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The secret to staying on top of laundry:)

post #1 of 35
11/9/08 at 6:31am
Thread Starter 
I finally figured it out! We haven't been able to sit on the couch in ummm.... a long time becasue its always covered in a ton of laundry I need to put away. Well a while back I heard the tip of "only watching TV when your folding laundry". Well problem was I never watch TV. Well I found www.surfthechannel.com and have been watching old shows or movies for 1-2 hours each night after the kids are in bed and shockingly I am folding and putting away 3-5 loads of laundry in that time and I don't even notice I'm doing it! (catching up on laundry and pulling out winter stuff) I HATE folding and putting away laundry, I'll wash it no problem but putting it away? ugh! Do it while watching TV and wow, I have my couch back!

I also put appliance locks on the closets and a padlock on the one that actually had holes to do so and its the one I keep all the sheets in which is a major source of fort cities and creating MORE laundry. They liked to pull everything out to build forts and stuff and it would get mixed with the dirty laundry they would drag in too or they would get it dirty period so I had to rewash it again and it was creating a vicious cycle that was really really ticking me off.

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post #2 of 35
11/9/08 at 10:50am
Just doing it is the answer isn't it? I struggle with the same thing.
post #3 of 35
11/9/08 at 2:16pm
I ended up buying more laundry baskets for the clean laundry. Not very constructive, but it's better than seeing it all piled up on my bed. But then if it was on my bed maybe I would actually put it away? this is making me think about how I should do just that with the 4 baskets of clothes!
post #4 of 35
11/9/08 at 2:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Satori View Post
They liked to pull everything out to build forts and stuff and it would get mixed with the dirty laundry they would drag in too or they would get it dirty period so I had to rewash it again and it was creating a vicious cycle that was really really ticking me off.
I can totally see how annoying that would be! But fort-building is so great for kids, maybe keep a couple scroungy sheets around that they can build with and then store in a basket in their closet when they're not using. Knowing that they must stay out of the linen closet! (well, you've got a lock now)
post #5 of 35
11/9/08 at 2:24pm
cool.

I found out when I was pregnant with my third, that if the kids had clothes organized by drawer, that they could run back and forth and put all their own stuff away. Sometimes they even think it's fun So I throw clothes at them and they put their stuff away.

I agree baskets help too. too few baskets equals time wasted running back and forth. You need clean baskets.
post #6 of 35
11/9/08 at 2:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by orangefoot View Post
Just doing it is the answer isn't it?
LOL I think that's the only way to get over procrastination.

Quote:
Originally Posted by hillymum View Post
I ended up buying more laundry baskets for the clean laundry.
My solution includes eliminating all baskets except for one because laundry just piled up in the baskets.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Leilalu View Post
if the kids had clothes organized by drawer, that they could run back and forth and put all their own stuff away. Sometimes they even think it's fun
One of my kids LOVES to help in this manner. The other one has always hated it. But my dd that hates it has a dresser in a room where no one sleeps. So I can put her clothes into a pile and put them away after the kids are in bed.
post #7 of 35
11/9/08 at 3:39pm
And I thought I was going to read that you had decided to go nude!

I agree that locking up the sheets is a good idea. I need to figure something out with the towels and the kids it would be one thing if they actually used them to dry off with after baths, but for capes while playing super hero... aggghhh I could pull my hair out sometimes!
post #8 of 35
11/9/08 at 6:23pm
My secret is to just fold/hang them straight as they come ouf ot the dryer still warm. It eliminates a lot of ironing, too. My mom used to have the laundry couch in her room when I was growing up.
post #9 of 35
11/9/08 at 8:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vanessa View Post
My secret is to just fold/hang them straight as they come ouf ot the dryer still warm. It eliminates a lot of ironing, too. My mom used to have the laundry couch in her room when I was growing up.
Yeah, that. That's how I do it always. We NEVER have a pile on the couch. I only start as much laundry as I can finish that day, so it doesn't sit.
post #10 of 35
11/11/08 at 1:54am
But what I REALLY want to know is why does it feel like there is AT LEAST one load of laundry to do every.single.day??? We are only three people. And my dh and I wear things more than once. Ugh.
post #11 of 35
11/11/08 at 2:21am
I also fold as it comes out of the dryer. I don't like having it piled up in any phase of doing it. I have to do two loads a day to stay caught up but there are six of us.
post #12 of 35
11/12/08 at 4:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by hillymum View Post
I ended up buying more laundry baskets for the clean laundry. Not very constructive, but it's better than seeing it all piled up on my bed. But then if it was on my bed maybe I would actually put it away? this is making me think about how I should do just that with the 4 baskets of clothes!
Glad I am not the only one who does this. Of course, once clothes are tossed in the laundry baskets they tend to live there until someone needs to wear it! I should start doing something about that (but I really HATE laundry).
post #13 of 35
11/12/08 at 5:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by erynw View Post
But what I REALLY want to know is why does it feel like there is AT LEAST one load of laundry to do every.single.day??? We are only three people. And my dh and I wear things more than once. Ugh.

