Why do people get obsessed over laundry?

[Anonymous]

I used to have one of those European All-In-One washer+dryer machines and I LOVED LOVED LOVED it! You load it in the morning and go to work. When you come home, it's about to stop (8 hours later) and you just remove everything, shake it out, and put it on a hanger. In about 30 minutes the steam has evaporated and it's ready to hang in your closet. No more switching things over from the washer to the dryer. It's fantastic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t you guys have a lot of “special” laundry? I feel like I have so much!

Wool socks. Wool sweaters. Wool everything in winter. Kid coats.

Things with oil stains.

Swimsuits and pool towels all summer.

Actually part of it may be that I don’t like to dry clean anything I don’t really have to. But, I’m also not usually overwhelmed by laundry. I’m often ANNOYED by laundry. But never obsessed.

My brother got divorced and non of his white things are white any more, the kids clothes are all dingy and they can’t have wool anything. They’re fine! But I don’t want to do it that way.

We could live together because I feel the same way about laundry. Once I sort out the special stuff and air dry the other special stuff and iron some stuff and fluff other things, I have great-looking clothes but it takes forever! ExDH was in the “laundry isn’t a big deal” camp, but he would leave his so long that he was perpetually buying new underwear (and wearing it without washing it first) or washing everything together and just spending a ton of money to replace what got ruined.

My brother washes everything together in one big load- kitchen rags, dish towels, work jeans, baby clothes, sheets. It’s all sort of grayish and pilled and his clothing and sheets always smell sort of like cooking smells or garage no matter what detergent he uses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t you guys have a lot of “special” laundry? I feel like I have so much!

Wool socks. Wool sweaters. Wool everything in winter. Kid coats.

Things with oil stains.

Swimsuits and pool towels all summer.

Actually part of it may be that I don’t like to dry clean anything I don’t really have to. But, I’m also not usually overwhelmed by laundry. I’m often ANNOYED by laundry. But never obsessed.

My brother got divorced and non of his white things are white any more, the kids clothes are all dingy and they can’t have wool anything. They’re fine! But I don’t want to do it that way.

Me too, I have silks and wool and items I can’t dry or need ironed. It’s a lot- not just throw in and walk away. I’m pretty particular about my fabrics.

+1

Clothes that are treated properly have a longer life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t you guys have a lot of “special” laundry? I feel like I have so much!

Wool socks. Wool sweaters. Wool everything in winter. Kid coats.

Things with oil stains.

Swimsuits and pool towels all summer.

Actually part of it may be that I don’t like to dry clean anything I don’t really have to. But, I’m also not usually overwhelmed by laundry. I’m often ANNOYED by laundry. But never obsessed.

My brother got divorced and non of his white things are white any more, the kids clothes are all dingy and they can’t have wool anything. They’re fine! But I don’t want to do it that way.

Swimsuits go with regular laundry.
Pool towels go with regular towels.
I can't remember the last time we had oil stains (or blood or wine), but stains are pre-treated, then everything goes into the regular laundry.
We have lots of woolens. They go into the regular laundry. Wool is a very resistant fabric. The delicate wool is air dried.
I wear fancy hosiery - it goes into the delicate bag with my fancy bras and then air-dried.

I have a large top loading non-fancy washer and set the clothes at delicate/warm/light soil, because top loaders are known to be hard on clothes. Clothes are dried slowly at a very low setting. That way, it's all washed/dried perfectly, instead of being mauled, and it means I can throw everything in there. Bedding and towels are washed and dried on regular/hot cycles. The dog's messy towels and my washable rugs are on extra long hot cycles.

Sometimes my horse-back riding kid comes home with more mud than fibers on her clothes and those get their own wash, but usually they don't let horses and riders muddy themselves too much.

I've been doing this for decades and it's never been a problem. I rarely dry-clean clothes, because 1) we don't have many of those, and 2) lots of "dry clean" items can actually be washed on delicate at home.

I'll let you do you on the rest of it, but the bolded is a problem. Wool is great, but you're making felt doing that. water+agitation = felt, and it goes even faster if you add soap. Throwing your woolens into the washing machine will felt them, resulting in garment shrinkage.

Wool is naturally antimicrobial, and can go through several wearings before needing a wash. That's how you save time. Don't spray them with perfume or wear them over heavy body lotion and you can wear them a few times. If you need to, you can even put them in a bag in the freezer to freshen them up. When they're in need of a cleaning, soak them in warm water with a wool wash (don't swish them around!), and then a couple rounds of soaking in clear water. roll them in a towel, gently press out the water, and lay flat to dry. If you really want to save time (and water), there's a wash called SOAK that doesn't need to be rinsed.

