How to have a better laundry day
First of all, I feel like this post deserves a bit of a #reallife preface. I am not a great housekeeper. I would not pass anybody’s “white glove” test. And sometimes when I’m busy with blogging work or feeling poorly, our house might resemble my cluttered work desk.
However, one area that’s not a mess is laundry. I have some pretty good systems in place for that. Our laundry baskets aren’t overflowing and we don’t run out of clean clothes. So, I wanted to share a few strategies I use to make laundry stress-free.
This post has been sponsored by Grove Collaborative and may contain affiliate links.
1. Stay on Top of It
Although I mentioned Laundry Day in the title, I don’t recommend saving it all for one day. I wash our clothes through the week as our baskets get full. Usually for our family of 4 that means that I usually do a couple of loads every 2-3 days, so usually around 4-6 loads per week. For larger families you might do a load every day, or start with that and increase as necessary.
I like doing it this way so that our baskets don’t get overflowing and we don’t start running out of clothes. It’s also nice to do it this way because if something does come up and you have to miss a day, it’s no big deal.
2. Use a Timer
I see so many memes on facebook about moms who wash the same load of laundry 3 times because they keep forgetting to put it in the dryer. I can’t say that I’ve done it that many times, but I have had to rewash a load of clothes before.
Now, for the past few years, I avoid that with a simple trick- a kitchen timer.
I simply set the timer for about an hour, and then switch the clothes to the dryer when it beeps at me. Easy peasy.
3. Switch to Natural Detergent
This is necessary for me because of MCS and chronic illness, but I firmly believe that everyone could benefit from having less toxins in their home. Like I said before, 0ne of the reasons I held out on making the switch is that I struggled to find a natural detergent that I loved and that actually worked. Now I’ve finally found a natural detergent that I love.
[Click here to get a FREE Seventh Generation Laundry Kit to get started!]
4. Start Using Dryer Balls
I wrote a whole post about this, but dryer balls are awesome! They help soften your clothes naturally, cut out the need for harmful dryer sheets, and help your laundry smell great with the use of some added essential oils. They also make your dryer more efficient to save both time and money–win/win!
[Click here to see more details about why I use dryer balls, and to try them out for free].
5. Wash a Full Load
I don’t wash partial loads. As the famous saying goes, “Ain’t nobody got time for that!”
This isn’t usually a problem in our house, but I really try to save both time and money by making sure I’m washing full loads only. This means that I coordinate my laundry as possible so that when things like baseball uniforms need to be washed, I have a full load and can still get them washed on time without wasting a load.
I also sometimes throw them in with the towels because I’m a laundry rebel like that.
6. Use Less Detergent
I’m all about using the least amount required to get the job done, but studies show most people use too much laundry detergent.
Brands make the caps extra big so you will use too much! The “load” lines are usually only about 1/4-1/2 of the cap, not the full cap, and even then you can usually use less for normal loads. Using too much detergent not only wastes money, but it can also gum up your machine and leave your clothes dingy. Get the most out of your money by using a bit less per load.
Bonus tip: No waste. When I get down to those last few drops, I fill the bottle with water and shake it up–you can get at least an extra load or 2 by doing this!
7. Never Run Out of Detergent Again
Nothing kills laundry day like stuffing the washer full of a load of clothes, getting the water started so they are all wet, and then remembering that you already swished some water around to drain out that last bit of detergent a couple days ago. *ahem* Hypothetically speaking, of course.
I now use Grove Collaborative to get my laundry detergent. They have a great price, and ship my favorite products right to my door. No more detergent emergencies for me.
8. Get Your Children Involved
Absolutely no reason a mama should be solely responsible for the laundry. My boys are 7 and 9 now, but they have been helping to fold laundry since they were much younger. In fact, you can click here to watch the cutest video ever of my then-5 year old trying to teach my then-3 year old how to fold underwear! Be sure to watch to the end.
Start teaching them younger and it can become a habit. Some ways for younger children to help with laundry:
- Dirty Clothes. My boys have always had a cute basket like this one in the corner of their bedroom, since the time they were babies. Dirty clothes always went in there. So to this day, that is the one clean habit they have–dirty clothes are always placed immediately in the dirty clothes basket in their room.
- Folding. When my boys were younger I allowed them to fold easy things like washcloths and towels. As they got older I began having them fold their own clothes.
- Washing/Drying. Now that my children are a bit older, they are also able to transfer them to the dryer and start it. I still usually load the machine myself, but they will sometimes add the detergent for fun, and they are both able to do a load from start to finish if there is a need for it.
9. Make Your Laundry Room Lovely
This might seem like a simple or even silly thing, But I find that laundry is so much more enjoyable when it looks beautiful! I corralled all our laundry products in a basket to keep things tidy. It doesn’t hurt that this Seventh Generation Laundry Kit all matches and comes in pretty white containers.
But I also like to have some pretty and inspirational wall art like this one from Dayspring to remind me of the greater purpose. We are called to do all to the glory of God, and that includes laundry.
Continue reading here: Essential Oils for Children
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