Does your husband help with laundry?

@d_hapke (165)
United States
July 19, 2007 11:10pm CST
We have three kids (8, 2 and 5 mos.). I will start working again. My husband works in construction. He comes home very very dirty. Should he help with the laundry? Does your husband help you? Maybe you wash he dries? Who should put the clothes away? I am rather particular with my clothes. I like them all hung up. I also match all the outfits for the kids and hang them the same way. What does your husband do?
8 people like this
35 responses
@ang_2906 (76)
24 Jul 07
My other half helps around the house quite a lot. He does do the laundry but I get cross when he doesn't separate items and whites go in with colours etc. He also doesn't check whether we're using the washing tablets that go in the drum with the clothes or in the dispenser drawer. Sometimes the washing has little lumps of powder over it and has to be re washed. I always moan at him when this happens because it's making more work for me. I suppose at least he's trying to help and I shouldn't moan too much as there are people out there much worse off than me.
@d_hapke (165)
• United States
24 Jul 07
Absolutely! And I am starting to think they mess up the clothes on purpose so they don't have to do it again. They probably used to do it to their mothers and got off the hook. My husband used to vacuum his whole house growing up in half an hour. Two floors all carpeted! His mother still complains to this day!
1 person likes this
24 Jul 07
It wouldn't surprise that they do it on purpose. I still don't let my other half off the hook though, I just nag and nag him until he gets bored of listening and then maybe he'll do it right lol.
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@UDDERONES (887)
• United States
20 Jul 07
Well my husband does help with the laundry but sometimes I wish he didn't. He put whites with colors and then when it is in the dryer he goes off and leaves it. Or he will pile it all up on my table. It all gets wrinkled and then I have to re-wash it or iron it. Also I hate when we get company after he has it all over the table. Just imagine people coming over and seeing your underwear and bra's on the table. What a mess.
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Jul 07
No he really thinks he is helping. He doesn't care if his stuff is wrinkled. But I have to have my stuf neat for work and I can't stand a bunch of wrinkled clothes.
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Jul 07
Did you ever think that maybe that is his plan, to mess it up so that you will tell him not to help with the laundry? It's just a thought.
1 person likes this
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
24 Jul 07
the only time my husband really helps is if he is low on his work clothes, then he'll do a load of his stuff. he usually puts the clothes away. i don't mind washing,drying and folding, but i hate to put the clothes away. though when he does it he just stuffs things in drawers so its hard to find stuff lol.
@d_hapke (165)
• United States
3 Aug 07
I hate putting clothes away too. That's where I fall short. I would even be ok with it if that's all he did. My idea of a working relationship is sharing chores. IE, I wash, he puts away. I dust, he vacuums. I wash, he dries... and so on. But, i guess I'm the only one who thinks that.
@ibuemma (2953)
• United States
20 Jul 07
well, laundry is my part. As a matter of fact i do mind if he help me, instead usually I make him clean the bathroom ( we have 2 in here ) and vacuum the carpet plus do the outside house cleaning. LOL...i just enjoy doing laundry, and i love the smell of clean clothing after it done drying.
1 person likes this
@d_hapke (165)
• United States
20 Jul 07
Lucky you! I get stuck with the laundry, cooking, cleaning, shopping, vacuuming, childcare, and so on. I can't do dishes because our sink is too low and I need back surgery! He does mow the lawn though... And I've had to settle on things like squeeky clean plates since I'm only one tired momma!!!
@ibuemma (2953)
• United States
20 Jul 07
hey thank you for the Best Response. I still stuck too with the rest ( dishes, cooking, children ) but at least I'mm off the bathroom cleaning ( which I really don't like scrubbing the bath tub and toilet bowl )...hahahaha
1 person likes this
@jcj_111776 (3216)
• Philippines
27 Jul 07
Does my husband help with the laundry? NO. He does keep telling me that he would do it, well, for about 10 times already. But thankfully, he follows my request to put his dirty clothes in the right basket. Before, he has this habit of mixing his dirty white ones with the dark colored ones.And I end up sorting through the pile of dirty clothes. He did help once with hanging up the clothes. He did it voluntarily and I was honestly speechless. The last time he told me that I don't have to worry about the dirty laundry and he would take care of it, I told him when? When talking washing machines are finally invented?!
