I love clean, folded laundry. Since I'm the one that does the laundry in our house, I have a couple "laundry rules" that I follow to get the job done quickly. For me, the best way to do laundry in our house is to do at least one load a day. It may be rags, towels, or clothes, but I am washing, drying and putting away at least one load of laundry every day. If I get a load in first thing in the morning then it's dry and ready to fold a bit later in the morning. No need to iron when I fold it out of the dryer. As for sorting clothes, I separate my clothes and my husband's clothes into lights and darks, in our hampers. This is a huge timesaver. The kids each have a clothes basket and they each get their own load - I don't separate their clothes into lights and darks unless they have a newer bright outfit. This keeps it easy because I just fold their clothes and put them away. If I feel like a procrastinator, I just dump the load of clothes on the bed and that way I know that I'll get to it by bedtime.
So how I simplify the task of laundry is this:
one load a day
two hampers - with two dividers - for lights and darks (for me and my husband)
one basket for each kid - one load a week per kid (darks and whites together)
fold and put away laundry before starting a new load
So that's the method that I use for the inevitable task of laundry. How do you do laundry - any tips for us?
Ya, I am working on that routine but sometimes I just don't want to touch another piece of dirty clothes!!! what do i do then?? I just can't have days like that or it will start getting backed up to the point of no return! So, all caught up now one load every other day ... husband and children come get their basket of clean clothes ... then bring them back to laundry room empty. the only one that is always late is my husband! LOL
ReplyDeleteI have three hampers for my three kids but they are labelled with coloured vinyl on them so that even my youngest can sort his laundry by matching his colours. We keep them in the hall outside the bathroom so it is convenient for all of them. I do one or two load of laundry a day as well and I just have to grab one of the presorted hampers. When the laundry is folded, the kids take their own clothes and put them away.
ReplyDeleteI do my laundry almost the exact same way as you, minus the one load a day thing and getting to it right out of the dryer, haha. I am trying to do better though and since my washing machine has been temperamental, it has actually worked out better doing it once a day.
ReplyDeleteI do my laundry almost the same way. About one load a day, but no more than two. I sort mine and my husbands clothes (lights, darks, and whites), but I don't sort the kid's clothes. Then everything is washed on cold. Sometimes if I'm feeling particularly on top of things, I'll use the delayed start feature on my washer and get the load "started" before I go to bed. Then I can time it to wash early in the morning and it doesn't interfere with any morning showers. I can also toss it in the dryer when I wake up and it's ready to fold after I'm dressed and ready for the day. I find that is more likely to help me be successful with washing, folding, and putting away in the same day.
ReplyDeleteThese are the kind of pointers I am looking for to help me stay organized. Thanks for sharing. What are your 2 baskets like in your and your kids room? anything special or just two baskets from the store next to each other?
ReplyDeleteAt what age do you think kids should be responsible for folding their own laundry? How about doing it? I have 6 kids, and am not good at keeping up with laundry, though I shoot for doing one or two loads a day. We're actually not bad at the washing and drying, it's the folding we fall behind on. We usually end up with a folding marathon in front of the tv (I say we because my husband helps with laundry quite a bit). Our oldest two are 9 and 11 and I go back and forth with whether I should fold their laundry or they should have to do it themselves. When I send it back down unfolded, it often stays in the basket for days and they just dig out what they want and pile dirty stuff on the floor. Moms with older kids, what's the best way to handle this? At what point is is their decision and not mine?
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas - thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeletelblogger - The kids just have small white plastic baskets and my husband and I each have a 2 compartment hamper.
lyndyjo - my "folds" and puts away her clothes (she's barely 5). Never too early and at this age, she enjoys it! Unfortunately as kids get older, they aren't really into putting their clothes away and they probably don't care if they have wrinkles in their clothes, right? If it's important for you to have them hang and put away clothes maybe set up rewards or consequences - depending on how you do things. Just a thought :)
I set aside one day a week and do it ALL. I don't plan anything on those days. No doctors appointments, no grocery shopping, etc. I do it on my bed so it has to be all done before I go to bed. My kids (7 and 5) put away their own clothes after I fold them.
ReplyDeleteBut I like laundry. I'd rather do laundry every day if it meant I never had to clean the bathroom!
I love this system, Im just wondering why I didn't manage to think of it. Thanks Clean Mama. I have one basket where everything goes into. My biggest timewaster is sorting through this basket.
ReplyDeleteI try to make laundry as simple and easy as can be. I set aside one day a week. Everyone has two baskets - whites & darks. Then I wash - usually 7-9 loads. To make it tolerable for folding (I loathe folding), I have two to three shows on DVR and fold everything all at once. Everyone knows not to bother me while I'm folding. It's mommy's quiet time :). I don't fold socks. I toss them in a basket. I only buy one type of socks for everyone. So they're no need to match/fold socks. Makes it much easier. Plus if a sock gets lost, no need to worry. I make everyone put their own folded clothes away.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Lisa and Heidi...I get it all over at once. If I did it every day, it would feel like a never ending cycle. I like it that way, but I understand some folks like doing a little at a time! I also would rather do laundry than clean a bathroom (of which we have THREE). A blessing and a curse!
ReplyDeleteI keep trying to get on that system, but once I get it caught up - the piles just start all over again! =(
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips! Hopefully one day, I'll get there.
http://homegrownjones.blogspot.com/
Ditto on the at least one load a day. This is the only way I can keep up and not feel overwhelmed.
ReplyDeleteI love nothing more than freshly washed, line dried bedding!!!
Thanks for your tips.
I also do 1-2 loads a day. I air dry almost all my kids clothes on drying racks (to prevent shrinkage & in case I missed a spot). I prefer small loads. I sort mine by: med-dark pink, purple, reds, blacks, whites, light colors (really light pinks, yellows...), blues/greens, neutrals (khakis, greys), towels & sheets are separate too. It is rare that anyone helps put it away. I had a plan to start, but we are on the go a ton lately. Yeah, I am a crazy laundry mama, lol!
ReplyDeleteI know I am going to be called all kinds of crazy but I really enjoy doing laundry. I do it all in one day and sort the two kids and my husband and my clothes as follows: 1 load of towels (hot water wash), 1 load of sheets (hot water wash), 1 load of underwear and socks (hot water wash), 1 load of medium/light (cold water wash), 1 load of dark (cold water wash).
ReplyDeleteI wash and dry and fold each load as they are done and when I fold it I make each person's piles on top of the machines. I try to put the clothes away by person after each load is dried and folded, if not every other load. This keeps it under control and is quick.