How I sort the laundry

[Covert19]

I had a revelation this week. My DH was sorting the laundry and he kept on asking me which basket various items should go into. He was getting a bit exasperated, as he couldn't work out my method, and then I realised that my sorting method is highly subjective. Here's how I sort the laundry:

• Entirely white things, plus the children's sheets which are white with pale grey spots/stripes - except for white dishcloths (see below).
• Bath towels, dishcloths and tea towels, regardless of colour
• Pale coloured clothes and table cloths
• Dark coloured things that don't make me queasy
• Dark coloured things that do make me queasy

So the DH was confused because his pants and socks go in the queasy pile, whereas my son's socks go in the queasy pile, but his pants go in the non-queasy, or white pile. My pants go in the queasy pile, and my socks go in the dark non-queasy pile.

NB my own pants don't make me queasy, but I want them to have a good long wash with the other really dirty stuff.

I've now typed queasy too many times at it no longer sounds like a word.

Anyway, it all makes perfect sense to me and I can get the laundry sorted very quickly, but nobody else in the house has a hope. Luckily, if someone else is doing the washing, I don't interfere with their sorting method as long as it's sorted by colour in some way.

Is anyone else's laundry sorting method as subjective as mine?

I sometimes separate jumpers... if they are wool...

Everything else goes in at 30-40° with an ecoball. Whatever in the wash bin

Whites
Lights
Brights
Darks
Towels/bedding

Plus by weight so jeans and hoodies separate from T-shirt's underwear etc for ease of drying

I do whites, lights, brights, darks, bedding, cloths/tea towels&towels and then sofa covers.

Everything is on a long 60° wash with laundry disinfectant.

I have a friend who has two washing machines. One does the human stuff and one does the pet stuff... Now that's sorting!

@Hazelnutlatteplease

I sometimes separate jumpers... if they are wool...

Everything else goes in at 30-40° with an ecoball. Whatever in the wash bin

When I did that my washing machine started to smell. Do you do service washes in between?

@Ginfordinner

Nope never had a problem with the washing machine smelling and don't do service washes. Just replace the egg when it seems to stop working. DS has SN so some of his clothing can be a bit... um... challenging. I might do a pre-wash in that case

I always have so much dark washing I need to do two loads. I usually separate it into what needs to be tumble dried and another load that doesn’t get tumble dried!
I quite like the queasy/non-queasy technique x

Darks/colours all in together
Whites but this is only once a fortnight
Bedding
Towels

Coats and outdoor wear separately as required.

@ItStartedWithAKiss241

I always have so much dark washing I need to do two loads. I usually separate it into what needs to be tumble dried and another load that doesn’t get tumble dried! I quite like the queasy/non-queasy technique x

That's a good idea about separating the tumble drying. I never thought of that before.

I do a load of lights or darks daily and a load of cloth nappies & cloth wipes every other day. So either 1 or 2 loads per day depending on whether it's nappy wash day. Stuff like dish cloths and tea towels just gets put in with the lights or darks. 30 degrees for everything except nappies / wipes and uniform (nhs front line) which gets 40. Your way sounds very confusing.

So I have read the full thread to be sure, but am I right in saying that feeling ‘queasy’ about washing is a thing that anyone other than the OP has? It’s been a while since I’ve had one of those MN moments that blows my mind as to other people’s worlds! Like, is ‘queasy washing’ a phrase that I have never heard of? This all sounds entirely bonkers to me but not many others here so guessing I’m the unusual one!

White bedding, towels and white cotton knickers 60 deg
Table cloths and tea towels 60 deg
Coloured towels, cloths, flannels, coloured bedding 60 deg
White clothing and underwear 40 deg
Lights 40
Brights 40
Sports wash 40
Darks 40
Jeans and trousers and black socks 40
Woollens 30
Delicates 30
Bath mats 60

@Merename it’s new to me too. I can understand washing nappies separately but the idea of not putting pants with clothes or having queasy clothes seems bonkers to me!

@Merename

So I have read the full thread to be sure, but am I right in saying that feeling ‘queasy’ about washing is a thing that anyone other than the OP has? It’s been a while since I’ve had one of those MN moments that blows my mind as to other people’s worlds! Like, is ‘queasy washing’ a phrase that I have never heard of? This all sounds entirely bonkers to me but not many others here so guessing I’m the unusual one!

