Flat mate hogging the bloody washing machine!

SuzieSue

claire16c wrote: »

The one wash a week thing makes sense I guess but then don't you separate out colours? Like for instance I have pale pink or beige tops that if I put in with my jeans or dark stuff the colours could get damaged.

I wash mine & my husbands stuff together in groups of colours, and then shove all underwear in on separate high temp wash.

No, I don't separate out colours (my white bras are all grey) as I don't buy white clothes.

SuzieSue

patchwork_cat wrote: »

Don't you wash yours and husband's clothes together? I think you are maybe a bit hung up on bacteria. Unless you are immunocompromised in which case you are right to be cautious, but if not are you aware of how many bacteria colonise your body already? Plenty of which we live in a symbiotic relationship with.

My husband does have multiple sclerosis, but that isn't why I do our washing separately - I lived on my own for a few years and just got used to doing all my washing in one wash and then started doing all my husband's in one wash without thinking. When I lived with my ex I used to do all the washing together.

patchwork_cat

My DH has just asked if SuzieSue has a 60 degree shower!

OK so if your DH is immunocompromised you may be advised to be wary with his washing, although I really wouldn't buy into all this 'Oh germs' hysteria that the media and the companies like Dettol spread.

As you live together I would feel that you have come across each others bacteria often enough without any harm that your washing sharing a machine would be unlikely to harm your DH.

SuzieSue

patchwork_cat wrote: »

My DH has just asked if SuzieSue has a 60 degree shower!

No, it's 38 degrees at least that is what is says on the thermostat.

Dunroamin

SuzieSue wrote: »

All I meant was that I couldn't fit all the duvet covers and sheets in the same wash as everything else.

Fair enough, I thought you were worrying about germs.:)

Dunroamin

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

In contrast I've flat or house-shared for decades in the past and have never mixed my laundry with anyone else's that I've lived with. I think it's a disinclination to handle other people's smalls or have anyone else handle mine. I dunno, but whatever it is, it isn't silly. Just different to you.

I don't even "handle" my own smalls when doing the washing, but whatever turns you on.;)

patchwork_cat

SuzieSue wrote: »

No, it's 38 degrees at least that is what is says on the thermostat.

That was meant to put your fears into context in a humorous way! You have the same bacteria all over your skin and in orifices, but you can't wash that at 60 degrees, so as it is the same bacteria on your clothes, I wouldn't worry about it. My mum was a GP and Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health and washed all our clothes at 40.

SuzieSue

Dunroamin wrote: »

Fair enough, I thought you were worrying about germs.:)

And I also wanted to make it clear that I change my bedding once a week as well!

But I am probably a bit ocd as well, but it surprised me that someone said that a male flatmate didn't want them touching their washing. I've never met a man who would care about something like that.

DCFC79

Nice to see you sorted it OP.

Takeaway_Addict

lady1964 wrote: »

Perhaps he has some form of OCD?

I can't really think of any other explanation for constantly washing clothes like that, it's bizarre. Even when it was just me & my DH in an apartment together, I only did our clothes washing 3 times a week, with bedding & towels once weekly, so 5 times a week total!

I think you do need to speak to your flatmate, 3 times a day, every day isn't on and he needs to understand there are 2 of you living there and need equal access.

Good luck!

14 posts after the OP before someone mentions OCD. It does sound like someone that is suffering and could do with some help.