I'm with the OP's DH here. It isn't just the washing, it's having to tumble dry bedding because no reoom to hang it to dry. When I was young top sheet went to bottom every week, fresh top sheet, wash bottom sheet & pillowcases - but most people didn't have showers & many didn't have bathrooms, you had a bath once a week & washed your hair once a fortnight, more people did manual jobs & there was no anti-perspirant, no-one changed their underwear every day, men used Brylcreem etc...