Laundry. It’s one of those chores that never seems to end. Just when you think you’re caught up, another pile appears! If you’re looking for some laundry hacks to help you stay on top of it all, you’re definitely not alone. Let’s face it—laundry can feel like a mountain that’s impossible to climb. But guess what? You can take control of it!
In this blog post, I’ll share practical laundry hacks, easy-to-follow strategies, and a bit of encouragement to help you manage the never-ending laundry. Ready to tackle those piles? Let’s dive in!
Create a Laundry Routine that Works for You
The secret to conquering the laundry chaos is creating a routine that fits your family’s lifestyle. Every household is different, so find a system that makes laundry more manageable for you. And no, not having a routine doesn’t work!
Here’s how to set up a routine that works:
- Schedule Laundry Days: Instead of waiting until you have a giant pile of dirty clothes, designate specific laundry days for your family. For instance, you might do towels on Mondays, bedding on Tuesdays, and kids’ clothes on Wednesdays. This breaks down the laundry into smaller, more manageable loads and keeps things from piling up.
- Do One Load a Day: If you have a big family or feel like you’re constantly drowning in laundry, consider doing one load a day. Toss a load in the washer first thing in the morning, and aim to have it dried, folded, and put away by the end of the day. This keeps laundry from feeling like an insurmountable task and ensures you’re always making progress.
- Involve the Whole Family: Teach your kids to help with laundry as part of their daily or weekly chores. Even young children can learn to sort clothes by color or match socks. Older kids can help fold and put away their clothes, making the entire process faster and less stressful for you.
- Create a Laundry Calendar: Sometimes, visual aids can be incredibly helpful. Create a simple laundry calendar with your weekly schedule and display it in your laundry room or on the fridge. Seeing the plan laid out can make it feel more manageable and less overwhelming.
Pro tip: Set a timer for each load, so you remember to switch it over to the dryer. This helps avoid having to rewash forgotten loads, cause that’s always the worst!
Sort as you go
One of the most time-consuming parts of laundry is sorting it. But guess what? You can cut down on this step by sorting as you go!
Here’s one of the most effective laundry hacks:
Try these hacks to make sorting easy and painless:
Use Separate Hampers: Invest in multiple hampers or a laundry sorter with labeled compartments for whites, colors, delicates, and towels. Encourage your family members to toss their clothes in the right bin as soon as they take them off. This way, you’re not left sorting a massive pile of clothes on laundry day.
Label Hampers for Kids: If your children are young, use picture labels on their hampers so they can learn to sort their clothes correctly. For example, use a white sticker for whites, a rainbow sticker for colors, and a picture of a towel for towels. It’s a fun way to get kids involved and teach them responsibility.
Have a Stain-Treating Station: Designate a spot in your laundry room for stain treatment. Keep a stain remover pen, spray, and a small brush handy. Teach your family to pre-treat stains as soon as they happen—whether it’s ketchup from dinner or grass stains from playing outside. The quicker you treat stains, the easier they are to remove, saving you from having to wash items multiple times.
Sort Clothes by Weight: Group heavy fabrics (like jeans and towels) separately from lightweight fabrics (like t-shirts and blouses). This prevents damage and ensures that your clothes are cleaned and dried properly. It also keeps your dryer from working overtime, reducing the risk of shrinkage or fading.
Mom-to-Mom Tip: Sorting as you go not only makes laundry more manageable but also reduces the chances of those dreaded laundry mistakes (think pink socks!)
Create a Folding Station
Folding is one of those tasks that often gets pushed to the bottom of the to-do list. But having a dedicated folding system can prevent clean clothes from piling up and becoming wrinkled.
Try these folding hacks to stay on top of it:
Fold Straight from the Dryer: Instead of letting clothes sit in the dryer or a laundry basket, fold them as soon as they’re done. This prevents wrinkles and reduces the amount of time spent ironing.
Use a Flat Surface: Set up a folding station with a flat surface, whether it’s a table, countertop, or even the top of your dryer. Having a designated space makes folding feel more structured and less daunting.
Sort by Family Member: As you fold, create separate piles for each family member. This makes it easier to put clothes away and prevents the dreaded task of sorting through a jumbled mess later.