@d_hapke (165)
• United States
3 Aug 07
I am so there with you! I finally gave up with my hubby and wash all his clothes together. Light dark dirty clean... He even wears mismatched socks and doesn't care. I used to go through and fold all the undies so they face the same way, match all the socks so he can see which ones they are, fold all the pants so they crease. He's neven even noticed or said a word so I finally stopped. I put pride in everything I do and he just doesn't think people should put so much effort in those types of things. Oh well. we agree to disagree.
@anam149 (11)
• United States
31 Jul 07
Hmmm, I am not sure if I can say he helps or if I help. The laundry is my baby, but I do get lazy about it, so he will do a load or two. However, that is my cue for - Ooops! I guess I shoulda done it, huh?. Then I chastise him for not having enough underwear/t-shirts/socks to last 2 weeks. ;-) However, as I said, it is my baby. I like to wash certain clothes in a load, I dry them a particular way, and I fold them when they come out of the dryer. He will heft a mountain to the ceiling with every new load if he could. Although, I am not fond of putting all the clothes away, but I do want them put in the "proper" way (my way!). We are only 3 (mommy - daddy - 6 yo boy), but for some reason, the boys stealth change clothes so there is a ton by the next weekend. And I never notice either. Heaven forbid I would ever need to give a description of what my son is wearing and all I could say that it was a shirt and either shorts or pants... bad mommy :-( So, he will wash, but I really would rather have him just bring all the dirties to the laundry room for me. And, I still won't let him cook. MY kitchen!!!
1 person likes this
@d_hapke (165)
• United States
26 Aug 07
I was just about to say you're my kind of girl, but, you probably already knew that! That's funny about the describing your sons clothing. I feel guilty about that kind of thing too. Sometimes I try and make a mental note of what he was wearing. I have heard a good tip to try and dress everyone in the same color or colors when going out. I'm lucky my hubby knows we even have a kitchen. He eats 1/2 inch of cheese slices then 1/2 inch of meat and says he ate lunch! His nephew does the same thing so it's kinda cute.
@meljessxena (2315)
• Australia
20 Jul 07
my partner sometimes helps me, but its usually only if i ask for it. he only likes to put the clothes in the machine, but would prefer if i put them out on the line lol
1 person likes this
• India
20 Jul 07
Oh ! my partner want that I should get time for my baby so he himself takes initiative in this work. He want that I should prepare many good dishes for himself and our small baby of two and half years old. He will wash the clothes in machine and carry it with him in a bag to handover it to the launders for ironing. If partners will do this work on his own then it is a great thing for wifes.
1 person likes this
@patgalca (18394)
• Orangeville, Ontario
20 Jul 07
I am pretty fussy about my laundry too. I don't like anyone helping me unless it's to fold the clothes. I don't want things going into the dryer that I would rather have hung up. I am so afraid of clothes shrinking. My kids are growing fast enough I don't need their clothes shrinking! LOL! I have caught my husband ironing his own shirt if he pulls one out to put on and finds it wrinkled, because I only iron once every couple of months. LOL! My husband does do the vacuuming and washing of floors as I am unable to physically do so with my chronic illness. He helps out with the dishes a lot (though not lately!) My biggest problem is getting my kids to help out. They are 14 and almost 11 and they should be able to do just as much as I do.
1 person likes this
@d_hapke (165)
• United States
20 Jul 07
Well, I feel like my 8 year old is having to pick up the slack. My husband (not his birth father, my son's birth father is deployed) is very hard on my son and feels like he should be doing more. I cut my son some slack because he helps take care of his sisters while I clean. Today, though, I ran him ragged! I feel bad, but by the end of the day, he actually had things done the first time I asked and without whinning! I was so impressed with him, I actually gave him $5 and 5 'good job tickets' (our reward system). I love that kid!!!
20 Jul 07
My hubby does his own laundry on friday nights. I do mine during the week. He puts his own clothes away. If I do then he can't find anything. He used to do everything before I came along. He also cooks on the weekends.
