Am I Dirty?

[DirtyGirl]

Not as exciting as the title suggests, I'm afraid, but wanted to get your advice/ views on this...
I like to think I keep my family reasonably clean and healthy, but think I am realistic, and am not a 'laundry fanatic' - particularly since dh & I both work full time and we have a toddler and a baby.
Anyway, had a 'debate' with dh the other day, when I asked him whether he really needed to put his shirts into the laundry after just wearing for one day.
I should point out that we're talking about the thick, checked,Timberland-type heavy cotton sort, which he always wears open-necked with a white T shirt underneath (his company has a casual dress policy)
Well basically his response made me feel as if I was being accused of being a slovenly bitch who didn't wash....
My other general principles include:

• only wash tops/shirts/jumpers (when worn over T-shirts etc) after 2-3 wears, or if visibly dirty/ smell of food/smoke etc
• kids PJs/babygros (bedtime) get worn for 3-4 nights(unless accidents occur)
• kids trousers worn twice (unless visibily dirty, or wet etc)
• kids jumpers/tops - changed daily (always dirty/messy)
• all underwear/ socks changed daily

Is this unreasonable? Am I dirty?
(Have changed my name in case the verdict is a resounding YES, in which case I can safely skulk away in shame..)
P.S. Seemed an appropriate thread, given Persil's sponsorship of Mumsnet?

Yes, Yes!! I was convinced shoe manufacturers had all changed their sizing policy. Am now an embarrassingly clumpy size 7 (although I'm reliably informed by fashion-stylist friend that most gorgeous models have size 7 feet too. Sadly I don't have the endless legs to match.)

Marina, you are brave, I darent admit that I love L'Occitane water on my sheets, in fact, OK, I'll admit it, I use Jo Malone Linen spray when I can afford it. There!

Never use my steriliser though, it makes me feel better having it sitting on the side in the kitchen but it never gets used - everything goes through the dishwasher and thats it. I then put them away in the draw which isnt pristine either...but no tummy bugs yet...

Snap Enid - a bottle does last an awfully long time though doesn't it.

DirtyGirl!

I don't think you're dirty, unless I'm a complete slob too! My general principles are similar to yours and with me, dh and ds I still end up doing 4+ big (6kg) washes a week: quite enough for me! Remind your dh of the cost of detergent, water, the earth's resources!!!

Good for you. If only a man did the washing!
I am not as fortunate as you, my childrens' clothes are lucky to last one day without needing a wash and that includes the PJ's. But I only wash my partners fleece every two or three days.

If it's not dirty don't wash it. It will save on expensives i.e. washing powder/liquid, conditioner, water softner, electricity and wear and tear on the washing machine (I need mine replacing every two to three years :-(

Washing several times a day also takes up valuable time that could be used more wisely especially if you use a washing line to dry it.

Hope that helps :-)

I'm so happy this thread was started, it's something I have wondered about as I try to continually catch up with the household chores and now it's been confirmed by mumsnet once again... I'm normal!!

Is anyone else a laundry sniffer? When I'm hanging out my washing or putting newly washed stuff away I can't resist burying my nose in at least every third item to savour the smell. Doesn't matter what flavour fab cond I've used, I just love the newly washed fragrance!

Size 7 RosieT? I am a boat like size 10 and have been since I was about 17 - was paranoid thay would increase in size when I was pregnant.
Dont let anyone ever tell you that women can't be big boned (as some ridiculous occupational health nurse once told me! B*tch!)

Cartman's not fat, he's just big boned. But then he's a cartoon character. Do you get fat skeletons then?

Slug - some (ex)manky-footed men I used to know swore by the Surgical Spirit cure. Wipe the feet nightly with neat spirit for a few weeks. Scares feet into submission apparently!

When I was at school, 15-16 years old, my best mate wore a size 10. She was nearly six feet tall! Both of us normally wore Doc Martens, mine being a size 3. One day she had to go to a smart 'do' with her parents and was forced to get a pair of 'proper' shoes. We had to go to the biggest branch of Lilley & Skinner in London, Oxford Street, who had womens shoes in that size. They produced 1 pair of black courts with a 2 inch heel. Lovely! Is it very difficult for you to get any 'girly' shoes in your size, if you need them, Susanmt?

I get most shoes from Evans (where I but most of my clothes anyway), but all my trainers/boots etc are mens ones. I have 1 apir of girly boots, one pair of girly shoes and one apir of girly sandals. You stop bothering about shoes when you just cant get them. I am almost 6 feet and a size 20 so no one had better want a fight! My feet are good kickers!

Susanmt, we could recreate that great scene in the Simpsons - you walk towards me kicking your feet and I'll swing my fists about!

ok!