The scenario:
You’re surrounded by at least 5 huge piles of laundry. No one has clean underwear. The ironing pile is up to your waist. Your hubby is down to his last pair of dark socks. Again.
This happens several times a month, and then you spend 2 solid days just playing laundry catch-up.
You’re upset that you’re spending your whole weekend on laundry (again) and this thought keeps running through your mind:
What can I do to make this laundry thing easier? It doesn’t have to be this hard or time-consuming. But where do I start to find a laundry routine?
I’m so glad you asked.
Families come in all shapes and sizes: only 1 child vs. 8 children, single parent vs. 2-parent household, SAHM vs. WAHM vs, WOTH mom, married vs. bachelor. And as there are many varied family dynamics, there are many different laundry routines. What works for one family will not work for another.
The goal of any laundry routine is to get you out of crisis mode and into maintenance mode.
It may take some trial and error, but to start a laundry routine, begin with asking yourself (and your family!) these questions:
– How often do I want to do laundry? A little every day? 2 days a week? One massive day a week? Twice a month?
– What am I willing to do to make my Laundry Life easier? Stick to a schedule? Foster more self-discipline? Enlist other family members for help? Outsource laundry to a third-party?
– Are there any products I need to buy to help create this new routine? Laundry baskets, laundry sorters, mesh bags, a “nice” detergent, a new ironing board or iron…
These are just a few questions to get your wheels spinning on how to start a laundry routine that works for you and your family. Truly take the time to mull each one over a few minutes and come up with some answers. Just going through the thought process will help kick this routine into a real event.
Over the next few weeks, I am going to highlight what a real laundry routine looks like in these scenarios: a mom that works outside the home and a stay at home mom. These will be practical, solid examples of schedules that you can glean tips from and leave what you don’t need.
What are your biggest obstacles to developing a laundry routine?
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My biggest obstacle is that my washer and dryer are in the basement… and that I have to go through the unheated garage to get to the stairs for the basement.
My biggest obstacle is the fact that our bedrooms are on the 2nd floor and our laundry room is in the unfinished basement. Takes a great deal of motivation to get the laundry from all the way up to all the way down and vice versa!
.-= Carrie´s last blog ..Sunflower Market’s new deals starting tomorrow =-.
You have no idea how much I NEED YOU! We are always behind. I know I need a routine and a schedule, but seem to always fall behind. I am looking forward to your posts so I can improve in this “HORRIBLE PERFORMANCE” are of mine. I am sooo excited!
.-= lynn @ Maven of Savin´s last blog ..Auntie Anne’s FREE Pretzels – REMINDER, TOMORROW!! =-.
Hey Lynn!
Okay-that “horrible performance” just made me laugh out loud! I have that title in so many areas!
Do you have specific laundry questions? Ask away…
Thanks so much for stopping by!
-Lauren
I need so much help with my laundry routine! Well my DH pretty much does it because I am so completely uninspired! I love your site – if I ever do get motivated, this is where I’m coming to get schooled 🙂
.-= Andrea @ MommySnacks.net´s last blog ..Easter Candy Coupons | Lifesavers, Nerds, SweeTarts =-.
Oooh! What a fabulous DH you have there that will do the laundry!
Thanks so much for the kind words. Yes, come on back if you need inspiration or tips…or just have questions. 🙂
I appreciate you stopping by!
-Lauren
I really want to be a laundry person. I mean I don’t hate doing it. I actually like doing it. My biggest obstacle is that it is in my cellar and I HATE, HATE, HATE that I have to take the baskets up and down 2 flights of stairs. I really believe that is my washer and dryer were on the same floor as the laundry I would do it EVERY SINGLE DAY! Rain or Shine! However, it is not possible to move them to the 2nd floor of my house so, I need to figure something out. I wish I could somehow install a laundry shoot but again, my hubby is NOT a handy man… I need help!
This seems to be such a common problem – that the washer and dryer is on a separate floor of the house. And that makes it so hard to do laundry!
I’ll write a post about that soon with some ideas that might help!
Thanks for stopping by 🙂
-Lauren
I have 2yr old & 8 wk old. I also have a 20 yr old college student who drops off laundry (about to cone to halt). DH sorts in am after I leave for wk with the babies in tow. He manages 2 loads washed n dried (usually his). I get home & “layout” his things at foot of our bed n get started on mine. I usually am able to wash/dry 2 loads. Weekends I do the childrens. 2 loads max. My biggest prob is finding tre extra time to put away. Dh hangs his 1x per week and usually moves his stack of “laid out” shirts from bed to ironing board throughout the week. My stuff stays in the basket and I iron every am or toss in dryer with wet towel or shamWow. Epic FAIL it’s embarrassing.
Oh My Dear…you must be getting up at the crack of dawn to get two (very) little ones out the door in the morning AND you’ve found the time to iron!
What’s the biggest issue? The ironing every morning? Or the putting away of clothes? I’m happy to help you brainstorm if that’s what you need.
-Lauren
Mostly the putting away. The washer/dryer is in the toddlers bedroom behind sliding closet doors. Once she’s to bed @8 there’s not much I can do in the way of laundry. Just about all I manage is towels…the rest get draped flat on the foot if my bed.
Oh My gosh– I have such a laundry problem in my house. I have a massive pile in my bedroom and a huge pile by the washer and dryer. I do laundry every day. It seems there is more laundry then my washer and dryer can handle. I think I need 2 or 3 washers and dryers. I am married to a messy guy and I have 3 messy kids. I have a serious problem with my kids taking their clean clothes and throwing them in the floor and even sleeping with them in their beds. Then I have to wash those clothes over again. I feel if I am the only one doing laundry then my family should at least help fold and put away. My kids and my husband do not help with daily house hold chores. I am so over welmed all the time. I feel humilated all the time by my home. My house is a 2 bedroom one bath house and I feel Iam sufficating at times. My house is too small and I live with 4 lazy pigs. I am so tired of living this way. My whole life has become laundry, dishes, cooking and throwing out every bodies mess. I have actually thought of leaving and getting my own place thats clean. Does anyone else out there know what I am going through and does anyone have any advice??? HELP!!!!
Angela, I’ll email you some ideas 😉
By the way, how old are your kids?
-Lauren