Am I the only one up to their eyes in baby laundry?

[Shwhattam+1]

The decision to wash every item that was going to touch our little guy (clothes, bibs, sheets, quilts, blankets, booties) was an easy one. I based it on the fact that I wanted everything to be clean and fresh...not to mention smelling of 'Ivory Snow'.

I saved all the washing for when I commenced mat leave as I thought it would keep me busy and make the time go by faster. Now that I've undertaken what I now refer to as 'Mission Impossible', I can't possibly see getting it all done any time soon. I greatly underestimated how long it would take to wash the never ending, very small, very time consuming to fold items. Not to mention I'm still sorting based on size and season.

Don't get me wrong, I love that everything smells wonderful and will be ready for baby...but am I the only one that is starting to wonder what they got themselves into when it comes to washing everything.

 

[lexi88]

I was till one day i woke up at 8 and put 1st load on.. then when that was done i would put it in tumble drier why that was drying i put the next load in ect ect .. I done the last thing (baby play mat) at 7pm that night.

Felt good to see it all folded nicly in the chest of drawers and baby unit.

Next day Theo comes runnin in front room shouting "IM MONSTAAAAA IM MONSTAAA" with 5 baby blankets on his head. I go in my bedroom to see the damage and clothes had be pulled out and nappies EVERYWHERE
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

All sorted back to how it was but for how long?

 

[linsayp]

I did the exact same thing.. But once I got through the newborn and 0-3 clothes I gave up! I decided that once LO was getting big enough to be in the next size I would wash all of those together. It's nice to have everything washed but goodness me it takes alot of time! I got all excited when it came to the ironing.. I ironed everything and it took me hours (even bibs)..
Needless to say I don't find baby washing so exciting now - Liam is in about 8 outfits a day due to his constant dribbling and projectile vomit!

 

[linsayp]

I was till one day i woke up at 8 and put 1st load on.. then when that was done i would put it in tumble drier why that was drying i put the next load in ect ect .. I done the last thing (baby play mat) at 7pm that night.

Felt good to see it all folded nicly in the chest of drawers and baby unit.

Next day Theo comes runnin in front room shouting "IM MONSTAAAAA IM MONSTAAA" with 5 baby blankets on his head. I go in my bedroom to see the damage and clothes had be pulled out and nappies EVERYWHERE
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

All sorted back to how it was but for how long?

Hahaha sorry I know I shouldn't laugh but that's just kids for you isn't it! Bless him, that's so funny. I've got all that to come!
Btw what baby stuff do you put in your drier? Because someone told me everything will shrink so I don't.. It's a bit of a struggle in this weather as it's too rainy & cold for outside but too hot for heating! Then it takes days to dry on airers x

 

[Red Rose]

Yep I know the feeling! Could have cried when I went to put nicely ironed clothed neatly away and they were all creased again!

 

[lori]

I'm in the same washing nightmare. I did most of the wash in a day or two, but it's those darn cloth diapers that are supposed to be washed EIGHT times for full absorbency that are pushing me over the edge I feel guilty washing them on their own because it's a small load and I feel bad wasting water, so I have to wait to combine them with other things. Yesterday my husband threw in the 8th and final load of diaper inserts, but in the same load as his pants with A FREAKING PEN IN THE POCKET!!! So now all my inserts are stained. I'm trying not to be too uptight, as I know the inserts were bound to get stained anyway, but COME ON!! The poor guy is lucky to be alive.

 

[niccola27]

I started washing things a few weeks ago and have just doing a bit here and there ever since. Still got a few little bits to do but it is pretty daunting if you're doing it over a short period xx

 

[loulou1983]

oh yeah i am up to my eyes in it!!!!!

 

[WhiteGeisha]

Oh I know how you feel. I did all mine last week though. I tried to wash everything in size order so as not to mix it all up but when I only had a few items of certains colours I had to mix sizes to maximise full loads. Then I left them to dry on 2 airers inside and couldn't wash anymore until they were dry lol. Then I finished them in the tumble dryer and ironed them all. Felt like the longest week of my life.

You will feel better when you get near the end, although that probably feels likes 6yrs from now! I eveb washed the toys lol. Smell great now!x

 

[WhiteGeisha]

As for tumble drying, I tried to dry everything as much as poss on an indoor airer first then put them in tumble dryer for half hour. Longer if they still felt damp. I didn't find anything shrunk. I didn't put my expensive blanket in the tumble dryer though- I just couldn't risk it. X

 

[Shwhattam+1]

I'm in the same washing nightmare. I did most of the wash in a day or two, but it's those darn cloth diapers that are supposed to be washed EIGHT times for full absorbency that are pushing me over the edge I feel guilty washing them on their own because it's a small load and I feel bad wasting water, so I have to wait to combine them with other things. Yesterday my husband threw in the 8th and final load of diaper inserts, but in the same load as his pants with A FREAKING PEN IN THE POCKET!!! So now all my inserts are stained. I'm trying not to be too uptight, as I know the inserts were bound to get stained anyway, but COME ON!! The poor guy is lucky to be alive.

Smaller things have pushed pregnant women over the edge! I haven't let my OH near our washer and dryer since moving in together. I know it's completely irrational, but while dating I had plenty of opportunity to witness his laundry skills (or lack thereof) so I officially became the launderer. He cooks, so I think it's a fair trade off.

Luckily it was just the diaper inserts and not your LO's clothing!

 

[lexi88]

I was till one day i woke up at 8 and put 1st load on.. then when that was done i would put it in tumble drier why that was drying i put the next load in ect ect .. I done the last thing (baby play mat) at 7pm that night.

Felt good to see it all folded nicly in the chest of drawers and baby unit.

Next day Theo comes runnin in front room shouting "IM MONSTAAAAA IM MONSTAAA" with 5 baby blankets on his head. I go in my bedroom to see the damage and clothes had be pulled out and nappies EVERYWHERE
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

All sorted back to how it was but for how long?

Hahaha sorry I know I shouldn't laugh but that's just kids for you isn't it! Bless him, that's so funny. I've got all that to come!
Btw what baby stuff do you put in your drier? Because someone told me everything will shrink so I don't.. It's a bit of a struggle in this weather as it's too rainy & cold for outside but too hot for heating! Then it takes days to dry on airers x

Iv put it all in the drier.... except a snow suit that said DO NOT TUMBLE DRY in big letters lol
I find the clothes turn out more softer than airing them over the banister.
I tumble dried most of Theos baby clothes too and they never shurnk.

I also put it on high heat not low coz im impatent LOL

 

[Shwhattam+1]

Regarding posts about drying and shrinkage...I've tumbled dry everything on low and haven't had any problems. That being said, everything is so tiny I probably wouldn't notice if something shrunk a bit.

As for the ironing, I think I would officially lose my mind if I ironed every item. That being said, ironing is not big in my household. I will iron my OH's dress shirts (if needed) and some of my items for work but that's it. Everything else comes straight out of the dryer, is folded/hung up and put away.

 

[Shwhattam+1]

Whoot Whoot! One load left and I`m done! Not sure I did such a great job on the sorting but I figure once baby is here I will have a better idea of what fits and what needs to be stored.