[Anonymous]

I think my biggest issue with it is that there is no dedicated time to do it, so it falls into the realm of something I need to do with my free time. Ironically, I think it felt like less of a chore when I was broke and had to take the kids to the laundromat once a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do people get so obsessed and overwhelmed by laundry?

It’s not like you a washing it by a river-you put it in the machine and it’s done.

Done with what? That is just one step before and after several more steps.

[Anonymous]

It seems to me that the people who obsess over it are people who can’t stand to have dirty clothes sitting around. I personally don’t care if I have dirty clothes, they sit in a hamper in my closet. If something is stained, I spray it with Oxy Clean then throw it in the hamper and wait until Sunday when I do the laundry.
I usually do three loads on Sunday: two of mine and DH’s clothes, one of our towels.
Cleaning lady does the sheets
My kids have done their own laundry, including sheets and towels since age 10.
I don’t understand why you would do a load every night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t you guys have a lot of “special” laundry? I feel like I have so much!

Wool socks. Wool sweaters. Wool everything in winter. Kid coats.

Things with oil stains.

Swimsuits and pool towels all summer.

Actually part of it may be that I don’t like to dry clean anything I don’t really have to. But, I’m also not usually overwhelmed by laundry. I’m often ANNOYED by laundry. But never obsessed.

My brother got divorced and non of his white things are white any more, the kids clothes are all dingy and they can’t have wool anything. They’re fine! But I don’t want to do it that way.

Swimsuits go with regular laundry.
Pool towels go with regular towels.
I can't remember the last time we had oil stains (or blood or wine), but stains are pre-treated, then everything goes into the regular laundry.
We have lots of woolens. They go into the regular laundry. Wool is a very resistant fabric. The delicate wool is air dried.
I wear fancy hosiery - it goes into the delicate bag with my fancy bras and then air-dried.

I have a large top loading non-fancy washer and set the clothes at delicate/warm/light soil, because top loaders are known to be hard on clothes. Clothes are dried slowly at a very low setting. That way, it's all washed/dried perfectly, instead of being mauled, and it means I can throw everything in there. Bedding and towels are washed and dried on regular/hot cycles. The dog's messy towels and my washable rugs are on extra long hot cycles.

Sometimes my horse-back riding kid comes home with more mud than fibers on her clothes and those get their own wash, but usually they don't let horses and riders muddy themselves too much.

I've been doing this for decades and it's never been a problem. I rarely dry-clean clothes, because 1) we don't have many of those, and 2) lots of "dry clean" items can actually be washed on delicate at home.

You’re not washing saddle pads or wraps then.

Why would I do that in my own home? The stables do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t you guys have a lot of “special” laundry? I feel like I have so much!

Wool socks. Wool sweaters. Wool everything in winter. Kid coats.

Things with oil stains.

Swimsuits and pool towels all summer.

Actually part of it may be that I don’t like to dry clean anything I don’t really have to. But, I’m also not usually overwhelmed by laundry. I’m often ANNOYED by laundry. But never obsessed.

My brother got divorced and non of his white things are white any more, the kids clothes are all dingy and they can’t have wool anything. They’re fine! But I don’t want to do it that way.

Swimsuits go with regular laundry.
Pool towels go with regular towels.
I can't remember the last time we had oil stains (or blood or wine), but stains are pre-treated, then everything goes into the regular laundry.
We have lots of woolens. They go into the regular laundry. Wool is a very resistant fabric. The delicate wool is air dried.
I wear fancy hosiery - it goes into the delicate bag with my fancy bras and then air-dried.

I have a large top loading non-fancy washer and set the clothes at delicate/warm/light soil, because top loaders are known to be hard on clothes. Clothes are dried slowly at a very low setting. That way, it's all washed/dried perfectly, instead of being mauled, and it means I can throw everything in there. Bedding and towels are washed and dried on regular/hot cycles. The dog's messy towels and my washable rugs are on extra long hot cycles.

Sometimes my horse-back riding kid comes home with more mud than fibers on her clothes and those get their own wash, but usually they don't let horses and riders muddy themselves too much.

I've been doing this for decades and it's never been a problem. I rarely dry-clean clothes, because 1) we don't have many of those, and 2) lots of "dry clean" items can actually be washed on delicate at home.

I'll let you do you on the rest of it, but the bolded is a problem. Wool is great, but you're making felt doing that. water+agitation = felt, and it goes even faster if you add soap. Throwing your woolens into the washing machine will felt them, resulting in garment shrinkage.