Teach Kids to Fold: Get your children involved by teaching them to fold their own clothes. Start with simple items like washcloths, towels, or t-shirts. It may not be perfect, but it teaches them responsibility and takes some of the workload off your shoulders.
Mom-to-Mom Tip: Invest in a folding board (like the ones you see in retail stores). It helps fold clothes quickly and neatly, making this task more satisfying and less of a chore.
Simplify Your Wardrobe
The more clothes you have, the more laundry you’ll have to do. It’s a simple equation, but it’s easy to overlook. Take some time to declutter and simplify your family’s wardrobes.
Laundry hacks for simplifying your clothes:
- Go through each family member’s clothes and remove items that no longer fit, are damaged, or haven’t been worn in months.
- Create a capsule wardrobe with fewer, versatile pieces that can be mixed and matched.
- Limit each family member to a set number of clothing items per category (e.g., 10 shirts, 5 pairs of pants) to keep things manageable.
Pro tip: Donate gently used clothes to a local charity or thrift store!
Use Helpful Laundry Tools and Products
The right laundry tools and products can make all the difference in simplifying your laundry routine. Investing in these items can save you time, reduce frustration, and even help your clothes last longer.
Here are some laundry hacks featuring must-have tools and products:
Mesh Laundry Bags: These are lifesavers for keeping delicate items safe in the wash. Use them for bras, underwear, socks, and baby clothes to prevent them from getting tangled or lost. You can also use them to wash kids’ small toys or stuffed animals, giving them a quick refresh without risking damage.
- Wall mounted drying racks: Use these wall mounted drying racks to hand clothes to dry. Push them back into the wall for easy storage!
Dryer Balls: Replace dryer sheets with wool dryer balls. They help reduce drying time, soften clothes naturally, and prevent static cling. You can even add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the dryer balls to make your clothes smell amazing! It’s an eco-friendly option that’ll save you money in the long run.
Stain Remover Pens & Sprays: Keeping a stain remover pen or spray handy in your laundry room or near the hamper can be a game-changer. Treat stains as soon as they happen to prevent them from setting in. Look for products that are safe on various fabrics and effective on tough stains like grease, grass, and ketchup. My favorites stain removers are Miss Mouth’s and Fels Naptha.
Laundry Pods Containers and Detergent Dispensers: Streamline your laundry routine with laundry pods stored in containers. This makes them easy to access, looks more organized, and ensures you always know when you’re running low. A laundry detergent dispenser with a pump can also save you from heavy, messy bottles, providing just the right amount of detergent every time.
Lint Rollers: Lint rollers aren’t just for clothes! Keep one in your laundry room to quickly remove lint, pet hair, and fuzz from clothes fresh out of the dryer. You can even use them to clean up dust or stray threads from your folding station.
Collapsible Laundry Baskets: Space-saving and convenient, collapsible laundry baskets are perfect for homes with limited storage space. You can use them when needed and fold them away when not in use, keeping your laundry room clutter-free.
Laundry Labeling System: If you have multiple family members, consider investing in a laundry labeling system. Iron-on or stick-on clothing labels help ensure everyone’s clothes end up in the right drawer, even after they’ve been washed and dried. This is especially helpful for kids’ clothes that tend to look similar in size and color.
Over-the-Door Organizer: Utilize vertical space with an over-the-door organizer to store smaller laundry essentials like stain removers, lint rollers, fabric sprays, and clothespins. This hack keeps your laundry room clutter-free while ensuring all your tools are easy to reach.
Portable Clothes Rack: A portable clothes rack is perfect for air-drying delicate items, hanging up clothes straight from the dryer, or staging outfits for the week. It’s especially useful if you want to reduce dryer use, helping you save on energy bills and extend the life of your clothes.
Ironing Mat: Instead of a bulky ironing board, try using a foldable ironing mat. You can lay it out on top of your washer or dryer and iron clothes directly on it. When you’re done, simply fold it up and store it away—great for keeping your laundry room streamlined!
Scent Booster Beads: If you love the smell of fresh laundry, scent booster beads are a must-have. Add them directly to your washer to give clothes an extra burst of fragrance. Choose scents that you love, and your laundry will come out smelling amazing every time.
