If I'm realistic, I need machine-washable, tumble-dryable...

[Bella73]

... EVERYTHING. Please tell me I don't have to be kitted out head to toe in M&S???

It's just unrealistic of me to think that I will hand wash or dry clean or even hang out to dry on a regular basis.

I bow down to people who can. I don't even sort my washing. And with a 2yo and a 10 month old, I end up having to wash pretty much everything I wear every day as I'm covered in snot/yoghurt/porridge/slobber by the end of the day.

I love reading style threads and looking at links. But then so much of the lovely stuff is hand wash or dry clean. Even the ones that are machine washable and that I love, don't go in the tumble dryer (White Stuff).

Is M&S my only option?

do you really need to tumble? Couldn't you hang on hangers and put over eg shower rail? It would open up your choices!

No shower rail (we have one of those shower screen things that is actually more trouble than it's worth but that's another story...) though that would be a good idea.

Nowhere in our pretty small house for a clotheshorse. Downstairs totally open plan so no way to keep my toddler and baby away from stuff (even when it's on radiators) that is drying which is why I've given up.

If weather's good I can leave outside but how many days a year can you guarantee good weather? Plus am so disorganised, not good at getting stuff out and then back in before the rain or whatever

I wash most of my "hand wash only" stuff on a delicates or wool wash and I have only ever had one tragedy as a result.

In terms of drying space, we were short on space and I got DH to put a towel rail up above the window of the utility room (but you could do this in a bathroom), bought some plastic hangers and now I dry stuff on there. Saves having stuff on radiators or trying to find space for a drying rack.

I would say though that from March until September, I pretty much use my washing line every day except for in real dire weather circumstances.