If you’re anything like me, chances are this picture will make you laugh. Seriously, don’t you just hate dealing with laundry? Not only is it boring, the frequency is ridiculous! The clothes, the towels, the bedsheets, on and on it goes, without end. Other than dishes, there is no chore that needs to be repeated so often. Since laundry is a necessary part of life, I have tried my best to find a more manageable system. While it will never be my favorite activity, here are a few ways to make it (slightly) better:
- Keep the room stocked – Have adequate supplies of detergent, Woolite, bleach, Shout, etc.
- Beautify the room – There’s nothing worse than a gray, dark, dingy closet that feels suffocating. Ideally, the room will have a window. If not, installing adequate lighting and painting it bright white can help.
- Organize the room – Have a set place for everything you need. Being as efficient as possible saves time and sanity.
- Work as a team – One person shouldn’t be responsible for the entire family’s laundry. Ask a spouse or older children to pitch in. Many moms are afraid to delegate, fearing it won’t be “perfect.” Let go of that notion and accept “good enough.”
- Distract yourself – Play an audio book, music, or a favorite TV show.
- Set limits – This will depend on your family size and the size of your laundry equipment. More people means more washing, of course, but very few of us need to wash 8 loads a day!
- Assign one day of the week – I prefer to do all laundry once a week, usually on Monday.
- Hampers – Provide one hamper per person, kept in their bedroom. This keeps clothes off the floor and eliminates guesswork.
- Run only full loads – This one should be obvious, yet I know many folks who will put only a pair of jeans and a tee shirt into the washer at once. Wait until you have a full—but not stuffed—machine.
- Do one load start to finish – Wash, dry, fold, and put away one load before you start on the next.
- Read tags and follow instructions – Fabric tags exist for a reason. By following the care guidelines, clothes will last longer and look better.
- Use Pre-Treat – There’s nothing worse than having to wash a second time due to stubborn stains. I’m not picky about most brands, but Shout is my absolute favorite.
How much laundry do you wash weekly?
Instead of folding and organizing little kids drawers, I now hang up all clothes for my 3 yr old and 18 month old. Getting dressed is a snap, as is putting their clothes away. Socks, underwear, pj’s go in drawers, but everything else in the closet. This can also work for adults.
Brilliant!
I think there is something wrong with me. I really ENJOY doing laundry! I like how everything smells clean and fresh, and is all folded and neat and put away. I know, I know ….crazy.
When I was a kid, we had to hang everything on the lines outside. 6 kids and mama and daddy. LOTS of laundry. I loved hanging all of that laundry, and loved even more taking it all down, great armfuls of sheets and clothing smelling like sunshine.
Lined dried clothes definitely smell better. I’ve never done this on a regular basis, but my grandmother liked to do it in the summertime when it was warm out and all the grandkids liked to help when we were really small. Can you believe many neighborhoods actually prohibit clotheslines?
So laundry is something you enjoy. Not crazy, just unusual. Curious to know which chores you hate? Mine are dishes, laundry, ironing, and vacuuming.