Laundry Detergent Strips: If you’re looking to simplify your detergent routine, try using laundry detergent strips instead of liquid or powder. These pre-measured strips dissolve easily in the wash and take up minimal storage space, making them ideal for small laundry rooms or traveling.
Floating Shelves: These are easy to hang above your washer and dryer to store all your laundry room essentials!
Sock Clips: Tired of losing socks? Sock clips are a clever solution that keeps pairs together through the wash and drying process. Simply clip them together before tossing them in the hamper, and never deal with mismatched socks again!
Fun Laundry Room Signs: You have to spend time in the laundry room, so you may as well have some cute signs and sayings to cheer you up along the way!
Large Cotton Rope Baskets: This one is last because while it’s not as practical as normal laundry baskets, I love these large cotton laundry baskets. Maybe laundry won’t be so bad if it’s in these?
Pro tip: Store your laundry tools in clear bins or labeled baskets to make finding what you need quick and easy. This hack keeps your laundry room organized and ensures you always have your essentials within reach.
Quick Laundry Hacks
Laundry doesn’t have to take over your life! Here are some tried-and-true laundry hacks that will help you stay on top of it all without feeling overwhelmed:
Set a Timer: It’s easy to forget about a load of laundry, which can lead to wrinkled clothes or that dreaded musty smell. Set a timer on your phone to remind you when it’s time to switch loads. Make it a habit, and you’ll be amazed at how much time you save!
Tackle Stains Immediately: Don’t wait for laundry day to treat stains. Keep a stain remover spray or pen handy in your laundry room or near where your family undresses. Treating stains right away prevents them from setting in, making them easier to wash out later.
Do Smaller Loads More Often: Instead of letting laundry pile up into a mountain, try doing smaller loads more frequently. This hack not only makes laundry feel more manageable but also prevents clothes from sitting around for too long. Smaller loads dry faster, making the entire process quicker from start to finish.
Sort and Fold with a Purpose: When you’re folding clothes, sort them into piles based on where they go (e.g., kids’ room, master bedroom, towels, etc.). This makes putting them away a breeze, and you won’t end up with piles sitting around for days. You can also use individual baskets for each family member, making it easier for them to grab their own basket and put their clothes away.
Use a Folding Technique: If you find folding to be one of the most annoying parts of laundry, try a specific folding method, like the KonMari technique. It might take a bit of practice, but once you master it, you’ll save space, and your clothes will stay neatly organized in drawers or shelves.
Designate a Laundry Basket for Each Person: Instead of having one giant family hamper, give each person their own laundry basket. This helps keep laundry more organized and makes sorting and folding much faster. Plus, when the clothes are clean and folded, each family member can carry their basket to their room—one less task for you!
Make Laundry More Enjoyable: Turn on your favorite playlist, podcast, or audiobook while you’re doing laundry. It’s a simple way to make the chore feel less like a task and more like a moment of “me time.” You might even find yourself looking forward to laundry time!
Create a Laundry Checklist: If you thrive on structure, create a laundry checklist to help keep you on track. Include tasks like “pre-treat stains,” “sort clothes,” “switch loads,” and “fold and put away.” Checking off each task feels satisfying and helps you stay focused.
Pro Tip: Keep a jar of loose change in your laundry room and make it a rule that anyone who finds change in the wash gets to keep it. It’s a fun little incentive that might get your kids (or partner!) more excited about helping with the laundry.
Give Yourself Grace
Last but not least, remember this: Laundry is never truly “done.” There will always be another load waiting to be washed. And that’s okay! You’re doing the best you can, and sometimes, that means there will be a pile of laundry left for tomorrow.
Keep in mine you’re not alone—laundry is a universal struggle for moms everywhere.
Celebrate the small wins, like getting one load done or teaching your kids to fold their clothes.
Remember that it’s okay if things aren’t perfect. You’re doing an amazing job, and your family loves you no matter how much laundry there is!
Tackling the never-ending laundry doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By using these laundry hacks, creating a routine, and getting the whole family involved, you can conquer the laundry chaos and find a bit of calm in your day.
So the next time you feel overwhelmed by laundry, remember that you’ve got this—and you’re not alone! Try out these laundry hacks and see how they transform your routine into something a little more manageable.
Want more tips on conquering the chaos in your home? Check out my other blog posts, and let’s tackle this journey together!
