Does anybody else have this problem?

Question

My husband just doesn't seem to understand the whole --empty everything out of your pockets before putting your clothes in the hamper-- thing. He'll remember to take out his wallet, but the ink pen really kicks his a**. Do any of you have this same problem? And if so, have you found a remedy? I am so sick of ruining my things because of his laziness.

.........and no, I'm not going to go behind him and check for things. We have a 5 and a 10 year old that are capable of emptying their own pockets, therefore I feel like this grown man should be responsible enough to empty his own.

Answer 1

Yeah, I know what you mean.

As your clothes get ruined, buy more. Keep the receipts. After a month or so, show them to your husband and he will faint and fall over because most men don't like spending money.

I am just assuming that you probably work outside the home (as well as the inside). Clothing attire for the workplace can be quite expensive, can't it?

After seeing how much you have had to spend to replace nice clothing that was ruined by ink and such, I bet he starts to remember to empty his pockets before putting pants in the hamper.

For those of you telling her to "just check his pockets!" Why the hell should she? She has enough to do around the house and taking care of the kids. Let the louse empty his pockets and put the things on top of his dresser or bureau. He isn't a child. She isn't his maid, she is his wife.

I would suffice to say probably the ones who made that comment are NOT married.

The snide remark from the gent at the bottom of this list that gave the speech of "your not doing him any favors", and "do NOT do my laundry"....Get a friggin grip. Are you even married are do you still live with mommy? YOu get a new attitude.

I don't like my husband bungling with my washer/dryer because he feels the need to always "fix" any appliance, even if it isn't broke. Then ...magically....the appliance really is broke and I have to call a repairman.

Answer 2

Just wash his clothes separately from everyone elses. Then if something gets ruined because he forgot to take a pen or a pack of gum, or whatever, out of his pockets, it's his clothes. Maybe he'll get the message when he has to go to work naked, because all his clothes are ruined.
I'm the same way. I don't check pockets either. Luckily, I usually find money in the dryer, not ink stains. My husband is aware of my policy, so he knows to clean them out before throwing them into the laundry basket. I figure I haul all the clothes down stairs, I wash them, fold them, and put them away, the least he can do is check his own pockets.

Answer 3

Doesn't this just drive you nuts? Gum or mints? Yes just nuts!
I started washing my hubby's things separately. That way nothing of mine or the kids got ruined. If his shirts or pants ended up with ink spots or gum sticking the pockets together, I would just say Hum mm must have forgotten to empty your pockets again honey! Either he will learn or want to do his own laundry or live with the messes. Either way, I stopped stressing over it.
And money? If it's in the washer it's MINE!!! Good Luck!

Answer 4

I would suggest that he deal with this as I did.

DO NOT WASH MY CLOTHES!
Please do not do my laundry if,
You are only after my pocket change and cannot clean out my:
wallet
pens
nuts and bolts
paperwork
chalk
tooth picks
any thing else in my pockets.

Guys do not empty their pockets when they take pants off. We don't do it that way. We do it when we are switching to a clean pair, especially work pants.

It is the person who puts them in the washer to check. If you are not willing to do that don't mess with my stuff.

By the way, If you are also not willing to turn shirts right side out and hand them up, or, pull the cotton pants out and hang them up while still damp so I do not have permanent wrinkles, or, lose or mismatch my socks before you stuff them in a drawer,
DO NOT DO MY LAUNDRY.

Understand you are not doing him any favors by doing his laundry and complaining about the way he does or does not prepare them for you. Avoid the argument and consternation. Let him do his own.

Answer 5

Take inventory of everything of yours that is ruined because of his laziness......then take him shopping to replace your stuff(get the most expensive stuff) if it won't hurt your checkbook-if it will go to the counter have them ring it up and then when he freaks out over the cost tell the clerk "that you forgot your check book" and when you leave tell him the next time you will buy the clothes w/his money!

It's kinda embarrassing to do this in the store but it worked for me....my husband actually does most of the laundry now, cause he's afraid that I might not check anyone's clothes and he doesn't want to pay for it!!!

Answer 6

oh yes all the time i keep telling my husband its not up to me to empty his pockets , i just wash the clothes and if there is anything in there then it just called tough even if i no there is something in his pockets i still wash it I've washed his check book , little notes for work everything even money he once had 5oo euro in back pocket i only came across it after i had washed it was just going to iron the pants and found it , so i told him i was keeping it to teach him a lesson still didn't work though lol.

Answer 7

Go behind him and check the pockets, but keep what is in them. After he loses a few important thing he might start checking.

Answer 8

Bottom line: The only person whose habits you can change is you. If you do not want to ruin your laundry, check his pockets; it will only take a few minutes, but it will save you hours of fussing at him.

You've raised two children who do as they've been taught; be proud of them. You cannot teach him new habits unless he wants to learn; he's your husband, not your child.

If this is your only problem, congratulations! You are an exceedingly lucky woman!

Answer 9

the way I curred my son of doing the same thing is i just didn't wash his stuff that had anything in the pockets. (i checked)
He had favorite clothes and when he had plans to wear some favorite shirt but it was still in dirty clothes, he learned to empty his pockets and he learned to do laundry.

Answer 10

You have a valid point there. Best thing you confront him and tell him point blank that this is your biggest problem and now onwards you are not responsible for this thing at all . Some time talking straight helps to clear a lot of mis understandings.
You can also hang a white board in your bedroom or bathroom and write it neatly for him to read or write it in a piece of paper and put it in front of mirror where he goes to shave daily. Good luck.