Radical laundry reduction

YORKSHIRELASS

One thing to think about is making sure that things really need washing. Before my MSE days I never really thought about the cost of washing things, the powder, fabric conditioner, electric, tumble dryer if needed etc.

I moan at my kids for leaving clothes on the floor so they find it easier to just scoop everything into the laundry basket and get out new clothes on a morning rather than check if its clean. I really dont believe that things need washing after every wear - unless its sports stuff/undies or its really hot weather.

leandygandy - I once took the opposite approach to you when there were clothes all over OH's side of the bed. I stuffed everything back in his drawers, whether they were clean or dirty! Made no difference though.

abwsco

When my DD's left washing on the floor I hid it. They soon got the message when they had no clothes left to wear and their friends wouldn't lend them any:p

bluebag

Flippin' heck, was just finishing off some stuff in the dryer off the line and the thing just gave up the ghost!
Car tax this month, new phone for one that got stolen and now I need a new dryer... strewth. Well at least that's the three things now then.:mad:

valk_scot

randomer wrote: »

Is using a tumble drier really expensive?

Ours died a couple of years ago. One year later we were looking at our summary electricity bill wondering why it had dropped from around £500 to £400 over the year. After about a day it suddenly dawned on me that the only difference in what we'd used that year was the tumble dryer. 20% of the electricity bill....:eek:


I actually find it easier not to use the TD by the way. The way I sort things out now to hang them up means that they're mostly sorted for putting away also. Clothes don't shrink as much, they dry with less creases when hung up on hangers and I have the satisfaction of not wasting money. It is useful though for when we return from holiday or in emergencies so I will get it fixed if not too expensive.

valk_scot

leandygandy wrote: »

I'm the opposite to a lot of you - if it's on the floor it goes in the wash. I could handle a small pile in the corner of the room as 'worn but not yet dirty' but when the whole of his side of the room is strewn with clothes? no no no he WILL learn to be a bit tidier! The number of times I've been asked 'where's my T-shirt?' and I've innocently replied 'Oh there were so many clothes all over the floor I didn't know what was clean or dirty so I washed it all. If you folded the clean clothes up and put them in a pile I'd know to leave them alone' mwahahaha I am evil.

I can completely ignore clothes on the floor for days, weeks or even months. I usually put the call out for dirty washing to be put into the basket while I'm sorting it so it's not like they don't get every chance. The kids are 15 and nearly 10 btw so not like they're toddlers. The worst culprit though is my Hubby, who will happily let a couple of weeks of once worn clothes pile up on his side of the bed until it dawns on him he's nothing clean to wear. Second best is DD, who wears her knickers and socks to go to bed then takes them off and stuffs them down the back of the headboard. ATM I fine her 10p off her pocket money for every item found stuffed under the bed at noon on Saturday, so they usually reach the basket sometime on Saturday morning.

LolaLemon

abwsco wrote: »

When my DD's left washing on the floor I hid it. They soon got the message when they had no clothes left to wear and their friends wouldn't lend them any:p

I love that! I will be keeping this to use on my son when older, if he turns out like me (but then I had a mum who didn't let me learn domestic stuff, hence why I am soo bad at it now, slowly learning that their is no magic fairy who does it all for u)

raven83

abwsco wrote: »

When my DD's left washing on the floor I hid it. They soon got the message when they had no clothes left to wear and their friends wouldn't lend them any:p

that is such a good idea i am going to try that!:D

chanie

I detest doing laundry - its the one task I can't be bothered with.

There are two of us and a baby (well, he's one, but still my baby). DS is getting the stage now where I don't have to change is clothes more than once a day, so it is getting easier.

I normally save most of the washing unitl the weekend as OH and I both work full time. I normally wash the main clothes and underwear seperately - I find it so much easier dealing with this stuff seperately. It probably doesn't make much sense and is pobably illigoical, but its the way I do it. We don't have a tumble drier, so it either goes outside on the line or on an airier or on the raidiators.

I never iron.

mummyroysof3

i think im naughty and atm washing drives me mad and ive been not seperating towels or bedding from the clothes, is it just me? i must do 10 loads a week for 5 of us..only 1 of them white

bluebag

mummyroysof3 wrote: »

i think im naughty and atm washing drives me mad and ive been not seperating towels or bedding from the clothes, is it just me? i must do 10 loads a week for 5 of us..only 1 of them white

No, I think it drives most of us mad, especially when it's raining and you've got it festooned all over the house like carnival bunting.

I remember as a nipper my mum doing all her washing and hanging it on a huge maiden round the fire, place filled with steam, my mum in a bad mood and the heat from the fire all blocked with the washing.