Here are a few tried and true tips that have worked in our house for taming the laundry beast.
1. Do a load a day to keep the laundry monster at bay. If you have more than two people living in your house I would suggest doing a load of laundry every day. Pick a certain time and stick to it. For example: Wake up, do morning routine and throw in a load to wash. Feed kids, clean up and put clothes in dryer. Take 5-10 minutes after your lunch/dinner routine and fold clothes.
We are a family of five and I tried picking one day to do a laundry marathon and I learned the last thing I want to do is spend one whole day doing laundry. Throwing in a load every day is so much easier and less time consuming.
2. Fluff the dry clothes. When you are ready to fold laundry turn the dryer back on for 2 or 3 minutes to give the clothes a fluff and most of the wrinkles will be gone. I don’t run to the dryer the second it goes off, and I don’t expect anyone else to either.
3. Hang em’ up as soon as they come out. Again we’re trying to lessen the wrinkles.
99% of my clothes are wrinkle free using these tips, however hubby’s dress shirts always have to be ironed. If you don’t have any hanging space try using the InstaHanger on the back of the door or on a wall near the laundry room.
4. Only buy what you need. Don’t buy 30 pairs of socks or underwear for each family member when there are only seven days in a week. Remember, we’re washing a load a day now, your not going to run out.
5. Reuse your towels. A towel is good for a few uses when you hang it out to dry after your shower. Number #4 can apply here as well.
6. Get the kids to help. Teach your children to be responsible for their things by having them put their clothes away. Don’t wait until they are ready to head off to college. Their roommate will not pick up after them.
7. Put the laundry away. This is a no brainer but the most loathed part of the laundry process. It has to be done. Sorry there is no way around this one, but doesn’t it feel sooo good when all the laundry is done and it is all put away!
Complete Laundry Series:
Our Laundry Room
Laundry Room Project
7 Laundry Tips
Laundry Links
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Great tips! In our family of 9 (with 2 washers and dryers) I strive for 4 loads a day. Once I get caught up on laundry, if I do 3 or 4 loads a day I stay caught up. It seems like a lot, but I taught all my kids to do laundry when they turned 7, so I’m not doing it all myself.
Thanks again!
I totally agree with you on this one with our family of six. In earlier posts on my blog I have my routine that I follow each day of the week.
I really do strive to keep clothing minimal. If you are doing one load a week for each family member plus a day to save for emergency washing.
People have made comments about that having less clothing equals more work.
I think if you stick to a plan, even if you slip up a day or two say something happens it does not take alot for the amount of clothing you have.
For me personally having more clothing sets me up, it really does because then I have an excuse to not do the laundry everyday. Then I have twice the amount in the hamper having to do two loads per person.
I am frugal and I can purchase detergent/softener very cheaply with my couponing but a lesson that I have learned is pretreat stains before washing (I use shout spray) and put a less amount of detergent then what the bottle says. Tide original scent has always been my favorite. I have went through so many others that were cheaper granted they smelled clean but the spots, and stains were there. Then I am making more work having to re-wash everything.
I fill the water in the laundry basin with tide, put my downy ball filled (my current fav is downy vanilla & lavender)again I use less then what it says and it still works just as good and makes the clothes smell delish.
I love this blog so insightful!
Renee
Mama to four