My kids, 18 and 14, are supposed to do their own laundry. I quit doing it for them because they wouldn't put it away after I sorted it, washed it, dried it, and folded it. Now I have mountains of laundry; they just refuse to wash it. Any ideas?

keep it in their rooms, when they run out of clothes...then they either wear dirty or they will wash them...don't let them mix it with your's...
but DON'T give in...it's the least they can do!!!

don't give in....and tell them they smell!

throw it out.....theyll realize quickly the right thing to do....at that age they know....show some back bone sweetie

my 11 and 14 year old have done their own Laundry for years...

I used to put it all in trash bags and put it on their beds

sleep with stinky socks for a week. he,he,he

AND

If they "did" it and left it in the washer/dryer when I needed to use it

I'd do the same thing

What i would do is tell them,Any thing you wash,you keep!
Or put it in bags,and they can't have them untill they wash them.Boy you would not beleive how fast they learn to do it themselves.Just a thought.

Thanks, all!

I like the idea of doing their laundry but holding it hostage for extra chores around the house. Sweep the dining room, get a pair of jeans or 2 Ts, lol. Power wash the siding for undewear, since they would be most desperate for that. I don't mind doing laundry; I just resent doing theirs!

power wash the siding for underwear



Destined to be a classic

They buy hteir own clothing now, right? it is not your responsibility to? Then I have to agree; throw it our if not washed, and refuse to wash it yuorself. As soon as they find themselves without clothing they will learn...

i feel absolutely no responsibility to care for my children's clothing.

if they won't wash it, they'll wear dirty clothes. if they toss it on the floor, it'll be ruined. i'm not buying something new to replace something that they destroyed. i'll replace clothing that they've outgrown, but not something that they've not cared properly for.

That's horrible! A 14 year old shouldn't have to bear the responsibility of doing her own laundry! It's your duty to look after her every need until she comes of age.

My mother left when I was 8 and I was doing my own laundry from then onwards. Never had a meal cooked for me again. It's horrible. Those are the little things in life you expect and it makes things so much harder without them.

Coming home from school trying to find something to eat and wash my uniform. Then stress how I'm gonna have it dry before the morning.

Just do the laundry.

at fourteen, i was not only going to school and working full-time, i was taking care of my little sister and doing the majority of cooking for the household as well as ALL the laundry.

The only thing that works is emabarrasment. If the kids at school tell them that they stink, they normally will get off their behinds and do laundry.

If that doesn't work, hang a clothes line in the FRONT of the house and line dry the undies in front of the neighborhood, until they get the message.

My son's are 10 and 7, and while my little one doesn't wash and dry, he hangs up and folds and puts away. The older one does his own.

I am sorry but I do my boys laundry, I don't feel like its their responsibility yet to do that. I DO think they should have chores to do...but not the laundry.
Can I ask what made you decide to stop doing their laundry? Now, when I am not feeling well..I do feel like they can run and do a few loads, but I am the mother and I feel like I should take care of them, they shouldn't have to take care of me!
You should teach them responsibility BUT have chores lined up. If something happens and you can't do the laundry...then have them help you.

I don't know. My mom wouldn't let me do the laundry after I shrunk stuff. Which became a problem when I went to college and didn't know the first thing about doing laundry. I suppose you could tell them my horror story of turning all my light colored clothes pink because I didn't learn to do laundry before I left home.

I guess the turnng point for me and the boys chores was when I did everything for them and one night found that after dinner, the chairs were pulled out, dishes on the table and they were no where to be found.

Please understand that it is a group effort. I help and still do the majority of the work, but I am trying to teach them idependence and that they need to take care of their own.

There is no shortage of kisses, hugs, praises and love. But, I am a single full time working mom and do expect my sons to be a functional part of our family.

last night, i met my brother's new live-in girlfriend for the very first time. while we enjoyed dinner...they had a bit of a spat.

kim is pissy that my brother washes his own clothes. he REFUSES to let her do his laundry...

in my family, you start washing clothes at maybe six or seven. supervised in the beginning...but by middle school, you've the responsibility for all of your clothes.

I think you should hide there clothes and not release them back until both kids have signed a contract agreeing that they will take full responsiblity for their clothes.
and you could use that contract for other chores.

Just because you had to do your laundry from 6 years old doesn't mean you should carry it on. Just like an abused child shouldn't carry it on by abusing her own..

I agree that chores should be handed out but laudry is a big responisibilty.

If you think they will have a problem when they do eventually move out, then teach them how when you suspect they might be leaving soon.