1 person likes this
@d_hapke (165)
• United States
24 Jul 07
I like that! good for your. You feel more appreciated when you get help or are not the only one to do a chore.
@add_im (2712)
• Philippines
20 Jul 07
Yes, he does help me doing some laundry at times...but most of the time, it's him who do the laundry more than myself lols :-)
1 person likes this
@d_hapke (165)
• United States
20 Jul 07
once again... lucky you! And I married my high school sweetheart!
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
27 Aug 07
Hi d_hapke! My husband is an artist and a design consultant. He has paint or casting materials all over his work clothes whenever he paints or sculpt but luckily we have househelp who does the laundry for us. However when the househelp is not around, my hubby helps in doing our laundry. He helps from washing to drying to hanging. Take care and have a nice day!
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Jul 07
When I started my second job, I told my husband that if he wanted clean uniforms for work he had to wash his own clothes. I still do mine and our son's (4 years old) clothes but he does his own. Both my daughters started washing their own clothes when they were teenagers and so will my son when he is old enough. When ever they complain about not having any thing clean to wear I just ask them when they last washed their clothes. It also teaches them responsability and to plan ahead for their needs, as well as getting them ready for life on their own.
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@d_hapke (165)
• United States
20 Jul 07
I want my son to be self sufficient as well. I make him bring down his clothes and put them in the machine with the detergent. Then he takes them when they are done to the dryer. He also has to hang them and put them in his closet. This way he knows what he has and doesn't dirty them as fast! He's only 8, but, I think it works. But, I don't think my husband is being a good role model. More like a hypocrit.
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
25 Jul 07
My husband doesn't do any laundry, but if he needs something, he will do a load for himself. (he will add someone else's laundry too if you ask, but not more than one load.)
• United States
21 Jul 07
Not really .... Very seldome does my husband help with laundry. Unless he is aggravated with me lol
1 person likes this
@d_hapke (165)
• United States
24 Jul 07
Been there!!! LOL I finally refused to wash his extra muddy clothes because the other guys he works with try to stay clean and he doesn't. Then he drops them on the front porch. We don't use the back of the houes so everyone has to come through the front. What a mess!!!!
@sahira (1071)
• Philippines
20 Jul 07
I am so blessed that i my husband is so helpful to me,yes my husband helps me in laundry because frankly i cannot do it alone especially when there are lots of clothes and stuffs to wash...but when they are just little i don't want my husband to help me.
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
21 Jul 07
Nope he doesn't help at all when it comes to laundry, mind you i prefer to do it myself. He did try once and mixed white with colors and all sorts and that was the last time. He is not very domesticated anyways so its all good.
• Philippines
20 Jul 07
yes he does. He also does chore especially when he sees that i'm already loaded
1 person likes this
• India
20 Jul 07
My husbond helps me all the household works at times. Ofcourse he helps me out in laundry also. We have semi automatic washing machine. He used to wash the cloths of three of us in it. Drier is there and few he needs to hang up on cord. For ironing he folds the cloths and carry it in bag while going to office to give it to launders. My baby is just two and half so lot of outfits are there to wash and iron but without fail and without any grumbling my husbond help me. I save my time for my baby and to play with him, to educate him small things at home or at garden, play ground.
• Philippines
20 Jul 07
I don't ask him to do so i just let him help me when he's not busy doing his thing, you know men are always busy infront of their PC's!...while taking care of our son!LOL
1 person likes this
• United States
21 Jul 07
Both my husband and I work outside of the house right now...though hopefully soon I'll be a housewife. This means that we both do our fair share. He does MOST of the outside stuff and I do MOST of the inside stuff. I Hate cleaning the shower/bath so he does that for me and I help with my garden and mow sometimes, etc. Does he help with the laundry? Well...he DOES the laundry sometimes. But I'd honestly rather he didn't. I'm very particular about how I want it done - darks/lights, wait for a full load, fold/hang up right away to prevent wrinkles. When he does it...he just grabs what needs to be done and when it's dry he just throws it into the basket. Lol. I appreciate it...but there are other things in the house I'd rather he do.
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