It's not a phrase I use - just that when asked to explain my laundry sorting by my DH, when I reflected on it, I realised that's what I do. I could just as easily have said "things that I regard as really dirty" because it's not logical to say that DH's pants are dirtier than mine, or than DS's socks are dirtier than my pants - but it's what I've been doing, without really giving it a whole lot of thought and I thought it was interesting.

Whites and very light colours
Bright colours
Darks
Socks and pants of any colour (the only thing I tumble dry)
Towels, flannels, teatowels (go on a hot wash)
Bedsheets on their own only cause they're a full load anyway

OP loving the queazy category
But do you hover to grab the washing out of the machine on second it's finished anyone?
I can't go out until it's hung up
Immaculately 😬

I do:
Whites
Darks
Reds & pinks
Towels
Bed linen

DH does his own sports stuff, he's very particular about how it's washed which is good as I don't fancy touching it.

We don't separate any colours or fabrics, we just empty the basket in (or as much as will fit out of the basket). We only use one setting on the machine so everything gets done on the same temp/spin.

The only thing that would go in separately actually is the bedding but that's because it's so bulky it's the only thing we can fit in when we do it and we need it all washing and drying quickly as we only have one set

In our house it’s:

• lights
• darks
• reds (term time only - DC school uniform!)
• bedding/towels (can be combined but usually either/or)
• delicates (done on hand wash cycle in machine)

Tea towels go in with towels, or in with darks if needed. No separating ‘queasy’ washing - if DH’s gym kit is in the dark wash I usually just stick some Dettol anti-bac laundry stuff in with that wash.

For those who very specific categories, eg. jeans, do you have lots of clothes? If I had to wait for there to be enough jeans for a load we’d all have to have about six pairs each!

I have:
lights,
darks and
dish clothes/tea towels/manky stuff

Towels/bed sheets/duvet covers go in with their colour code. I’d struggle with reds, but it isn’t my favourite colour so not an issue atm.

I have 4dc, so find it easy to fill my new 9kg washing machine. My previous 7kg meant I was hanging around for a lot of half washes.

My dd12 ASD and OCD needs to wash her own clothes. A source of much stress and anxiety to us all as her ‘stuff’ must not touch anyone elses. She really doesn’t like washing her clothes and it is a huge struggle. Sunday night is her wash night and when I can get her to do it she mixes the colour of her clothes - it’s hard for me to watch - white school shirts in with grey jumpers and skirts, her one white bra, and various brightly coloured clothing. Needless to say all the white clothing is now grey!

My new washer has improved the quality of the wash and drying time dramatically and in this crazy world has brought me a lot of happiness!

Whites
Darks & reds
Pastels

All at 40 degree short wash, the queasy items, all mixed together.
When I feel like it I wash towels at 60 degrees.
I wash bedding less often than most I think

And Monty, great add! I take the laundry out and hang it up as soon as I hear it finish. If it stays in there a few hours I’d rather do another wash again

@Monty27

OP loving the queazy category But do you hover to grab the washing out of the machine on second it's finished anyone? I can't go out until it's hung up Immaculately 😬

I frequently leave a load in the machine just sitting there overnight. And drying can stay in its basket for a few hours too.

My current tumble dryer takes ages to get things dry (and even then it all needs to go on the heated airer before it can be put away) so I end up with a queue of wet clothes that have been through the washer, waiting for the dryer. Looking forward to spring when I can get the rotary line out and hang it all in the sunshine.

@Covert19 just don't do that. It hurts me 😳🤭

@MrsWhistledown

We don't separate any colours or fabrics, we just empty the basket in (or as much as will fit out of the basket). We only use one setting on the machine so everything gets done on the same temp/spin.

The only thing that would go in separately actually is the bedding but that's because it's so bulky it's the only thing we can fit in when we do it and we need it all washing and drying quickly as we only have one set

This!! I used to separate stuff into whites, colours and darks but with a 2 week old baby that's now impossible. I now just grab a random armful of clothes out of the basket and wash everything at 30'C