Lost in Laundry?
Laundry is one of those household chores that can easily spiral into chaos. Piles of clothes, mismatched socks, and the never-ending cycle of washing, drying, and folding (or no folding??) can overwhelm even the most organized individuals. Staying on top of laundry with an organizational system can help create a routine that will benefit you and your family for the long run. It may feel impossible or you may even say “no one else follows the system, it’s just me!”, but fear not! Here are some tips to help you avoid getting lost in the laundry chaos and maintain a sense of order between you and the family.
1. Create a Laundry Schedule
Set specific days and times for doing laundry. Whether it’s once a week or twice a week, having a schedule helps you stay consistent and prevents laundry from piling up. This also saves your sanity if you ever feel like you “should” be doing laundry, you know this schedule is the only thing that you need to listen to. If you run into days where you suddenly need a baseball uniform or fresh work shirt, it’s ok to go off schedule! Giving yourself grace, especially during a new routine, is a must. Mark it on your calendar or set reminders on your phone to keep yourself accountable.
2. Designate a Laundry Area
Having a dedicated space for laundry can make a big difference. Any bare floor space your house is NOT the laundry area. If possible, choose a room or corner that’s solely for laundry tasks. This could be solely your laundry room, or even one large single bin in the parents room since we know everyone is in there anyway! Keep all your supplies—detergents, fabric softeners, dryer sheets—organized in this area. A tidy laundry space makes the process feel less chaotic. Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it.
3. Incorporate a Family System
If you share laundry duties with family members, create a system that works for everyone. From the youngest to the oldest, each person in the house can have an assigned task if that’s what you’re wanting. Assign specific laundry tasks, such as washing, folding, or putting away clothes. A task for the little ones could be as simple as separating the colors from whites and taking one less job away before they even make it to the wash. Make it a fun family activity by playing music or setting a timer for a folding challenge. Incorporating a sticker chart during tasks like these for small children is so easy, and fun for them!
4. If You Can, Embrace Minimalism
Consider simplifying your wardrobe. The fewer clothes you have, the less laundry you’ll need to do. Focus on versatile pieces that mix and match easily, making it simpler to maintain your wardrobe and keep your laundry load manageable. For parents, having a donation box in your closet for monthly or quarterly purges will surprisingly end up being easier than you thought. Before you know it, you will be only sticking with the staples and not feeling suffocated from the clutter. Getting your children on board with downsizing their amount of clothes might seem super simple - just don’t tell them. If you are in a situation like that, perfect! Make time to go through their clothes seasonally to make sure you are not holding onto pieces they no longer fit into. If your children like to be involved in the decluttering process of clothes, pick a time together to go through seasonal clothes that might not be worth keeping. This is a great time to teach them about giving their items to people in-need, or other friends or family members that are expecting kids of their own.
