Does everyone else's teens do their own laundry?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't see how it's efficient to have everyone do their own laundry - in our 4 person household, I do 4-5 loads of clothes per week (1 whites, 1 delicates, 2-3 colors) - we'd need a lot more clothes if everyone individually amassed enough dirty laundry to run their own load(s)! I do have my newly-10 year old stripping her bed and putting the sheets in the wash every weekend. My 4 year old likes to help move clothes from the washer to the dryer. And I don't fold/put away clothes - everyone gets a pile of clean stuff on their bed to put away.

This is the tween and teen forum. You of course don’t think it’s efficient when your kids are 10 and 4. Most of us here actually have tweens and teens who need to be doing this as they’re imminently approaching leaving the nest. This is like me going to the elementary forum and chiding parents for still packing their kids’ lunch for them or something. The forums are separate because the ages are relevant to these convos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids are 11 and 13 and have never done their own laundry. I thought this was normal, but over in another thread, most commenters are saying their kids have done their own laundry since they were tweens/teens. For context, I don't mind -- I telework and it's easy to throw some laundry in over the course of the day. As housework goes, I don't hate it. Also, I never did my own laundry as a kid. I had other chores but my parents did my laundry for me until I went to college. Do most kids transition to doing their own laundry at some point while still living at home?

Since tweens

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see how it's efficient to have everyone do their own laundry - in our 4 person household, I do 4-5 loads of clothes per week (1 whites, 1 delicates, 2-3 colors) - we'd need a lot more clothes if everyone individually amassed enough dirty laundry to run their own load(s)! I do have my newly-10 year old stripping her bed and putting the sheets in the wash every weekend. My 4 year old likes to help move clothes from the washer to the dryer. And I don't fold/put away clothes - everyone gets a pile of clean stuff on their bed to put away.

This is the tween and teen forum. You of course don’t think it’s efficient when your kids are 10 and 4. Most of us here actually have tweens and teens who need to be doing this as they’re imminently approaching leaving the nest. This is like me going to the elementary forum and chiding parents for still packing their kids’ lunch for them or something. The forums are separate because the ages are relevant to these convos.

I have a teen and I don't think its efficient. We all do each other as needed. And, I made my kids lunches too as I was making ours. I find it weird doing nothing for your kids especially if they are extremely busy between school and activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see how it's efficient to have everyone do their own laundry - in our 4 person household, I do 4-5 loads of clothes per week (1 whites, 1 delicates, 2-3 colors) - we'd need a lot more clothes if everyone individually amassed enough dirty laundry to run their own load(s)! I do have my newly-10 year old stripping her bed and putting the sheets in the wash every weekend. My 4 year old likes to help move clothes from the washer to the dryer. And I don't fold/put away clothes - everyone gets a pile of clean stuff on their bed to put away.

This is the tween and teen forum. You of course don’t think it’s efficient when your kids are 10 and 4. Most of us here actually have tweens and teens who need to be doing this as they’re imminently approaching leaving the nest. This is like me going to the elementary forum and chiding parents for still packing their kids’ lunch for them or something. The forums are separate because the ages are relevant to these convos.

I have a teen and I don't think it’s efficient. We all do each other as needed. And, I made my kids lunches too as I was making ours. I find it weird doing nothing for your kids especially if they are extremely busy between school and activities.

Ok. Your kids need life skills. We all like to do for our kids but I can’t send them to college to terrorize dorm mates and roommates because they can’t do basic cleaning and self maintenance. There’s a point it’s time to hand some stuff over for their own good.

[Anonymous]

Everyone should know how to do their laundry. It’s part of taking care of yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see how it's efficient to have everyone do their own laundry - in our 4 person household, I do 4-5 loads of clothes per week (1 whites, 1 delicates, 2-3 colors) - we'd need a lot more clothes if everyone individually amassed enough dirty laundry to run their own load(s)! I do have my newly-10 year old stripping her bed and putting the sheets in the wash every weekend. My 4 year old likes to help move clothes from the washer to the dryer. And I don't fold/put away clothes - everyone gets a pile of clean stuff on their bed to put away.

This is the tween and teen forum. You of course don’t think it’s efficient when your kids are 10 and 4. Most of us here actually have tweens and teens who need to be doing this as they’re imminently approaching leaving the nest. This is like me going to the elementary forum and chiding parents for still packing their kids’ lunch for them or something. The forums are separate because the ages are relevant to these convos.

I have a teen and I don't think its efficient. We all do each other as needed. And, I made my kids lunches too as I was making ours. I find it weird doing nothing for your kids especially if they are extremely busy between school and activities.

