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How To Make Laundry Work Without Working Harder

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Laundry is just one of those things in life that will never go away.  It is here to stay, so I like to look for ways to make laundry work without working harder.  I have found some ways to make laundry easier, look great, and smell amazing– and THAT makes me happy! Let me share some of those ways with you:

 

~Use sturdy, pretty baskets.

The top picture was taken before I had my oldest 2 start doing their own laundry.  As you can see, I had 3 smaller baskets where I would fold and put each child’s clothes, and they would put their own clothes away.  I folded in the living room so the clothes would not sit.  If they are out and about in my way, I will remember to tell the littles to put their clothes away. This system worked well when they were younger.  The larger basket was for Todd and I.  The medium basket held all socks.  They are all quality, sturdy baskets that are pretty and fun to use.

IMG_0218

~Buy a laundry sorter.

I have one like this one and I love it!  I do NOT sort according to color.  I sort according to each person in the family.  Mark it clearly so everyone knows where to put their dirty clothes.  I have mine labeled with each person’s name. I keep in a central location (in the main floor hallway) where I can keep an eye on it, and where it is easy for everyone to bring their dirties when asked.

 ~Kids 12 and older do their own.

This has changed my life and my relationship with laundry.  My two oldest do their own now.  It has saved my sanity and our relationship!  Now, if clean clothes are on the floor, it does not affect me or my sanity, as I am not the one who will have to re-wash them.  They now take much better care of their clothes.  The occasional times I surprise them and do it for them, they are much more grateful. Kids who are grateful that their laundry is done = winning!
Method_Detergent_031315_Spring_Garden_040x

~Use laundry detergent that works…

There is nothing worse than paying for laundry detergent that does not work.  If I’m going to pay for detergent, I want everything that my new favorite detergent, method, has to offer.  I’ve been using method brand and have found it to be everything I need it to be. Here are a few of those things that are important to me:

 

*Concentrated –NEW 4x concentrated laundry detergent-naturally derived cleaning power that is tough on dirt and stains
*Naturally derived cleaning power– proven to remove tough dirt + stains
*Keeps colors bright + whites white
*Works great in cold water so you use less energy for every load
*Biodegradable and hypoallergenic formula
*Can also be used as a really effective pre-treat for stains

 

I especially love the last point.  I’m all about saving money by not having to buy pre-treatment for stains!
Method_Detergent_031315_Fresh_Clover_128x

~…and makes you happy

What makes me happy is bright colors, bottles that are designed well, and delicious fragrances.  Method brand brings a range of fragrances to the laundry aisle that tends to be filled with the same old, common laundry scents, but not method! They have a super unique and fun fragrances for everyone, and I love them all!  The free & clear is great for those like my oldest daughter, who prefers that her clothes do not have a scent, but if you are like me and love clothes that smell good, check out these fun fragrances!
Fruity  {ginger mango}

 

Floral  {spring garden}

 

Herbaceous-Woody {beach sage and fresh clover}
Free + Clear {no fragrance}

 

The design of the method bottle also makes me very happy.  There is no handle, which makes the bottles 100% recyclable and made with post-consumer recycled materials.  Usually the handle on bottles is what makes them not fully recyclable, so instead of a handle, method includes an easy-to-use grip on their cute bottles.  Brilliant!
imagePHOTO: COURTESY OF METHOD X ASOS

Speaking of design, method has collaborated with ASOS and came up with a super happy spring lineup.

Check it out: ASOS X method.

 

~If you have younger kids, use baskets or buckets for their soiled clothes

I have a dirty clothes bucket in their room for dirties and another for clean clothes that need hung up.  The goal is to keep clothes off the floor.  If your kids are old enough, teach them to hang up the clean clothes.  Give it as one of their 3 daily chores.

~Use hooks in closets for things like robes, coats, jackets.

These things are a pain to hang up on hangers and kids will struggle with that.  If an item is used almost daily, have a hook for it.

 

~When you see a part of the sorter get full, you know whose turn it is to do laundry.

My laundry sorter  has 4 bags hanging from it.  One for my 14-year-old, one for my 12-year-old, one for my 10-year-old, and husband and I share one. A full bag makes a perfect-sized full load.  I only have to worry about 2 of the 4, as the older two girls do their own.  I keep our sorter on the main floor in the hallway.

 

~Don’t sort laundry.

Unless we have a new item of clothing that I know will bleed when first washed, I don’t sort.  I think it is a waste of time.  I like to do loads according to person, not according to color.  It makes the folding and putting away so much easier when loads are according to person.  I’ve never had a problem, but do this at your own risk!

 

IMG_6613

 

~Have a hook for each person in the family to keep their towel.

I only wash towels once or twice a week.  I just grab them from the hooks in the bathroom and throw them right into the washer.  Yes, I wash the white towels with the black towels.  It works fine, but make sure to wash separately when brand new a few times.  We only have one bathroom with a shower, so the girls towels are the three on the hooks…they know what color is theirs.  Todd and I use white towels on hooks behind the door.

~Keep a sock basket.

