While we’re on the subject of organizing and staying on top of things, I thought we could talk laundry. More specifically, what is your preferred method of doing laundry… other than not doing it at all, of course. I have a friend who has her family throw their clothes into the washer every night at bedtime. She runs the washer when it gets full. There’s no hamper in the house and therefore no piles. This works for her. I know others do a load a day to keep above the fray. As a list person, the idea of having to do laundry every single day is completely frustrating and overwhelming to me. (Anyone else ever feel overwhelmed by laundry?) Instead, I choose one day a week where I’m home all day to focus on feeding the machine. If I don’t get one more thing done that day (other than making breakfast, lunch, and dinner) I’m okay with it. Typically this is a day I need anyway to crash from the usual craziness.
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I’ve been doing a load or two a day to keep on top of things. But it’s getting old. I find myself leaving a load in the dryer until the next day when I have a washed load that needs to go in. Then I have to “fluff” that load to get the wrinkles out before I can take them out to wash them. It’s annoying and I beat myself up over it. I think I need to switch to doing laundry twice a week.
My method is similar to yours. I have recently made my older boys (16 and 11) responsible for their own laundry. They each have one designated day that they have full reign of the laundry room and get it done then. That leaves only the preschooler, and my husband and my laundry for me to do (not including bathmats and bedding). One day a week, when there’s no other housework to be done, like you, I pile sorted laundry around the bathroom and just knock it out. It’s usually Sunday after church when everyone is just kind of bumming around. Doing it all on one day means no constant piles needing to be folded and put away (which was my biggest challenge when I was doing one load/day).
I’m loving these organization posts! I used to be really on top of things, but over time seem to have started to let things slide here and there. The list idea, specifically, has got me thinking about how to get it all back instead of just giving up on it. Thanks!
I work FT, always have, and a long time ago I put my foot down when it came to laundry. I don’t do my husband’s laundry. He’s home during the day due ot his work schedule so he has no excuse! My boy’s have tall hampers in their bedrooms and I do their laundry separately every other weekend. I hate sorting socks, etc so it’s easier for me to do it this way. On the weekend in between, I do my laundry. And during the week, if need be, I’ll do towels and/or sheets b/c I don’t care if they end up sitting in the dryer for 4 days… I’ve been doing it this way for 10 years. It works great for me!
we have a hamper in our bathroom. EVERYONE puts their clothes in there. when it’s full, i do laundry. typically every 2 or 3 days, a couple (or 3) loads when i do it.
Call me crazy,… but I actually love hearing how other people do things in their homes. I think I sunk into a routine of doing things a certain way and then never make a change.
I have no laundry routine. I just do laundry every day and when I get sick of it I skip a day. I have tried the “do it all in one day” method and it hasn’t worked. I think it didn’t work because I picked a certain day of the week and made that laundry day. Really I should try looking at my schedule to see what day might work. I think I’m going to do the laundry all in a day routine again.
I wanted to be a once-a-weeker for the laundry but with 4 kids, all doing sports, exercise clothes for Wayne and I too, it was just too much for one day. So I normally have 2-3 days a week that I focus on it – not set, just as needed.
The kids each have a laundry basket in their rooms (one for the girls, one for the boys). When it is full they are responsible for bringing it into our sitting room and sorting into the baskets we have their for the whole family. 4 baskets (whites, lights, brights and darks). When one (or more) of those are full I do a load (or more). I get to watch TV while I fold, so that makes it less of a chore. The kids have to put their own clothes away. I do towels when I clean the bathrooms each week. I’d like to do sheets each week but honestly – it’s usually every 2-3 weeks.
love these organization posts too – always looking to improve!
I used to be a let-it-pile-up, spend the day slaving while washing, drying, folding, putting away, and then with the Flylady’s advice, I tried doing a load a day….omg this is totally liberating, it is effortless. Everyone has their way, ways can change, but I am beyond grateful to have developed the daily habit. Don’t know that I am ready to live without a laundry hamper like your friend, maybe someday, that is totally awesome.
MJ
Working full-time + coaching + following 4 kids’ activities = I throw a load in the washer when I get up in the morning … Then when I get home at night I usually throw another load in. They don’t always get folded right away, but I have come to accept that as being ok. There are more important things for our family than folded clothes. And to combat the wrinkles …. Wrinkle release spray works wonders
From the time my children are 2yo, they have their own laundry basket. It goes by their bed or dresser, so they always know where it is, and it’s easy for them to put their dirty clothes in. As soon as they are able (and I can trust them to pour the laundry soap correctly, about 8yo), they learn how to use the washer and dryer on their own.
We currently have 2 children living with us, and this is our routine:
Monday: 9yo washes his bedding every other week (it’s marked on a calendar, so he remembers when to do it).
Tuesday: 6yo brings his basket to the washer, I wash/dry, he helps fold and he puts away.
Thursday: 6yo brings his bedding to the washer every other week (again, marked on his calendar).
Friday: 9yo washes/dries/folds/puts away his clothing.
Sat/Sun: I take care of my laundry/bedding.
And when it’s necessary (usually Thursday), I do a load of random towels, swim clothes, husband’s socks that get left in the living room, and muddy clothes from boys playing outside in the water.
When 9yo is doing his laundry, I only have to remind him to check it. It makes life easy for me. 🙂
Both boys have their own control journals tailored from FlyLady’s ideas, so they know what days to take care of their laundry. (If anyone wants to see what their journals look like, I am open to sharing.)