How long do your clothes stay clean?

[hazchem]

Ok maybe this should be in Good HOusekeeping but...

so I have a 1 year old. Pre DS I could wear a pair of trousers for several days. Jumpers for quite a few. Now it feels like as soon as i put something on it's grubby. Has yogurt or snot or sneeze or sauce or crumbs.

I'm really trying to make an effort to wear nice outfits as I feel better when I look nice.

So how long do you manage to stay looking clean with small children around?

Am i doing the parenting thing wrong?

One word: Apron.

About 2 minutes here, especially with dd2 and her current cold - I am a heap. Hoping for longer when I'm back at work

about 5 minutes. it's usually grubby marks on the back of my trousers from dd constantly hanging off my leg.

I have a cousin with two small boys who always looks immaculate. I exploded with indignation one day and demanded to know her secrets...

Basically she wears sweatpants and old t-shirts all day and changes last minute before leaving the house for anything or having anyone over. So simple when you have it explained...except I run out of time to change so I've given up on it and just get snot on my normal clothes. Babywipes help.

No you are doing it right IMO. I have a toddler and an almost 1 year old, and clothes do get grubby really fast.

I have 3 pairs of jeans all the same and 10 tops of various kinds that are my 'uniform' for want of a better word. If one half of me gets dirty I can sub in a clean item without needing to change my whole outfit/shoes/etc.

I do wear nicer clothes if we are meeting friends for lunch, or visiting family or whatever, but for a standard 'at home' day, with preschool run, errands to do, housework, meals, coffee with a friend, then I stick to my 'uniform'.

To answer the question properly, usually get porridged by about 7.40. If I try to get dressed after breakfast the judgey smirker of a postman catches me without fail.

My DS is 17mo and I share your pain.

I must confess to wearing a crappy pair of sweat pants in the house with a polo shirt - and then "glamming up" when we go out in the afternoon (DS usually naps 10-12 so afternoon is meet ups and play time).

DH does much the same when he's on DS duty.

Snot and weetabix mix takes weeks to wash out!

I know what you mean, I bought a lovely cream cardigan, which looks lovely for around one day before it goes in the machine. Might get a beige one next time...

One hour. Literally. That is the time between the cleaner leaving and DS getting home from school.

Will answer you right away, will just need to remove the snot from my sleeve first.

Ok so that was the house. Clothes... Not very long. I am a messy madam and always have chocolate stains on me, which is why I never every wear white or light colours.

Snot + Weetabix could be used for house building I think - sets solid

Ooh charlottery - we may just have designed a new Eco building product...

Oh I feel so much better!

I'm liking the apron idea. I would love to change before leaving the house but just know I'm far to lazy to do this.

How ever the uniform thing might work but I might try to call it a capsule wardrobe.

Right Weetabix time! Save me from the cement

I go for the apron thing too. Feel like my Mum, who used to wear a nylon overall most of the time (even when we were grown up) to keep her clothes clean.

I have house clothes. I wear tracksuit bottoms and a vest in the house and get dressed when we are going out.