Embracing Laundry Day: 10 Steps To Conquer The Dread
I love doing laundry… said no one ever! Putting it all away bugs me the most. So how do we make it less dreadful? Let’s break down the dos of laundry day to set yourself up for success:
Clean up the laundry area. Whether you’re lucky enough to have a dedicated laundry room or just a washer/dryer closet, the area must be clean, tidy, and organized.
Keep supplies organized in categories. Decant laundry detergent pods and powders in nice containers. This makes the area look neat and eliminates multiple partly-used containers.
Do sort your laundry by category and color. This will make drying, folding, and storing manageable and avoid color bleeding.
Wash in cold water except for sheets, towels, and underwear. These carry more bacteria and, yes, feces, so wash in the highest temperature setting according to the care label.
Wash, dry, and store your laundry on the same day. The worst is having to rewash clothes left in the washer or untangle dry, wrinkled clothes.
Do break down your laundry into multiple days if you have a lot.
Wash individual family members separately. Get the whole family involved in doing their laundry. They will have to learn how to do this in the real world, so convince them you’re doing them a favor!
Wash on the shortest cycle. Unless you have severely stained clothes, wash them on the shortest cycle to save time, money, and the environment. Use the pre-soak cycle for heavily stained items.
Maintain individual hampers and laundry baskets for each family member to keep things simple.
Prevention vs. the cure. This is my mantra for everything I do. You do not need to wash your clothes just because you wore them once. Returning them to the closet is fine unless they have been sweated in or stained. You can track what has been worn by turning it inside out before hanging it back up.
Laundry might never become your favorite activity, but by changing your mindset and adopting practical strategies, you can make it more bearable and less dreadful. Embrace the fact that clean clothes are an essential part of a well-functioning life, and use laundry time to your advantage by turning it into a positive and rewarding experience. By doing so, you can transform your laundry day from something you hate into a manageable task.
If you’re in the market for new construction or a remodel, consider bringing in a professional organizer that can advise how to plan the space for maximum efficiency.
Here’s a list of our go-to laundry supplies to complete your system!
Why we love it - It saves space, and can be stored alongside the washer/dryer or hung on a wall. It comes in multiple colors so that you can color code for family members.
Wall Mounted Clothes Drying Rack
Why we love it - You can eliminate the folding floor racks that take up valuable real estate. It folds back neatly into the wall.
Why we love them - Fabric softer is the new smoking. These balls are wool, earth-friendly, and will cut down your wrinkles and drying time.
Why we love it - Never have to reach up to get your supplies. This handy cart can fit between or alongside most washers or roll into a corner.
Why we love them - Anything stackable is our best friend. These handy bins store cleaning clothes, dryer balls, and detergent pods.