Amanda Formero
Laundry
is a chore that almost everyone dreads:a never ending cycle of
drudgery. The work can be minimized by getting into a routine
that you can live with, but how do you find what will work for
you?
One system does not suit everyone. By picking and choosing from
the list below, you can customize a system that will help you
master your laundry pile. You can make it liveable, and maybe
even likeable. Remember, not all suggestions will work wll with
others.
DIVIDE & CONQUER
Designate certain days of the week for laundry and log it into
your planner or family calendar. You may decide to do laundry
every day instead of 2 days a week.
Keep dirty laundry baskets in each bedroom and bathroom.
Collect laundry with the help of each family member and deposit
in a centrally located hamper. Make it easy for all members to
help.
Mark labels of clothes with initials of children who wear similar
sizes or outfits.
DETERGENTS
Install or utilize existing shelving for your detergent, bleach,
and fabric softeners.
Use an over-the-sink basket to hold detergents.
Premeasure your laundry soaps, powders, and softeners to use in
a snap.
If you travel to the laundromat keep a tote with your laundry
supplies in the trunk of your car. Use film canisters to collect
quarters in.
Keep a pretreater stick or spray bottle in your dirty clothes
baskets to pretreat stains right away.
BEFORE THE WASH
Plan & utilize your time well while clothes are washing and/or
drying.
Use plastic milk crates, tall kitchen garbage pails, large buckets,
small
laundry baskets, or you can purchase a tri-section laundry sorter
for sorting
dirty laundry.
Have a designated basket that is specifically for stained clothing
only.
Use zipper mesh lingeree bags for each person's socks, these can
be washed,
dried, and returned to their owner.
Safety pin socks together to avoid matching later.
Avoid the mounds by following the rule: as soon as a basket fills,
wash it.
For easy sorting for every family member, post signs above sorters
or use color
coded containers.
Sort clothes according to whites, reds, and darks.
Sort delicates and towels seperately.
THE
WASH
If al adults work outside the home, arrange for the first
person who gets home to starts the washer.
You may choose not to sort, but wash all clothes together,
then bleach your whites once per month.
Keep a basket or two handy for removing clothes from the
dryer for folding.
Set an egg timer so you don't forget to check on your
loads!
Keep a small basket or clothespin bag next to your washer
or dryer for orphaned socks. |
FOLDING & PUTTING
IT AWAY
Fold clothes as soon as you remove them from the dryer.
Put the clothes away after folding, or designate certain days
each week to put away folded clothes.
Make it a game to get the kids involved - sit in circle with clothes
in middle, have everyone fold and put into piles.
Fold clothes in front of the TV or while helping kids with their
homework.
Teach kids to fold their own clothes, start them on towels and
dish cloths.
Use a table by the dryer to put folded clothes on. When the table
is full, put the clothes away.
Use small plastic baskets to sort folded clothes into. Have children
pick up their baskets and put their folded clothes away.
Utilize overhead pipes for hanging clothes or purchase an inexpensive
tension shower rod to hang clothes as they come out of the dryer.
Create your plan, stick to it, and you'll be on top of the laundry
pile before you know it!
Amanda
Formaro is the entrepreneurial mother of four children. She
is also the owner of FamilyCorner.com Magazine at http://familycorner.com
from which she operates several free newsletters, including
her favorite, Comforts of Home. To subscribe send any email
message to mailto:kitchen-on@mail-list.com
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