I think it's good to remember that washing machines contain faecal matter - even if you find it fine. It's transferred to everything you wash in it. It's not a big quantity of poo but builds up in the machine if you always wash on a cool setting. It's good to do a very hot wash once a month with full-on (not eco) powder. This is worth doing more often with kids.
I've loved this thread and how it has meandered along at tangents. It's brought back a few memories, too, of wash day at home when I was little - and it was a full day, Mum dragging out the washing machine and the spin dryer into the kitchen. Sorting the washing into lights, darks, bedding and towels and washing these separately; transferring the wet, soggy clothing into the spinner and adding that rubber disc to the spinner. The spinner trying to do a dance across the kitchen floor as it spun at noisy full throttle and then hanging it all out to dry in phases (or trying to get it dry indoors if wet outside - a nightmare as mum had no tumble dryer, just the coal fire and huge fire guard). Tuesday was ironing day! Those were the days, eh?!
I think we've scared the original poster away with our meanderings, though Lets hope they've found a solution to their washing line dilemma.
I think it's good to remember that washing machines contain faecal matter - even if you find it fine. It's transferred to everything you wash in it. It's not a big quantity of poo but builds up in the machine if you always wash on a cool setting. It's good to do a very hot wash once a month with full-on (not eco) powder. This is worth doing more often with kids.
Agreed, I do tend to do a hot wash every now and then for towels and cloths, as they are definitely germ-breeding factories. That does a good flush of the machine. Though I never use full-on powder as it's actually quite clogging compared with simple soap, especially with our hard water. Soda crystals in the wash and vinegar in the conditioner drawer helps there.
I'm possibly more laid-back than most when it comes to washing machines and poo having used one to wash nappies for years 😂 That machine did go bust but I don't think the poo was the issue! It's a balance though. In particular circumstances it's worth being more careful. In a household with no immunosuppressed folk it's unlikely to cause problems and the sort of laundry 'sanitizers' on the market nowadays are likely more harmful for all of us.
I've been following this thread with interest and amusement. OK, it got away from the original question, but so what! Great fun and memories. I'm afraid I'm one of the "common" people who leaves her whirly out (always take the pegs in though, hehe) cos it's stuck and if I try to close it down, I'd never get it up again. Drying outside beats drying inside every time. I just use the tumble dryer in the winter when the weather's too bad to hang things out. Thanks everyone for a great thread.
It's so striking to me that all the stories are about women who do the washing. Our mothers and grandmothers spent so much of the week washing and spinning, soaking, bleaching, drying, ironing; so much time dealing with poo and vomit, sheets and heavy, wet washing for so many people. Trying to keep things clean in a world of coal. Dollys, coppers and mangles. The fathers, grandfathers and grandsons don't seem to figure.
I think people who have only ever know modern washing machines and tumble driers can have no idea of the degree of hard work that washing involved and still does, in much of the world. Hand washing is the norm for much of the planet - by women.
Both my parents worked full time in Manchester and when mum got a better job in Liverpool in 1966 we moved halfway between and both had to commute. Dad took over the Monday wash after dinner and we all did our own ironing. We all cleaned our own bedrooms and shortly afterwards I was paid to clean the downstairs on Saturdays - after helping mum do the weekly shop.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
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Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Those were the days, eh?!
I think we've scared the original poster away with our meanderings, though
Liked the sound of his own voice too much.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...