Laundry…it’s completely inescapable and one of those chores that seem to just pile on and pile on. And what’s worse is that if you lower your guard for a minute, you feel like you might be buried under a pile of sweaty socks and damp towels!
If you feel overwhelmed doing laundry, then you are not alone. Many people find that the never-ending amount of laundry (especially if you live with a family) is a huge chore they just can’t get on top of.
Well, we can’t guarantee that these 12 tips will stop your laundry nightmares, but they will at least give you a bit more breathing space and might even make laundry time a bit less of a chore.
1. Fold It as It Comes Out
Laundry can pile up very, very quickly – even clean laundry! And it sometimes feels like you will never have time to fold all the clothes that you wash. However, each load of laundry is a fairly manageable amount. Try folding it quickly as you pull each item out of the dryer. You’ll be surprised at how quickly it gets done and doesn’t leave you with piles of clean laundry all over the place.
2. Or Don’t Fold It
Ok, we tricked you there. I still think you should fold at least some of your clothes. But not everything needs to be perfectly folded. For example, I buy each of my kids lots of the same socks. Instead of pairing each one, I simply dump all the clean socks into a small bin in their drawer. Grab 2 socks in the morning, and they are guaranteed to match – no pairing needed! I also just put each kid’s underwear into a small bin in their drawer without folding it. Saves time, and no one seems to care that their underwear wasn’t folded!
3. Socks Go Into a Mesh Bag
I clip a mesh lingerie bag to the side of the dirty laundry hamper that each person in the family uses. Each mesh bag is labeled with the family member’s name. Train your kids and significant others to toss their (not crumpled, right side out) socks into the mesh bag instead of into the hamper. Then, when you are ready to do a load, just zip the bag and toss it into the washer and then the dryer. If you follow the tip above, you can then just dump all of the socks straight into their bin in the drawer instead of pairing them.
4. Laundry Bags in Baskets
Tired of lugging heavy laundry hampers around and then having to schlep them back? I like my laundry hampers with laundry bags. It’s easier to close the bag, pull it out, and then kick it down the hall, pull it by the strap, or better yet, throw the whole thing down the stairs if you have to. (Extra points if you can get your kids to do this. Mine love to yell “timber!” as they throw the laundry bags down!) You’ll find it much easier to bring back those lightweight bags as well once they are empty!
5. Hang a Laundry Instructions Chart
I don’t know about you, but I can never figure out what those different laundry instruction pictures mean. Does one dot mean agitate or not? And what does a triangle mean? I feel like I’m reading ancient hieroglyphics! Instead, find a laundry instructions chart online and print it out, or even order a cute decorative one, and then hang it on your wall. That way, you can refer to your handy-dandy chart whenever you are confused!
6. Designate a Laundry Day
I hate it when chores creep up on my whole week, and I feel like I’m sorting, washing, drying, folding, and putting laundry away all week long without a break! Instead, designate one day a week as laundry day and try to get it all done in one day. Whatever you wash once a week will be enough for the rest of the week, and dirty clothes (unless they are stinky or stained) can sit in the hamper ‘till next week’s laundry day! You’ll find you don’t feel like you are constantly doing laundry this way, and there aren’t any “help, I have nothing clean to wear!” surprises…
7. Use a Laundry Sorter
I recommend getting some form of laundry sorter. It can be a few different hampers or one of those hampers with a few different sections. As you take off dirty clothes, sort them into the right section (and train everyone in your family to do the same!). Then, come laundry day, you will have no trouble just dumping loads of laundry into the washer and moving things along. Makes for a much faster turnaround time! It also means you can delegate putting laundry into the washer since you know it’s already ready to go!
8. Use Less Laundry Detergent
I know, it may seem counter-intuitive. You want your clothes to be more clean, so it makes sense to add more soap, right? Nope! Extra detergent not only wastes money but also makes your clothes dirtier. If there is more detergent than recommended for the load, it will cling to your clothes and not fully wash off. It then attracts additional dirt. Not what you are looking for! So, in this case, less is more!
9. Use Lower Temps
Washing in hot water isn’t always the best option. Aside from using a lot more energy, hot water often fades your clothes, and can also cause stains to set in. Also, if you accidentally mix some darks and whites, hot is more likely to transfer color. Instead, stick to the coldest temperature that will still get the job done, and you’ll save energy, money, AND your laundry!
10. Tennis Ball in Your Dryer
Do you find blankets, pillows, and other large items come out of the dryer all lumpy? Do your duvet covers or sheets get all tangled up? Try this old but effective trick! Stick a (clean) tennis ball into a (clean) sock, and throw it into the dryer along with your clothes. Dry as you normally would, and the tennis ball will pound the lumps away as it tumbles, and keep things from tangling as well!
11. Put a Dry Towel in the Dryer
When drying large loads of towels or other very heavy items, throw a dry towel in there too! The towel will help absorb some of the moisture and decrease your dryer time. It’s a tried and tested idea that will save you time, decrease energy consumption, and save you money!
12. Don’t Wash It
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Best laundry tip? Don’t do laundry! I don’t mean entirely skipping doing your laundry. Certain things need to be washed. But a lot of items, especially outer clothes, don’t need to be washed all the time. Consider spot cleaning or spraying with fabric freshener instead.
That cardigan you wore over a shirt? Doesn’t need to be washed every time. The same goes for the jeans you wore for a couple of hours. Not washing everything will decrease the amount of laundry you have to do, plus keep your nice clothes looking new and spiffy for a lot longer!
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