Mom, are you spending way too much time sorting, washing, and folding laundry?Here are some quick easy tips to help get you out of
laundry room!
1) Sort Less
With exception of whites that need to be bleached, brand new dark or red items that bleed or delicates, you may not need to sort laundry as much as you think.
Most high quality clothing doesn't bleed. And there is no crime in washing towels with other laundry unless it will get linty (like microfiber cleaning cloths).
You might want to sort laundry by what room it will end up in. I throw my boy's laundry all in together and despite what home economics gurus might tell you, I haven't noticed any bad effects! This method simplifies things because each load goes to same place. Instead of walking around house delivering laundry to each room, you save energy and time.
2) Instead of folding...
Hang kid's shirts in their closet and simply lay small items flat in their drawers.
I use those cheap shoebox size plastic organizers in boy's closet and throw unsorted clean socks in one, undies in another, pjs in another. Each child has his own containers so there's no confusion.
It's much simpler than spending time folding underwear and matching socks. They can find their own sock mates!
3) Use Your Tools
Put one laundry basket in each room where dirty laundry is discarded (usually one per bathroom or bedroom). Buy some of those zippered mesh bags at dollar store and throw one in each.
4) Teach your kids and husband
Ask your husband and kids to put laundry in hamper instead of dropping it on floor, and to bring their hamper to laundry area when you're ready to wash. Don't scold or nag, use natural consequences. When someone needs that favorite pair of Buzz Lightyear pjs or boxers, they will quickly learn that if it doesn't make it to hamper, it doesn't get washed!
