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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

I'm drowning in laundry. I hate doing it. And its the one thing I can't really hire a cleaner to sort out for me. Please help with suggestions!

141 replies

oranges · 09/07/2007 19:49

How do people cope? I have no garden, and am a real slattern when it comes to changing sheets, but I feel I'm forever sorting, drying, putting away. Short of discarding all clothes and buying a fresh set from Primark each week, what do I do?

OP posts:
jura · 10/07/2007 11:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
oranges · 10/07/2007 12:16

can point out that the people here who say they like ironing have either a a)garden b)laundry room c)nanny who will do the dc washing.
I have none of the above, so am justified in my flappiness.

OP posts:
ShrinkingViolet · 10/07/2007 12:21

I like ironing because I can leave it till the weekend, and make DH run around after the children/do the cooking/washing up etc.
Otherwise he and i have an agreement that he can watch whatever sport he wants on the telly SO LONG AS he does ironing at the same time. It takes hime 10 times as long as it would take me, but he gets to watch sport, and has no idea how long I'm MNing for

ShrinkingViolet · 10/07/2007 12:23

btw, have garden, laundry area (washing machine and tumble dryer with worksurface above) not in kitchen, but no nanny.

FluffyMummy123 · 10/07/2007 13:26

Message withdrawn

Tortington · 10/07/2007 13:32

my washing machine has broken
i loaded my sciento full of clothes
wen tto the launderette at 8am when no one was there 2 hours later used all the washing machines and all the dryers at once

all done

ggglimpopo · 10/07/2007 13:32

After my smug post - I have three loads on the line (double bed sheets and two ordinary washes) and as we sat down to lunch the heavens opened. Dh asked if I wanted help to bring the laundry in - I said not worry as it was just a passing shower; it is still pouring. The washing is so wet I can see the sheets dripping from here.

Idobelieveinfairies · 10/07/2007 13:33

I quite like doing the laundry...it sorts my mind too...lol

I have a balcony with a huge airer and a tumble dryer. All things that can go in the dryer...goes in the dryer, everything else outside on airer. Fold up as soon as dryer is finished and no need to iron . everything else gets hung up without getting ironed, then you have no iron pile to be looking at. if it needs ironing when i/them go to wear it i will iron it then!

I have 2 HUGE white tubs that collects the dirty washing....and then colllects it back when it is clean. There ae sometimes a few days when people have to look for the clothes they want from the HUGE white tub....but hey..at least it is clean!!!

Happy Washing.

Mercy · 10/07/2007 13:34

Jura and ggg - love your essays on your laundry arrangements

Original poster
oranges · 10/07/2007 13:37

ggg, that would really make me cry.

jura, didn't you once say you ironed tea towels? you are in a different league.

OP posts:
Flum · 10/07/2007 13:41

Washing rules:

1 towel 1 person 1 week (light weight smallish towels)_

Bed linen - use 1 fitted sheet and 1 loose sheet on top (then you don't need to change duvet cover very often at all - is like a blanket) change every 10 days.

Clothes - at end of day inspect all and sponge off grubby marks. Have dedicated shelf in all cupboards for clothes to be re-worn.

Guests are a pain in backside. I make bed clean and then leave a spare set of clean sheets and ask them to re-make it.

FluffyMummy123 · 10/07/2007 13:42

Message withdrawn

Idobelieveinfairies · 10/07/2007 13:42

lol

Flum · 10/07/2007 13:43

Also never do washing between noon and 10pm or you never have time or energy to get it put away.

I must admit. Now I have a tumble drier have old fashioned wash days. I wash on Mondays and Thursdays and ignore it in between, except might do a delicates. It is much more soothing to my addled mind

ggglimpopo · 10/07/2007 13:44

IT HAS STOPPED RAINING

Flum · 10/07/2007 13:46

Get em all to turn their pants inside out on second day. Apparently it is the latest thing to save the planet.

i don't really get guests to change the sheets, I always want to and then I bottle it.

My MIL has her sheets picked up and done by a laundry service, they come back pressed and starched. I aspire to that. But as you know Cod, she as 'At Home cards too.

ggglimpopo · 10/07/2007 14:05

Bordeaux weather update. Pissing it down. Again.

FluffyMummy123 · 10/07/2007 14:06

Message withdrawn

ggglimpopo · 10/07/2007 14:07

Apparently itt will be hot again here as of 21st July. Oh, and this weekend.

FluffyMummy123 · 10/07/2007 14:07

Message withdrawn

ggglimpopo · 10/07/2007 14:09

I arrive back in Bordeaux on the 19th, so can almsot guarantee sunny weather that week.

Original poster
oranges · 10/07/2007 16:02

I'M NOT DOING LAUNDRY TODAY! so you'll have to wait for a fluff update. I've put 15 loads of laundry away, am working (honest) then I'm going out for champagne. Sod the fluff.

OP posts:
ggglimpopo · 10/07/2007 16:09

Still fcking raining.

jura · 10/07/2007 16:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

stealthsquiggle · 10/07/2007 16:14

Part of me hates that there are so many people prepared to discuss laundry...

...and the other part knows that when I had a complete "I can't cope any more" meltdown at DH a couple of weeks ago, laundry was at the top of the list. He found it hard to understand why not being able to get tomato stains out of DS's school shirts and the piles of stuff waiting to be put away all over the house could reduce me to tears.

Oranges, seriously - I am with Cod - there has to be fluff somewhere - and lots of it - you need to google your tumble drier model and work out where the filter is!!