The reason brought by Rashi and quoted by poskim such as the Mishna Berurah as to why we do not do laundry during the nine days (or Sefardim, in the week that the Ninth of Av falls out in) is because "it will appear as if one is removing his attention from the mourning".
I can understand that this should be so when they did not have automatic washing machines and dryers. Back then doing the laundry was an entire day affair. However, why should this apply to throwing some clothing in the washing machine and pouring in a cup of detergent and then walking away?
Is it just a minhag that people accepted nowadays without really thinking it through?
Please only give answers with sources. Sources by word of mouth in the name of the Rav who said it are welcome as well.
Answer
It's certainly worse than giving it to a gentile laundry to do which is forbidden by the Rema in 551:3. Although the MB there (sk 34) saying it's because of minhag is going on the MA who extends the halacha to one whose intention is for the launderer to clean it after Tisha B'Av, the mashmaos is going on both (it's the same action/issur).
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