Wool is naturally antimicrobial, and can go through several wearings before needing a wash. That's how you save time. Don't spray them with perfume or wear them over heavy body lotion and you can wear them a few times. If you need to, you can even put them in a bag in the freezer to freshen them up. When they're in need of a cleaning, soak them in warm water with a wool wash (don't swish them around!), and then a couple rounds of soaking in clear water. roll them in a towel, gently press out the water, and lay flat to dry. If you really want to save time (and water), there's a wash called SOAK that doesn't need to be rinsed.

Yes, I know all that. I grew up in Scotland, with sheep and wool. As I said, they are washed on delicate. They are also not washed often, except the socks, which hold up extremely well in the wash (but the socks are not 100% wool). I don't know why you're trying to find a problem, but there isn't one. I wasn't the one who complained about laundry.

[Anonymous]

For me the key is that every trip to the laundry room moves multiple loads along.

One load goes in, one load gets moved to the dryer/clothesline, one load gets folded.

But I'll note why it seems like a burden, too: because ONE PERSON is doing the laundry for the whole household. Anyone not doing the actual dealing with the machines should be folding/putting away their own stuff.

[Anonymous]

I do all our laundry. I fold it as it comes out of the dryer, and then I put everything away.

It’s a never-ending, mind-numbing time suck.

I’m actually floored by people who don’t feel this way. Are you just dumping it all out on the bed or something?

[Anonymous]

I load the washing machine and put it in the dryer whenever I get to it. What is the hurry to get there exactly when it is done?

I may put it over night, then change it in the morning and then fold it in the evening. If they are crumpled, just add a few minutes in high heat and if you again do not pick them up on time, do the few minutes in high again.

This is the easiest and least mentally tasking chore there is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t you guys have a lot of “special” laundry? I feel like I have so much!

Wool socks. Wool sweaters. Wool everything in winter. Kid coats.

Things with oil stains.

Swimsuits and pool towels all summer.

Actually part of it may be that I don’t like to dry clean anything I don’t really have to. But, I’m also not usually overwhelmed by laundry. I’m often ANNOYED by laundry. But never obsessed.

My brother got divorced and non of his white things are white any more, the kids clothes are all dingy and they can’t have wool anything. They’re fine! But I don’t want to do it that way.

Swimsuits go with regular laundry.
Pool towels go with regular towels.
I can't remember the last time we had oil stains (or blood or wine), but stains are pre-treated, then everything goes into the regular laundry.
We have lots of woolens. They go into the regular laundry. Wool is a very resistant fabric. The delicate wool is air dried.
I wear fancy hosiery - it goes into the delicate bag with my fancy bras and then air-dried.

I have a large top loading non-fancy washer and set the clothes at delicate/warm/light soil, because top loaders are known to be hard on clothes. Clothes are dried slowly at a very low setting. That way, it's all washed/dried perfectly, instead of being mauled, and it means I can throw everything in there. Bedding and towels are washed and dried on regular/hot cycles. The dog's messy towels and my washable rugs are on extra long hot cycles.

Sometimes my horse-back riding kid comes home with more mud than fibers on her clothes and those get their own wash, but usually they don't let horses and riders muddy themselves too much.

I've been doing this for decades and it's never been a problem. I rarely dry-clean clothes, because 1) we don't have many of those, and 2) lots of "dry clean" items can actually be washed on delicate at home.

I'll let you do you on the rest of it, but the bolded is a problem. Wool is great, but you're making felt doing that. water+agitation = felt, and it goes even faster if you add soap. Throwing your woolens into the washing machine will felt them, resulting in garment shrinkage.

Wool is naturally antimicrobial, and can go through several wearings before needing a wash. That's how you save time. Don't spray them with perfume or wear them over heavy body lotion and you can wear them a few times. If you need to, you can even put them in a bag in the freezer to freshen them up. When they're in need of a cleaning, soak them in warm water with a wool wash (don't swish them around!), and then a couple rounds of soaking in clear water. roll them in a towel, gently press out the water, and lay flat to dry. If you really want to save time (and water), there's a wash called SOAK that doesn't need to be rinsed.

I love soak. It’s absolutely lovely. I also use kookaburra detergent for woolens.

[Anonymous]

We are a family of four (now 3 most of the time as one kid is in college). I’ve always done laundry once/week on weekends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people get so obsessed and overwhelmed by laundry?

It’s not like you a washing it by a river-you put it in the machine and it’s done.

Really? No one switches it to the dryer or folds it or puts it away? The machine does it? Where can I buy one???

It’s a timing thing. Turns 20min of work into a task that takes all day, for like one load.

All day? Seriously? You must be the most lazy person ever.

I grab the clothes, toss them in the washer, hit a button, then come back later to take them out and throw them in the dryer. After a few hours, I come back again to take them out. That's it. Just 20 minutes of my time.

Who folds and puts it away? I hate that part.

She puts them on.