Personally, I find it weird having teens not pitch in with chores because they are “extremely busy.” Working parents are busy, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see how it's efficient to have everyone do their own laundry - in our 4 person household, I do 4-5 loads of clothes per week (1 whites, 1 delicates, 2-3 colors) - we'd need a lot more clothes if everyone individually amassed enough dirty laundry to run their own load(s)! I do have my newly-10 year old stripping her bed and putting the sheets in the wash every weekend. My 4 year old likes to help move clothes from the washer to the dryer. And I don't fold/put away clothes - everyone gets a pile of clean stuff on their bed to put away.

This is the tween and teen forum. You of course don’t think it’s efficient when your kids are 10 and 4. Most of us here actually have tweens and teens who need to be doing this as they’re imminently approaching leaving the nest. This is like me going to the elementary forum and chiding parents for still packing their kids’ lunch for them or something. The forums are separate because the ages are relevant to these convos.

I have a teen and I don't think its efficient. We all do each other as needed. And, I made my kids lunches too as I was making ours. I find it weird doing nothing for your kids especially if they are extremely busy between school and activities.

Personally, I find it weird having teens not pitch in with chores because they are “extremely busy.” Working parents are busy, too.

Right? Yes my kids are busy with school, rehearsal, practice- and they can still clean their own bathroom on a Saturday. Not ever having your kids contribute to the household, especially their OWN messes and areas of the house, is a surefire way to raise a brat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see how it's efficient to have everyone do their own laundry - in our 4 person household, I do 4-5 loads of clothes per week (1 whites, 1 delicates, 2-3 colors) - we'd need a lot more clothes if everyone individually amassed enough dirty laundry to run their own load(s)! I do have my newly-10 year old stripping her bed and putting the sheets in the wash every weekend. My 4 year old likes to help move clothes from the washer to the dryer. And I don't fold/put away clothes - everyone gets a pile of clean stuff on their bed to put away.

This is the tween and teen forum. You of course don’t think it’s efficient when your kids are 10 and 4. Most of us here actually have tweens and teens who need to be doing this as they’re imminently approaching leaving the nest. This is like me going to the elementary forum and chiding parents for still packing their kids’ lunch for them or something. The forums are separate because the ages are relevant to these convos.

I have a teen and I don't think its efficient. We all do each other as needed. And, I made my kids lunches too as I was making ours. I find it weird doing nothing for your kids especially if they are extremely busy between school and activities.

I did the same. My kids are young adults and doing great. One is a way more adept chef than I am! Every family should do what works for them.

[Anonymous]

Yes my kid does his own laundry but not a huge amount of other chores so I’m sure it evens out.

[Anonymous]

Yes, 12 and 14.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC Started doing their own laundry as they started high school. When their schedules are tight, I’ll help them out.

+1

[Anonymous]

When I was a boy about age 12, I helped do the household laundry. Mom worked as a teacher, which meant she was home, but most days was busy grading papers or such. At first, she told me how to do it step by step. After 2-3 months, I would do it solo.

Our laundry was not very complicated. We always used a cold water PP wash cycle, but we did separate the whites from the colors.

[Anonymous]

My son *knows* how to do his own laundry (let’s be honest folks, it isn’t rocket science) but I generally do it for him.

But my he can cook an amazing dinner for us and changes my car’s oil for me.

[Anonymous]

My 3 kids ranging from 9-15 do their own laundry, including their beddings. I help out when they are too busy (and the younger they were) but they are always responsible for putting their clothes away (that way, they know where everything is (ideally).

They’ve also been getting their lunch together since before middle school (altho I cut up fruit all the time). But my HS kid now buys their lunches at the school cafeteria.

They all have other chores too. But as some PPs have said, we are flexible if someone has more pressing obligations like school and an extracurricular commitment.

If they develop amazing cooking skills (they have not yet despite my attempts), I will happily do their laundry! Cooking is one task their dad and I would like to delegate more often!

[Anonymous]

Nope. My kids and my DH know how to do laundry, but I do the laundry every day. At least 2 loads- daily.

Why?

The family quickly falls into doing lazy laundry. Minimal sorting, whole lot of products, hot water, large loads, don't fold, pile dried clothes on the sofa - It is gross and the clothes come out looking dingy and pilled.

- I sort clothes into many categories,
- I treat stains and work on stains until they disappear
- I use color catcher in my loads, lysol sanitizer for stinky clothes
- I use minimal products and speciality products when washing clothes
- I uses extra rinse to get all products out of the fabric
- I use different settings (size, temp, duration etc) for each load to make the clothes come out clean and not wear them out.
- I clean the washer/dryer. Make sure that the doors are propped open, drain out the filter, remove lint, use affresh to sanitize it.

Family does laundry in a lackadaisical manner. They are waiting for personal robots to do all this work.