“i always thought laundry meant on clothes meaning i could wash towels sheets and other stuff like that”
maran (shulkhan arukh) says you can wash “flat” like towels etc (even though you shouldnt change the beds (except for in case of need- dirty…). Ashkenazic minhag is not to do any laundry (although my sister in law sorts it all as she brings it to the basement…)