The laundry can easily get out of control, with piles of dirty clothes piling up for you to then find the time to wash them amongst the many other things we need to do each day. I can think of better things to do than a day of washing clothes! Creating a system for your laundry can help this tedious task become more manageable. Quite a few readers have shared their laundry routines with me, gradually over the next few months I’ll share their systems with you, as it’s great to read how others also create routines in their households, you could use these ideas to adapt in your home.
You may like to read:
I use the delay start timer function on my washing machine, it gives me the option of setting it to turn on in 3 hours, 5 hours or 9 hours. I put it on before getting ready for bed (9-10pm ish) and it comes on early in the morning (6am ish) and is finished ready for when I am ready to hang it, without it having to sit wet overnight (which is what I used to do also with our old washing machine that did not have this function).
Sarah
When my kids were young I had a mesh washing bag (the kind used for delicates) pegged up in the laundry for odd socks. Throw all the spares in that – very easy to see through mesh to pair them up as you find the strays. Also have a “treasure hunt” weekly for socks that have been buried in lounges etc. Maybe rewards for matched pairs?
Roz
I don’t have a set schedule for laundry written down but I do know I have to wash Tuesday night so we have school clothes for wed/thurs and again on the weekend. Towels and sheets etc just get washed when we have a fine day and I have the time.?I try to grab things off the line and then sit to fold, placing each family members clothes in their own laundry basket for them, or me, to put away. We are a family of 7 people and I would love the dirty clothes to be sorted but atm we just have 2 dirty laundry hampers, 1 for the whole family and 1 for DHs work clothes (carpenter so clothes have sawdust).
Hayley
I do all of the washing for our family of 4 and the kids are too little to help too much at the moment. So to stay on top of it I fold and sort as I bring the washing in off the line. I take two big washing baskets out to the line and each person has half a basket. It takes a bit longer at the line itself, but I find it is quicker and easier in the long run. I hated having baskets of tangled washing around the house and this way I can just put them straight into drawers when I come inside.
Laura
I’ve got my washing pat ? it’s only my son (13) and I so I have one of those huge laundry baskets next to the machine and 4 washing baskets on top of the water heater in the laundry everything gets dumped in the baskets and gets sorted on Saturday morning into the 4 baskets. I’m like your previous owners if I hung the clothes out they’ll still be there for a month. So when I hear that beep of the dryer it time for the next load. Which Master B does for me and I fold and put away… It works for us!
Mandy
Im a mum to 3 little ones. My eldest started kindy this year.?I dedicate most Monday mornings to washing but will also do a load or 2 later in the week if I have to.?I usually to 3 loads and 4 when I do sheets or towels. I wash our bed sheets every 2 weeks and alternate the 2 weeks in between with doing towels. so I’m not washing sheets and towels all in the same week.
I have top loader and can’t wait till the day comes i get a front loader as I swear our top loader doesn’t clean all that well.?My husband is a farmer and I an never seem to get his jeans clean even after soaking them.?He says the twin tubs clean better than mine.? I try to fold taking off the line but sometimes I give up when it gets windy so I generally dump and then fold inside and try to do asap and put away.?My three girls will help once they are much older but i have a few years yet till that stage.
Marie
We have a clothesline, but thanks to hubby’s back problems I am the only one able to use it. So it is used for the sheets that I do each Saturday. And when I am home to wash.?For the days when he does the washing or it is wet, I have 2 airers. One is upright and has fold out areas for hangers, while the other is waist height.?I fold the washing as it comes off the line (or airer) then it is put away as soon as it goes inside. A REAL time saver. The only thing I do not fold at the clothesline is the fitted sheet for my bed as I use the bed to fold it on.?When the kids were the ages of yours I had four laundry baskets. One for each of them and one for us (same as you). I filled them at the clothesline and each child would then take and empty it in their room.?On the days when hubby brings the washing in, I have crumpled clothes as he likes to squish them down to fit in the basket. ?Trying hard to break him of that!
Pat
My 1st load of washing is loaded the night before and set on delayed start to switch on earlier than i get up but to be finishing as I am getting up, I empty the machine into a basket and set the next load going then hang both loads together once the older girls are at school.
I get it in after lunch while the youngest is having her afternoon nap.
I do a dark and a light load every day, just to keep it all done and never is dirty washing sitting around the place! ? ?
I do all our sheets on a Thursday as well.
Kaycee
HOW TO CREATE A LAUNDRY SCHEDULE
Unfortunately, washing is one of those tedious jobs that is never-ending, you think you have found the bottom of the pile, but the next day it’s back! Having a laundry schedule will help you stay in control of your dirty laundry piles. This helps me to make sure the kids always have clean school uniforms. Read more about my laundry schedule here.
SHOP: Laundry Schedule Printables
I have a shoulder injury which is stopping me from hanging on the outside line. Instead, I now hang what clothes I can onto hangers and I can loop over the line, and smaller clothes and towels go on my outside, under cover clothes racks. The youngest has child sized hangers. Much ironing is reduced! I bring the hangers in and hang dry clothes onto the wheelie rack where each person takes their shirts, blouses, skirts, frocks etc to their wardrobe and returns with their empty hangers for the next load(s). I just need help to hang my sheets out. I’m loving it and will continue even when shoulder is better ?
Helen
I have just re done my laundry and have put a whole wall of pigeon holes in- 6×5. Each member of the family has two pigeon holes. The top one I put all the small stuff in- undies, socks, singlets etc and the bottom one I put all the big clothes in- shorts, shirts, jumpers etc Everyone has to collect their clothes from the pigeon hole and put them away.?All the rest of the pigeon holes are used for soccer boots, sheets, towels etc.?I have bought a few baskets to fit in the holes as well for swimming gear and a mending pile.?I usually fill the washing machine at night and put it on first thing in the morning when I get up. Sometimes I get my husband to pull the knob out if he gets up first.
Natalie
I bring washing in in two baskets-folding and ironing. Then I pack folding away whilst kids shower and the ironing gets sorted into the baskets and then I can quickly find a clothing item when I need it.
Chrissie
I have a large tub for each child – colour coded. I get them to take their own clothes off the line and fold and put away.
Belinda
I have started hanging our washing in groups -each family members items together – ironing, non ironing. I fold non ironing as I take it off the line then put it straight away. So easy
Amanda
Call me lazy but I don’t fold. I have a basket for each person in the house and I sort them into their basket as they come off the line (or out of the dryer) each person is then responsible for putting their own clothes away and it’s up to them if they fold but at the end of the day they never stay that way so what’s the point? I also have a sock basket that stays in the lounge room and the kids have to get their own socks each morning. That gets rid of trying to pair socks all the time.
Erin