Keep the sock basket in a central location, where all mismatched or found socks go.  Occasionally grab the basket and have child match any socks as a chore.
………………..
So what do you think? Do some of these laundry tips make you happy?
What do you think of some of those amazing new scents from method?
Want a $3.00 off online coupon?  Click here and use coupon code THREEFORME.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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5 Minute Fridays/ HOME/ Homemaking/ Simplifying

How To Fall In Love With Doing Laundry

 
{5 Minutes of unedited, nonstop writing on the week’s given theme.}
 
GO.
 
Laundry and love are two words I never thought I would use together.  Laundry FAIL is more like it for most of my life.  I always said that if I ever have laundry caught up AND put away, then I will have arrived as a Mom.  Well, recently there have been many more days of caught up & put away laundry, but I so have not “arrived” as a Mom.  SO. NOT.
 
But I have grown.
I have become wiser over the years.  
More efficient.
 
I have learned that undone laundry does not define what kind of mother/housewife/woman I am.
I have learned that it is ok to do things imperfectly.
I have learned that it is ok to ask for help and allow kids to participate.
 
I have learned how to love laundry.
 
Love is a dramatic word, especially when it comes to laundry…but hear me out.
 
I have changed my thought patterns when it comes to laundry and now it does not control or define me.  
We are friends now. Not besties, but a friend that I don’t take for granted.

My new thought pattern? 

I love laundry because it shows God has provided.
~He has provided clothes for our family.
~He has provided water & a washing machine that works…a luxury many do not have.
~He has given me children who are healthy enough to play soccer and get dirty.
~He has given me girls that have such great fashion sense that some days it takes numerous outfit changes to find the exact one…which means more laundry…the  most challenging kind, clean laundry caught up in the dirty.  The kind that takes sacrifice to wash again without complaint. 
 
Isn’t that life, the clean and the dirty mixed up together on a regular basis?  
Not ideal, but real.
Signs of life, of living the beautiful imperfect.
Signs that we need Him.
 
He knows all about the washing of dirty laundry.
Of sacrifice.
Of loving that which can be as repulsive as a muddy soccer sock.
Of lovingly washing us, whiter than snow.
 
STOP.
 
 
Need some practical tips to help you love laundry?
 
~Kids 12 and older do their own.  This has changed my life and my relationship with laundry.  My two oldest do their own now.  It has saved my sanity and our relationship.  Now, if clean clothes are on the floor, it does not affect me or my sanity, as I am not the one who will have to rewash them.  They now take much better care of their clothes.  The occasional times I surprise them and do it for them…they are grateful. Kids who are grateful that their laundry is done = winning!
 
~If you have younger kids, have a dirty clothes bucket in their room and another for clean clothes that need hung up.  The goal is to keep clothes off the floor.  If they are old enough, teach them to hang up the clean clothes.  Give it as one of their 3 daily chores.
 
~Use hooks in closets for things like robes, coats, jackets.  These things are a pain to hang up on hangers and kids will struggle with that.  If an item is used almost daily, have a hook for it.
 
~Buy a laundry sorter. I have one like this one and I love it!  Do NOT sort according to color.  Sort according to person in the family.  Mark it clearly so everyone knows where to put their dirty clothes.  Keep in a central location where you can keep an eye on it, and where it is easy for everyone to bring their dirties when asked.
 
~When you see a part of the sorter get full, you know whose turn it is to do laundry.  I have a sorter that has 4 baskets hanging from it.  A full basket makes a perfect full load.  One for my 14 year old, one for my 12 year old, one for my 10 year old, and husband and I share one.  I only have to worry about 2 of the 4, as the older two girls do their own.  I keep our sorter on the main floor in the hallway.
 
~Don’t sort laundry.  Unless we have a new item of clothing that I know will bleed when first washed, I don’t sort.  I think it is a waste of time.  I like to do loads according to person, not according to color.  It makes the folding and putting away so much easier when loads are according to person.
 
~Use sturdy, pretty baskets.  The top picture was taken before I had my oldest 2 start doing their own laundry.  As you can see, I had 3 smaller baskets where I would fold and put each child’s clothes, and they would put their own clothes away.  I folded in the living room so the clothes would not sit.  If they are out and about in my way, I will remember to tell the littles to put their clothes away. This system worked well when they were younger.  The larger basket was for Todd and I.  The medium basket held all socks.
 
 
~Have a hook for each person in the family to keep their towel.  I only wash towels once or twice a week.  I just grab them from the hooks in the bathroom and throw them right into the washer.  Yes, I wash the white towels with the black towels.  It works fine, but make sure to wash separately when brand new a few times.  We only have one bathroom with a shower, so the girls towels are the three on the hooks…they know what color is theirs.  Todd and I use white towels on hooks behind the door.
 
~Wash sheets/bedding/blankets on the weekend.  I just rotate a bed each weekend.  Yes, each persons bedding only gets washed once a month, except for Todd and I, our bedding gets washed twice a month.  Good enough. 
 
~Keep a sock basket.  Keep the sock basket in a central location, where all mismatched or found socks go.  Occasionally grab the basket and have child match any socks as a chore.
 
~Make your own laundry detergent.  LOVE love easy liquid recipe.
 
What is your favorite tip?
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