loads are blowing beautifully on the line!)

KTeepee · 31/10/2006 09:46

lol that this has degenerated into another thread about towel wahing...

BTW, for all of you who do multiple loads each day, how do you get it all dry, especially in winter? I struggle to get one load a day dry - I do have a tumble dryer but only like to use it to "air" clothes that are almost dry (and take out the wrinkles!)

ShinyHappyPurpleSeveredHeads · 31/10/2006 09:48

KTeePee I'm sure you can guess! (We're not all as good as you.. we bung in whole loads of wet stuff!)

But I'm reforming!

KTeepee · 31/10/2006 09:50

The only reason I don't put clothes in wet is my tumble dryer would probably take as long to dry it as putting it on the clothes horse...

Bozza · 31/10/2006 09:52

I generally use my tumble dryer for the towels and nothing else (in winter, line dry them in summer) - so that is two loads a week. The rest of it goes on two airers - one small one on the wall in the utility, and one large floor standing one.

ShinyHappyPurpleSeveredHeads · 31/10/2006 09:54

KTP no it doesn't!!! But carry on with the clothes horse.. much greener...

CountessDracula · 31/10/2006 09:55

I use the tumble dryer to finish off towels and sheets otherwise is radiators and clothes horses

ParanoidAndroid · 31/10/2006 09:55

Personally I find that I can really cut down on the washing by sponging some marks off the clothes - especially the DC's clothes. But I am the first to admit that I never did this when I was working.

I am trying to work on them "assessing" their clothes before they fling them in their laundry bags but frankly as I'm pleased they are at least putting them in the bags, I'm not too bothered about sorting the clothes myself.

I'm interested in the different capacities that the washing machines have. Ours isn't particularly big I guess (eg, can't fit king size duvet cover plus sheet plus pillowcases in together) but it is pretty old. Do they list energy rating or environmental impact on the new machines in shops?

I was half-listening to somebody on the radio yesterday who was saying that the prices of environmentally unfriendly products ought to be taxed heavily thereby encouraging people to go for the other varieties. Until there are real and substantial incentives for people to become environmentally friendly, by far the greater proportion of the population won't do it. Not necessarily because they're not willing, it's just that it's very often too expensive. The organic vs. non-organic decision is a perfect example.

There was a guy from B&Q talking on the radio a while ago who was saying that they are selling items such as (I think) wind turbines and solar panels at a loss because they believe it is the right thing to do. What a fantastic position to take - we need more manufacturers and retailers like that.

Right, sorry to hijack the thread. I'll leave you all to your debates and go and put my 25th wash of the day on (just kidding )

Cappuccino · 31/10/2006 10:01

can I turn this into a thread being about vacuuming three times a day?

because it 'needs to be done'???

saintAugustine · 31/10/2006 10:05

3 lots a day for people who like things to be clean all the time.
no judgement - apart from - your killing the planet - little johnny can wear one set of clothes unless its wee or poo - a bit of food isn't going to do any harm.

whats wrong with a crusty car seat anyway?

oh and 3 lots a day? dont yo have somethng better to do - like mould poo for the tate?

CountessDracula · 31/10/2006 10:06

that is insane

My hoover only comes out on special occasions

hatwoman · 31/10/2006 10:06

I've been thinking about this thread, i genuinely never knew there were people who thought it was normal to wash towels after every use. (even posh hotels these days specifically ask you to re-use your towels, so it can't be that yuck). The thing I don;t get is if you feel the need to wash towels after every use, why not sheets? I'm sure there's as much dead skin on your sheets after 8 hours of kip as there is on your towels after a 5 minute rub. and you share your bed sheets and, as, someone else has said, generally get up to all manner of things involving each other's bits and bobs.

saintAugustine · 31/10/2006 10:09

hatwoman - stopit the cleanaholics will never have a life if you tell them where all the dead skin cells go.

i hope you dont get impetigo - or nits. haa haa haa - no seriously i really don't.

Cappuccino · 31/10/2006 10:09

good point hatwoman

also you should vac your car seats every time you sit in them

and put your toothbrushes through the dishwasher twice a day

KTeepee · 31/10/2006 10:10

Shiny, I meant that MY tumble dryer would take that long - I have tried!

CountessDracula · 31/10/2006 10:10

I like my skin

I don't mind hanging out in it once it has left my body

Bucketsofbloodydinosaurs · 31/10/2006 10:11

I love./hate B&Q. That's a great stance to take on such a high profile highly visible product but their price wars with Homebase cannot be ethically sound with regards to the Far East factory workers. They also sell so cheaply that buyers cannot help but see many of their products as disposable even if they are plastic. I really wish they would stop trying to be the cheapest - it's just not sustainable marketwise anyway, they should go for the gimmick of making more recycled items.
Oops, I have digressed somewhat

ShinyHappyPurpleSeveredHeads · 31/10/2006 10:20

Cappucino, you can't say anything about the hoovering 3 x a day because JARM said it.. and not only does she have OCD tendencies, if you say anything that is construed as disagreement with JARM, people jump on you and shriek LEAVE JARM ALONE!!! Have no idea why.. she seems like an intelligent, articulate lady who is more than capable of making her point and discussing views that oppose her own.

Just a strange Mumsnet quirk I have noticed over time...

Cappuccino · 31/10/2006 10:22

bring it on

the woman's insane

staceym11 · 31/10/2006 10:56

now i must be odd, i have dh who works in an office and has clean underwear and shirt each day, dd who is 2 and will wear one set of clothes a day and have clean pyjamas each night (you have no idea what this child can do with wheetabix!!) and myself, i have on set of clothes a day.

we will often re-use jeans (sometimes for a whole week ) as they don't tend to get dirty and i can wear a bra for 2 days straight if it doesnt smell.

me and dh share a towel when we bath (using the same bath water) and it usually gets used twice before washing (dh, me one day, dh, me another day) and we bath twice a week so the towels go in twice a week. dd uses a fresh towel every bath but she only gets bathed 1-2 times a week and is sponged down (face, hands, feet if dirty) everyday drying on the hand towel in the bathroom.

bedding gets changed fortnightly unless dd has a cold (she sleeps on her front) or has an accident in her bed. sometimes our bed can go for 3 weeks without being changed.

now i do at most one load of washing a day, if not its more like one every two days. wash load is always a full load and must admit i have a tumble dryer, but i live in a flat with nowhere outside to dry and had to buy a tumble as was taking 3-4 days for our washing to dry inside since its cooled down. will obv use the airer in the summer again!

i can understand why people feel the need to wash lots but i also think we need to think about issues like this as much as recycling etc.

as for hoover my dh hoovers about twice a week, i soemtimes pull it from its deep dark hole if dd has made a mess with crumbs at meal times, but only to do the problem area!

Bucketsofbloodydinosaurs · 31/10/2006 11:18

I'm no way going to admit how long my bras get worn for

Tinker · 31/10/2006 11:20

I blushed at the bras comment too. Get changed when I can't remember when I last changed it.

Not only still shocked at the "need" for a clean towel after each bath but didn't realise family members had own towels.

Still say, just buy some more towels - must be cheaper than all this washing and drying.

Tinker · 31/10/2006 11:21

How much to the 3 x per dayers spend on washing powder per week?

Bucketsofbloodydinosaurs · 31/10/2006 11:29

Well they'd have to buy the latest capsules with extra cleaning power and antiseptic wouldn't they? LOL

ShinyHappyPurpleSeveredHeads · 31/10/2006 11:31

I use a 3 kilo box of supermarket own brand non-bio about every week and a half. It's about £4