My family does all the washing together. Though I've taken to doing my own laundry because I get it done faster then Mom. But I know it makes the water bill larger, especially when it's only underwear and socks for one person one week. So I got the idea to use mesh wash bags. Everyone puts their clothes in mesh bags and after the washing is done, all you have to do is grab your mesh bag and fold what's in it. Mom said that would only work for undergarments. All other clothes have to move around more then a mesh bag allows.

The reason I even suggest it is because my little sisters are in high school. I didn't fully learn how to do my own washing until I moved out and my girlfriend taught me. I knew several friends in high school where they did their own laundry. The girls need to learn how to do their own washing and take responsibility for their own dirty clothes.

So, fellow clothes-washers, how would you recommend solving this problem?

Iunno. Could always make them take turns doing all the laundry.

Is this really about life skills or are you trying to tip toe around doing more house work. My Dad has a nasty habit of only laundering and ironing his clothes, and frankly it annoys me to no end simply because instead of adopting a mentality of 'I am doing this work to contribute to the domestic running of the house hold', he thinks sod it every man for himself. A life skill in itself is learning to work as a unit, especially in a family. If you feel the division of domestic labour is unequal in your house then work it out together instead of declaring yourself a one man island. That will only fuel tension. Also realistically think about your commitments in comparison with everybody else's. So for example I do not expect my sister to do the laundry because she works long shifts and has very little time off. It would be unfair to ask her to do her own laundry when my schedule is not so busy.

There are settings on most washers for small loads. My mom never let anyone use her washer or dryer when I lived at home. My exhusband used to poke fun at me for not knowing how to do wash. He always would do my wash for me. When I finally learned how, I always just used to small load setting.

There were eight people in my house, it was REQUIRED that we did laundry all at once on Saturday morning rather than everyone do their own thing whenever they want. My brothers try to wash just their small loads throughout the week, but they get scowled at every time they do. I picked this up and yelled at my friends in college about it too.

As the oldest, I had to help out and learned a lot of cooking and cleaning from my mom. (except I'm not very good at the cooking part because my mom would mostly do it and didn't want me screwing it up). My boyfriend is a better cook, and we both learned to accept that. :D

I think the suggestion about everyone taking turns doing all of the laundry is a good one. BUT, to put in my two cents. The mesh bags would indeed not work. They would most likely make it impossible for the water to properly drain out of the clothes, cause sud build up, and the clothes probably wouldn't get that clean to boot.

Those bags are just for panties and bras because those things need a little protection. Although, never have used the mesh bags for panties, myself. /tmi

I have to handwash my bras and some of my underwear anyways.. That stuff will get ripped to shreds in there.

edit: and by handwash, I mean someone forces me to hand wash them every other month because I tell them I will and they don't see me do it. ): I want to try those "Bra Ball" things but they don't come in big sizes.

Originally Posted by una

Is this really about life skills or are you trying to tip toe around doing more house work.

When I first came back home, I told Mom that I would gladly take on the responsibility of sorting, washing, and drying the clothes. My sisters already had the folding job. Mom said she would get around to showing me how she liked it done. I asked multiple times and she still didn't get back to me. Eventually I found out that Mom likes doing the laundry. But she's a bit scatter brained so they don't always get done right away. That is the reason I resort to doing my own laundry. I'm not trying to shirk any responsibilities.

---------- Post added 11-26-2012 at 11:48 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Mystic

There are settings on most washers for small loads.

I'll look for that. *makes note*

---------- Post added 11-26-2012 at 11:49 PM ----------

Originally Posted by ElysiumFate

The mesh bags would indeed not work. They would most likely make it impossible for the water to properly drain out of the clothes, cause sud build up, and the clothes probably wouldn't get that clean to boot.

*nods* Yeah, same thing my mom said.

By the time we were 10 my older sister, older brother and I were doing our own laundry. It is a good life skill, also in mine and my sisters case, it helps keep our laundry from getting mixed up. That happens a lot!

Originally Posted by Codette

...also in mine and my sisters case, it helps keep our laundry from getting mixed up. That happens a lot!

Indeed it does- especially when it comes to socks and underwear! XD

exactly Amy. Also my mother just got tired of trying to arrange time for laundry for 3 kids and my parents. So it was just easier to teach us to do our own laundry when we needed too.

Our family just tosses all our dirty clothes together into one basket whenever one of us takes a shower, and then dump the basket of dirty laundry into the washer, press a few buttons, add a cup of washing mixture, shut the lid, and wait for it to run its course before hanging them out to dry, everything mixed together. (We do the 'separating' by gathering our own clothes when they're dry.) I tried doing my own laundry once or twice in college, with all the scrubbing and stuff on a board at the sinks, but it was difficult. it kills my back with the angle I have to hover over the sink and scrubbing at the fabrics. So I just resort to the same method as at home; wait until I have a large pile of dirty clothes, then dump everything into the auto washing machine, throw in a few coins, and let it run its course.

---------- Post added 12-06-2012 at 10:28 AM ----------

...Rereading the posts in the thread, I think I may have misunderstood by what 'doing one's own laundry' meant in this thread's context. Oops.

Originally Posted by Antagonist

...Rereading the posts in the thread, I think I may have misunderstood by what 'doing one's own laundry' meant in this thread's context. Oops.

It was quite amusing to see your response. ^_^