"She needs to do (the/her) laundry."
"She needs to do the/her wash."
"She needs to do the/her wash."
Do the laundry, do the washing and similar expressions.
- Thread starter Le Pamplemousse
- Start date
She needs to do the washing would be another possibility.
"She needs to do the washing" might be BE... it sounds funny to me.
My first choice would be, "She needs to do the laundry." This is what I say usually.
"She needs to do the wash" is also good.
My first choice would be, "She needs to do the laundry." This is what I say usually.
"She needs to do the wash" is also good.
Yet another of those BE/ AE things then.
To "do the washing" might be unknown in California, but it's common in Texas.CatStar said:
I've never heard "to put on a wash", but I really like it.
CatStar said:
In AE, I would hear that as meaning she needs to wash her body!!!
(which may not be a stretch if her clothes are dirty)
In my experience, "to put on a wash" doesn't exist in AE.maxiogee said:
jdenson said:
Exactly, but (in slang) to get my groove on does exist... causing me to hear: Stella needs to get her wash on.
Sure; people are always coming up with fun, new slang. Why not?nycphotography said:
"the washing up" refers to dirty dishes and utensils that need to be cleaned up. "to do the washing up" means to clean those dishes in a sink.
"do the laundry" means to wash (and usually dry and iron) dirty clothes. Laundry is an American term and is very rarely used in Britain.
"do the laundry" means to wash (and usually dry and iron) dirty clothes. Laundry is an American term and is very rarely used in Britain.
They can do - once again, the verbs are interchangable.
For a discussion on doing the laundry (not the washing-up) see this thread:
She need to wash her clothes. how do you say that ? Do you need to do any washes
She need to wash her clothes. how do you say that ? Do you need to do any washes
mimi2 said:
Hi Mimi,
You have the correct usage for ''washing up''.
However, it is better to use ''dishwasher'' instead of ''washing maching''. A washing machine is used for washing clothes.
LRV
mimi2 said:
Oops Mimi,
I misread your question.
Yes, omit the word ''up'' and the sentence will be correct.
She still does the washing by hand because she is too poor to buy a washing machine.
Sorry about that Mimi.
LRV
In the US, the word washing isn't used by itself with reference to clothing. I, too, would have guessed that the sentence referred to dishes.
We'd say "she does the laundry by hand" or "she washes the clothes by hand" because she has no washing machine.
While we're at it, we don't usually say "do the washing up" with reference to dishes, either. We just "do the dishes."
We'd say "she does the laundry by hand" or "she washes the clothes by hand" because she has no washing machine.
While we're at it, we don't usually say "do the washing up" with reference to dishes, either. We just "do the dishes."
I've definitely heard and used "i'm washing my clothes right now" (or some variation of 'washing') and still imply that you're using a washing machine. Kelly is correct, though-- is is more common to say or write "I am doing laundry."Kelly B said:
"Washing up" specifically refers to cleaning onesself, as in washing one's hands or face. If you want to refer to dishes or another object (kitchen table, etc) you would probably say "i am cleaning the kitchen" or "she is washing the dishes."
It's invariably ''doing the washing up'' over here. I have occasionally heard ''doing the dishes''.
In the north of England it is quite usual to say ''washing the pots.''
''Sit thee doon Moother, ah'll wash t'pots.''
LRV
In the north of England it is quite usual to say ''washing the pots.''
''Sit thee doon Moother, ah'll wash t'pots.''
LRV
Both, in AE.
I would use "do laundry" only in certain contexts:
It's a chore to do laundry every week.
I hate doing laundry when I'm on vacation.
Otherwise, I would use "the" or a possessive adjective:
He has to do his laundry.
I need to do the laundry soon!
Hope this helps,
Joelline
It's a chore to do laundry every week.
I hate doing laundry when I'm on vacation.
Otherwise, I would use "the" or a possessive adjective:
He has to do his laundry.
I need to do the laundry soon!
Hope this helps,
Joelline
Neither, in BE.
Well, not in this part of BE-land.
The washing fairy does the washing here, not the laundry.
