Organizing Tips to Help You Conquer the Laundry Monster
By Bridget MessinoPreparation is Half the Battle
If you have a large family (or lots of clothes!), sorting the laundry can be a daunting task all on its own. Sorting as you go not only ends the need for this part of the project, but also may encourage you to do laundry more often because it's all sorted and ready to go! Use a multi-compartmented hamper or several laundry baskets and as you throw in your dirty clothes just drop them in the appropriate section (even kids as young as pre-schoolers can learn to do this -- make it fun for them, give them a small reward (an extra 15 minutes of TV? staying up 10 minutes later?) each time they get everything in the right spot!)
Toss items that need dry cleaning into a special basket or bag as soon as you take it off. This way, when you are ready to go to the cleaners you can just grab them, rather than having to hunt for them in all the dirty laundry (ugh!)
Make a habit of always keeping a spare of laundry detergent, dryer sheets and whatever else you use regularly. That way you never have to drop everything and run to the store to complete your laundry (or use that as a reason to not complete the laundry...)
Put Away the Clean Clothes in a Flash!
Keep hangers and a folding hanging rack near the dryer. Save steps by putting hanging items directly on hangers rather than folding and toting them first. As you fold clean laundry, place items in baskets by person to simplify the process of putting it all away. Get everyone in on the act. Even small children can help put away some of their own clothes -- socks, underwear, etc. Older kids can put it all away. If you share the burden, it's not so overwhelming.
We know it's hard, but go through your drawers and closets and purge things that are never worn. Putting laundry away is much faster and more pleasant if you don't have to struggle to cram the clothes into an overstuffed space.
Set a side a small drawer or basket for socks that have lost their mate in the wash. Sooner or later the other sock will turn up and the pair can be put away with all the others.
Other Laundry Tips
Consider sprucing up and organizing the laundry area. A clean and well-organized space makes any task more enjoyable. Schedule set laundry days and stick to them. It's amazing how much more you can get done when you have a schedule.
Short of inventing disposable clothes, laundry is here to stay, but these tips should make it quicker and a little more manageable and you will never have a morning with nothing to wear.
Copyright 2004 Bridget Messino
About The Author:
Bridget Messino is a Professional Organizer and co-owner of Clutter Free Living, Inc. Her work frequently appears on many Internet sites and on her own organizing site Clutter Free Living as well as in her monthly Home Organizing Newsletter How to Be Clutter Free. Subscribe to the FREE monthly e-newsletter by sending a blank e-mail to flnews-subscribe@topica.email-publisher.com
Feedback About This Post:
RE: Organizing Tips to Help You Conquer the Laundry Monster
I also found by folding & hanging my clothes straight out of the dryer eliminated alot of headaches. I have bins for each of my family & as I fold, I put the clothes in their bin. I let them know when their bin is full & they have to come get it & put their clothes away. I also have separate industrial size hooks for each child. They know if they are missing something to come look there before asking me.
Post by shelia43
RE: Organizing Tips to Help You Conquer the Laundry Monster
That was a very good article. I have been trying to get through the laundry pile day after day...after day.
Post By limolaideez (Guest Post)
RE: Organizing Tips to Help You Conquer the Laundry Monster
I found a great way to save money on dryer sheets. I just take the used ones, spray them with febreze, let them dry and reuse them. You get twice as much use out of a box, plus I love the way it makes my clothes smell.
Post by JSTate
RE: Organizing Tips to Help You Conquer the Laundry Monster
To keep away wrinkles, I take my clothes out of the dryer and immediately lay them over the dryer door. Then I can take my time putting them on hangers.
Post By Enter your name. (Guest Post)
RE: Organizing Tips to Help You Conquer the Laundry Monster
Disposable clothes? Now there's a fantastic idea....:)
Post by miz_macoo
RE: Organizing Tips to Help You Conquer the Laundry Monster
folding clothes as you take them out of the dryer or off of the clothesline eliminates wrinkles and gets them taken care of in a blink if the baskets are right there, too. I used to dread carrying baskets of laundry from the dryer to the living room to sit and fold... One day I gave it some thought and eliminated the extra step.
Post By breezeetew (Guest Post)
Disclaimer: ThriftyFun.com cannot accept any responsibility for any injury or damage that you may cause to yourself, others, or property when following any advice given on this site. Read the full disclaimer: http://www.thriftyfun.comdisclaimer.ldml If you find any information on ThriftyFun.com or in our newsletters that is either erroneous and/or potentially harmful to others, please Contact Us, immediately.