Do you feel stuck with how to accomplish laundry duty? When it comes to my laundry system I have been doing it the same way for almost 15 years. How boring, but hey it works for me! I am pretty sure my mom did and does it the same way, which is where I got the idea in the first place.
Typically I try and get the bulk of my laundry done within one to two days. I do my sheets on a different day and don’t really count them as part of my regular laundry duties. They fall in their own category because I have to also have the energy to make beds once the sheets are clean!
My laundry system currently looks something like this…
- Monday-wash & fold all clothing & towels
- Tuesday-put away all clothing & towels
- Wednesday-wash sheets (rotating schedule)
- Thursday-Ainsley (washes, folds, & puts away her own clothes)
Sunday nights I begin by throwing in the first load. Sometimes I will set my washer on a timer, so I don’t have to actually start folding until Monday morning. I sort from my laundry chute into my four laundry baskets. We have four baskets – colors, workout, towels, and whites. I gave a full tour of our laundry / mudroom over here. (Usually I sort once throughout the week as well to keep the chute from backing up!)
How to Accomplish Laundry Duty
On Monday morning I continue to wash, dry, and fold. I set up my folding station (folding clothes on the couch or floor) in our Family Room. Then I can watch TV or fold a load between making dinner or cleaning house. Every family member (with the exception of Ainsley) has a basket. I also use one more basket for all the towels that need to be folded and put away.
My goal is that by Monday night I am delivering each basket to each room for that person to then put away. My kids know that on Tuesdays they need to put away their laundry. I tend to put any items laying around the house also in their baskets. Then that way they make it back to their rooms! It is important to get your kids involved as much as possible. My kids began putting away their own laundry when they were about four and I helped them as needed. I feel it is important for them to take care of their clothes and learn the responsibility too.
This is how things look on Monday nights…
Any items that our hung up are put right on hangers out of the dryer and placed here. I bring down the hangers with me Sunday night when I bring down the baskets. We keep the empty baskets in our Master Bedroom closet. When all the laundry is done, I walk the hanging clothes back to their closets.
Daily or One Day?
I prefer to just dig in and get the whole mess done in the first part of the week, I work best on Mondays, because I am always motivated to get on top of things in my house after the weekend. I like that I can unpack from trips or plan ahead to the coming weekend by making sure I have things washed, folded, and put away. To me the same day each week for doing laundry works perfect. I don’t always get it put away as quickly as I would like, but I love the feeling of having it all caught up for at least an hour or so! If we have a Monday holiday I just push things out a day, that way I stay on the same general schedule.
There are so many great ways to do your laundry. Don’t limit the way you do yours. First recognize your personality work within that, don’t set up a system that won’t work for you and your family. Try something and if it doesn’t work try it a different way. Continuing to tweak things will result in more success in the long term. However, it is important to have some type of system, so that when you reach for an article of clothing or you need a clean towel, there will be one waiting for you.
*Tip – Set up a laundry system that works within your home and family.
As Dr. Phil says…”How’s it workin’ for you?” Is your Laundry system an effective one?
Happy Organizing!
