My laundry epiphany... - Page 2

[PenelopeJune]

Isn't it funny when you have an epiphany that is so OBVIOUS? I did that last year, but with dishes. "Gee, if I wash these dishes after every meal, then they don't pile up until we have no clean dishes."

Doy. My mom told me that for 15 years, and I'm like, "Yeah, but I hate doing dishes." Now I do dishes so many times a day, BECAUSE I hate doing dishes. That way I'm never doing them for more than 15 minutes at a time.

I fold laundry on my bed watching TV. It's cold in my laundry room so I don't linger. But watching American Idol or Dr. Phil or Oprah is a great way to get the laundry done, and I usually don't even notice that I'm working. But I never take the clothes into my room until I'm ready to fold them, or they'll sit for days.

[Irishmommy]

I fold laundry on my bed, so it has to be put away. Luckily the kids are old enough to put their own away (well, the 9 yo is, the 15 is still years away from it ). And I don't match their socks - they go in their pile and they sort them if they so wish.

[becoming]

That's what I do, too, only I use my kitchen island to fold

[Hey Mama!]

My laundry epiphany was to teach my oldest two how to their laundry. I supervise of course but they wash, dry, put away and fold their own as well as their little sister's. It has dramatically helped with our laundry mountain. I also hang clothes as I fold them. I used to fold them, then take them in the bedrooms and un-fold them to hang them up. Seemed to be a waste of time to me.

[CeciMami]

I'm loving that this thread has reached 2 pages!

I've also realized that I can't direct fold into a laundry basket...or it'll sit. I have to do it directly on top of the washer or dryer so it's TOTALLY in my way... and THEN I'll actually put it away in a timely fashion.

[PenelopeJune]

Another laundry epiphany? I hang EVERYTHING. I used to only hang "nice" things, and as a result my closet was almost empty, my drawers stuffed full, and I hate to fold. Now I hang t-shirts, sweatshirts, everything. And me and the kids share a closet, so it's soooo easy to put everything away. (Another reason why I fold in our bedroom is to access the closet.)

I still have to fold DH's (10 million ) t-shirts, and the towels and such, but at least I never have to fold clothes for me or the kids. Makes laundry so much more pleasant for me.

[amandaleigh37]

I don't mind folding at all... but I HATE putting things in drawers! I usually have neatly folded laundry in a basket in the living room at all times. I put it away when I need the basket for the next load... sigh

[Happiestever]

Well I would do this if I actually had a washer and dryer inside my house. I am reallllly looking forward to moving!!!

Is it weird that I am so excited to be able to do laundry?

No more piles of clothes, no more hassles, I can hardly contain my joy.

[FiveLittleMonkeys]

I'm a direct folder, too, and I also only own ONE laundry basket. That way I must put all the clothes away before the next load is done.

[Ornery]

I had the same revelation a year ago! I now go back and forth between direct folding and leaving it rumpled in a basket for awhile. It is so much easier to fold directly from the dryer but not always feasible for me. My littlest one, for some reason, sees folded laundry and immediately thinks it should be strewn throughout the house so when he is around I can't fold. He listens to me about most other things but something about folded laundry hits his crazy button. My DH has asked me a million times why the laundry hasn't gotten folded. One night DH actually got a basket out and tried to fold it while the kids were awake. He learned very quickly that you can get some folded and then youngest DS just snaps and starts grabbing clothes. It is so weird.

[mamabeca]

I direct fold, and took the DR table downstairs to the basement, where it is now my folding table. It also serves as an undertable storage space for stuff like winter clothes in summer and outgrowns destined for specific families. I use baskets to take stuff up the 2 flights to the bedrooms, good exercise! I admit that the table is almost never cleared, but there are piles for each of us, for me it's one big pile of everything, for the kids it's pants, tops, hanging items (folded), socks/underwear/bras, and other (bathing suits, etc). Makes it easy for THEM to put THEIR stuff away. I put it on their beds and remind them about 20x to put it away. I try to take it up in groups - all the linens/towels, all the boys stuff, all the adult stuff, etc. It works, in our own dysfunctional way.

[RoundAbout]

Originally Posted by LCBMAX

I've made a rule for myself that I can't start any new loads until the clean ones are put away. I totally appreciate your psychosis and your joy.

Ha. I have this rule too! It really helps to keep things manageable.

[Momma2DoubleCuties]

I've started each night I begin a load of laundry about supper time then after the kids are in bed I fold the load in the dryer and switch the loads. So I only have 1 load to fold and put away each night. I do do the fluffing right before I fold though..

[redorchid]

I just moved in September and I decided to make a family closet in the basement where the washer and dryer are. I sort right out of the dryer into personal piles and then the folding of four loads at a time seems much more manageable. It's cold down there and it still gets messy. I get all the laundry done at once about twice a month and I guess that's good enough for me.

The main and upper floors are much cleaner for it. I know everything upstairs is dirty and just throw it down the stairs.

Now if only I could catch on to that 'clean the dishes after a meal' rule, we'd be in business.

[2lilsweetfoxes]

Originally Posted by LCBMAX

I've made a rule for myself that I can't start any new loads until the clean ones are put away. I totally appreciate your psychosis and your joy.

I do that--then end up with piles of laundry needing to be put into the washer.