Us too...sigh.

We use our bath towels at least twice and wear things more than once. I think part of our problem is we change into comfy clothes as soon as we get home so even with multiple wearings, we still have two changes per day.

I also seem to wash coats frequently. DS and DH get dirty the minute they walk outside.
post #14 of 35
11/12/08 at 5:56pm
I had this laundry epiphany a while back. I don't know if I actually thought it up myself, or read it here, or saw it on Jon & Kate +8....anyhoo...here it is, my secret to staying on top of the laundry.

Everyone has their own basket. So simple. I used to have way too many laundry baskets. Way to easy to let stuff pile up. Now everyone has a small laundry basket, labeled with a Sharpie with their name on it.

My big hang up with laundry was always putting it away. I'd have, usually at least 2 big baskets of clean stuff (after doing yet another laundry marathon) and then they would sit upstairs for a few days, with us rifling through them looking for clean stuff. Putting stuff away always took me FOREVER. Because the basket was a hodge podge of my stuff, DH's and all 3 of the boys. I'd have the basket on my bed and be emptying it and going from my room, to the twins' room, to Ben's room over and over....

Now there is a basket for me & DH. One for the twins. And one for Ben. So I guess I should clarify. Not everyone has their own basket, but rather one basket per bedroom. Laundry gets sorted as I take it out of the dryer and fold it. Then I take each basket to it's designated room and it takes me only a few minutes to put in drawers....it used to take me an eternity....
post #15 of 35
11/12/08 at 8:04pm
I fold while watching TV or movies, which I learned from my mother, but DH won't because he can't (or refuses) to multi task. It makes me so mad!!
post #16 of 35
11/13/08 at 3:20am
My big problem is getting it put away, because it's usually while the kids are sleeping that I'm folding. If they're up, I can get them to help. Maybe I should restructure their schedules.

My other big, big problem: SOCKS! They live in their own hamper, and hardly ever get folded. Any ideas for that one?
post #17 of 35
11/13/08 at 3:41am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fuamami View Post
My big problem is getting it put away, because it's usually while the kids are sleeping that I'm folding. If they're up, I can get them to help. Maybe I should restructure their schedules.

My other big, big problem: SOCKS! They live in their own hamper, and hardly ever get folded. Any ideas for that one?
Socks were the bane of my existence! I found a really simple solution... buy new socks

Seriously, everyone got new socks and we got rid of all the old socks and now everyone has the same brand and color style. For example all mine say Hanes in pink on the toes. 8 yr old has purple toes and heels and 2 yr olds have grey toes and heals so matching them up is a breeze now.
post #18 of 35
11/14/08 at 1:48am
"I support gay marriage because I believe gays have a right to be just as miserable as the rest of us."



i'm so sorry your signature totally caught me off guard. i have tears in my eyes!!! yes, let everyone be miserable - good idea!

*ahem*

laundry. my arch nemesis. i have 3 (4?) baskets of clean (now clean with dust) laundry sitting in our bedroom. not to mention the previously clean clothes that my kids decide to pull out and left floating on the bedroom floor. if i don't do 2 loads of laundry everyday, then there is a pile on the floor. i don't know why? we are only 2 adults, 2 kids - 2 kids who are almost always naked 24-7. i don't go anywhere, i am practically in my pj's or trackies all day.... dh doesn't generate much laundry at all either....



do they breed at night? what the heck is going on with all these clothes?

so you bought new socks for everyone? i thought of doing this but the frugal part of me says to carry on using them and just suffer trying to find the matching pair. i hate socks with a passion. for me, hell would be a room filled with unmatched socks all waiting for me to sort through.
post #19 of 35
11/14/08 at 1:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by hillymum View Post
I ended up buying more laundry baskets for the clean laundry. Not very constructive, but it's better than seeing it all piled up on my bed.
You use baskets? I use my bedroom floor.... :
post #20 of 35
11/14/08 at 1:52am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mamamelia View Post
so you bought new socks for everyone? i thought of doing this but the frugal part of me says to carry on using them and just suffer trying to find the matching pair. i hate socks with a passion. for me, hell would be a room filled with unmatched socks all waiting for me to sort through.
The $30 or so I spent on socks for everyone(we needed new socks anyway) Was more then worth spending the next year going crazy trying to match up socks and always ending up with unmated socks.

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Mothering › Mothering Discussion Forums › Natural Family Living › The Mindful Home › Decluttering, Organizing, & Simplifying › The secret to staying on top of laundry:)