Doing the laundry is a chore I don't look forward to. Dirty clothes, folding clothes, putting away clothes. It's all too much. To get through it I have to be organized....

Laundry is just one of those things many don't like to do. Many that do enjoy doing their laundry do it well. In an organized and efficient manner. Those of us who take no pleasure in doing the wash just haven't found the system that works for them.

A Bit of Laundry History

But look on the bright side. At least it's not the time consuming task it was in the Victorian era.

Every Monday women spent the entire day in the scullery, or wherever scrubbing the very skin off the backs of their hands as they worked to clean the family's weekly laundry load. And let's not mention that the coming day, Tuesday, was ironing day! It was torturous. I've read that many women hated it so much they would do all they could to send the laundry out to be done.

Today

These days we have it easy. We can just dump our dirty clothing in the washing machine and come back an hour (or less) later to a nice clean load. What a treat!

But still it seems to be drudgery work. Maybe it's because it's never ending. Maybe because laundry is one of those things that can get out of hand quickly and there really is no place to go but to the washing machine. If you forget to cook you can go out to eat or buy ready made somewhere. If you forgot to clean you can call a maid service to come do it for you or truthfully you can go awhile without anyone really noticing. But forget the laundry?!! It's just not done to haul it off somewhere to have it all washed and folded and hung up for you...or is it and I'm missing out? Nevermind! You would notice right away.

So let's take a look at how we might streamline this area of our lives to make it a bit easier to manage.

First off I have to note that today we tend to have a bit more clothing than families in times past so if you feel the urge, purge! Or at least pass on. Or store it nicely for that younger child or future baby.

Getting Started

First take stock of the number of people in your family and how often you will need to do the laundry to keep on top of it.

We have a family of three. I do...

1 load of whites a week

1 load of towels

1 load of bedding

1 small load of bathroom (toilet) cleaning cloths

1 small load of regular cleaning cloths

1 small load of kitchen dishcloths

2 loads of dark/color clothing

1 load of husband's work clothes

Yes folks that's 9 loads. I have this little setting on my washing machine that let's me do tiny loads so that helps. I MUST, MUST, MUST wash the toilet cleaning cloths by themselves. No if ands or buts. Same with kitchen. Now we are here to organize our laundry so let's not focus on the amount.

Next Pick when you will do the laundry.

For my small family of three I wash five days a week

Monday: cleaning cloths, toilet cleaning cloths, towels

Tuesday: whites, kitchen cloths

Wednesday: darks clothes

Thursday: husband's work clothes

Friday: bedding, more darks

This works out well based on my schedule.

Also if you do your laundry at certain times of day it may lower your power bill. Think morning and early evening. Give it a try for a month. For me it is easiest to do one load in the morning and one to two in the evening.

Then you need to decide where you will collect and sort the laundry

I keep...

• a basket under the kitchen sink.
• a hamper in our daughter's room
• a hamper in the master bedroom
• and two small buckets for cloths in the laundry room (Ikea is great for this)

Organizing

So now make sure your laundry area is clean and organized. How can clean laundry come out of a dirty place?

Start by wiping down your washer and dryer. Clean the lint repository. Get rid of trash and empty bottles that are cluttering your area. Organize your stain removing items. Organize your detergent and any bleaches and stain removers you use. Your dryer sheets. etc.

Have a rod and hangers nearby or right above the washer and dryer where you can put clothing that will need to be hung on hangers to dry.

Actual Washing

Next it's time to wash. Sort clothing or other and apply stain removers as needed. Load your detergent as your washer is filling with water. Or if you use a front loader as I do load the clothing and then add the detergents to their appropriate little dispensers. Use the appropriate amount of detergent according to directions and not more. You could just serve to irritate you family's skin.

Set your timer for the washer. If you don't know how long your washing machine takes to wash a load of clothes now is the time to take notes.

Jot down the time you put the laundry in and note the time it finishes so you can jot down the time it is done. The first time you do this you will of course have to be nearby to note this.

Transfer the laundry to dryer (don't forget to turn it on) and start another load if you have more laundry to do.

Also note how long your laundry takes to dry. If possible use the setting that senses when the clothing is dry.

Once the laundry is dry take it out of the dryer and to the place where you will fold or hang for being put away. A friend uses her dining table. I use the ironing board or our bed. I'm still finding the best place. I really dislike the putting away of the laundry and have to use tricks such as setting a timer and seeing how fast I can do it. Ick!

When you're done remove the lint from the lint trap in your dryer. Put away any carrying baskets. Close the doors to your machine. Now dust your hands off. You're done!

Tidy up your laundry room with the Wicker Between Washer Dryer Drawers from Taylor Gifts