Well, not in this part of BE-land.
The washing fairy does the washing here, not the laundry.
So, does it mean that "laudry" is an old-fashioned word, no longer in use?
No, but one doesn't do "laundry" in one's own home.
In Ireland at least, and I think also in England, "a laundry" is a business which takes in washing (usually large volumes, or special-care items such as expensive and/or ornate table-cloths etc.) for cleaning. The items are returned washed, ironed and folded.
The advent of cheap, domestic, washing machines in the 1960s made many laundries defunct, and cheap 'dry-clean only' clothes did more damage to them.
I do the laundry (at home). If I did laundry (without the "the" article), I'd be doing it for a living, which is not my current aspiration.
Sorry, but this distinction is not universal by any means.
In my little corner of the U.S., it is as common to say "I have to do laundry" as "I have to do the laundry," all within the confines of a home.
In response to the comments of Panjandrum and Maxiogee: Could we have some female BE speakers to tell us what those who actually put clothes in the washing machine and dryer (at home) to tell us what THEY call this chore?
Thanks,
Joelline
Thanks,
Joelline
The washing fairy will, from time to time, ask someone else to put on the washing or put on a wash for her. Like Tony, I associate laundry with the business down the road that sends a green van round once a week to take away the laundry and leave a brown paper and string parcel of bed linen.
I'm looking for the right expressions in English for the activities that you do with laundry.
Do you wash the laundry? Do the laundry?
Do you hang the laundry? (It sounds to me like an execution...)
Is there a word to describe the folding and putting in place of the clean laundry?
Thanks in advance!
Do you wash the laundry? Do the laundry?
Do you hang the laundry? (It sounds to me like an execution...)
Is there a word to describe the folding and putting in place of the clean laundry?
Thanks in advance!
Hi bat777,
We say "do the laundry", or "do the washing", in the UK.
When it's all done we simply say, "I'm putting the clean washing away."
(Well, I do.
)LRV
If I remember correctly, we "did the laundry" when I was in the US, but we put it in "the dryer", rather than hanging it up. If I were to hang it, I think I would hang out the laundry, rather than hanging it up. When it was all dry and folded, I would put away the clean clothes. Oh, and the first step was "sorting the laundry".
Funny. The "laundry" becomes "clothes" once it's clean.
Funny. The "laundry" becomes "clothes" once it's clean.
He he! and funny how dirty clothes become washing when they are put together.
I hang up my washing because i live in an appartment where there is not posibility to hang it out, but you are right I remember my Mum hanging out the washing on the washing line(outside) but also putting it on the clothes horse to dry inside in the winter
I hang up my washing because i live in an appartment where there is not posibility to hang it out, but you are right I remember my Mum hanging out the washing on the washing line(outside) but also putting it on the clothes horse to dry inside in the winter
Those must be British-English terms for clothesline and drying rack.[...] but you are right I remember my Mum hanging out the washing on the washing line(outside) but also putting it on the clothes horse to dry inside in the winter
Those must be British-English terms for clothesline and drying rack.
We do use "clothesline" in BE, Elroy. Some large, old houses have a drying rack which can be hoisted up to the kitchen ceiling with a rope. The rope is then secured to a peg on the wall to keep the drying rack in place.
My neighbour has one (wooden).
LRV
Those must be British-English terms for clothesline and drying rack.
Yes they are, a clothes horse can be made of wood or metal covered in a plastic coating.
I have of course heard the phrase clothesline, but we always called it the washing line, it could be a class thing or a regional thing, im not sure.
What I meant was that washing line and clothes horse are not used in American English - to the best of my knowledge.
... I remember my Mum hanging out the washing on the washing line(outside) but also putting it on the clothes horse to dry inside in the winter
Those must be British-English terms for clothesline and drying rack.
See above.
A clothes horse (BE) is a drying rack (AE).
It is a structure made of wood or other material over which clothes can be hung to dry.
It is normally used inside the house on cold or wet days when clothes would not dry outside.
CLICK HERE for a traditional clothes horse. HERE is a modern version ... or HERE.