Why Laundry Can Be Overwhelming for Large Families
Laundry can be one of the most overwhelming household chores, especially if you have a large family. With five people in our household, it’s no surprise that laundry is a never-ending battle. Over the years, we’ve experimented with different cleaning hacks to stay on top of our laundry, and we’ve finally found a system that works for us. In this blog, I’ll be sharing the cleaning hack my family of five uses to stay on top of all our laundry.
Establish a Routine: How Doing One Load of Laundry a Day Can Make a Difference
First and foremost, it’s important to establish a routine. We’ve found that sticking to a schedule makes a huge difference in keeping our laundry under control. Our routine includes doing a load of laundry every day, except for Sunday which is our designated day of rest. Doing one load a day ensures that we never have an overwhelming pile of laundry to deal with. Plus, it allows us to wash, dry, fold, and put away the laundry all in one day. This means that we never have piles of clean clothes waiting to be put away, which can quickly turn into a mess.
Sorting Your Laundry: Why Separating Clothes Before Washing Is Important
Next, we’ve learned the importance of sorting our laundry before washing. We separate our clothes into lights and darks, and we also have a separate pile for towels and linens. Sorting our laundry beforehand helps to prevent color bleeding and ensures that we don’t accidentally wash delicate items with heavy-duty items. We also make sure to check the pockets of all our clothes before washing, as there’s nothing worse than finding a tissue or a pen that has exploded all over your clothes.
The Benefits of Washing Clothes on a Cold Cycle
Another hack we use to stay on top of our laundry is to wash clothes on the cold cycle. We’ve found that washing clothes on a cold cycle not only saves energy, but it also helps to preserve the color and quality of our clothes. We also use a high-efficiency (HE) detergent, which is designed to work well with cold water. Using an HE detergent means we can use less detergent per load, which saves us money in the long run.
The Magic of Vinegar: Using a Natural Alternative to Fabric Softener
In addition to using cold water, we’ve also discovered the magic of vinegar. We add a cup of white vinegar to every load of laundry, and it works wonders. Vinegar not only helps to brighten and whiten clothes, but it also acts as a fabric softener. It’s a natural alternative to commercial fabric softeners, which can contain harsh chemicals that can irritate the skin. We also love that vinegar is a natural deodorizer, which means it helps to eliminate any funky smells that may be lingering on our clothes.
Mindful Drying: Avoiding Over-Drying Clothes in the Dryer
When it comes to drying our clothes, we’ve learned to be mindful of the amount of time they spend in the dryer. Over-drying clothes can cause them to shrink or become damaged. To avoid this, we set our dryer to a low or medium heat setting, and we check our clothes periodically to see if they’re dry. Once they’re dry, we take them out of the dryer immediately and fold them or hang them up. This prevents wrinkles from setting in and ensures that our clothes stay in good condition.
Staying Organized: The Importance of Putting Clothes Away Right After Drying Them
Finally, we’ve found that organization is key when it comes to putting away our laundry. We have designated baskets for each family member, and we make sure to fold and put away their clothes as soon as they’re dry. This prevents clothes from piling up and ensures that everyone knows where their clothes are. We also try to keep our closets and drawers organized, so it’s easy to find what we need when we need it.
Factors To Keep in Mind
One thing to keep in mind is that everyone’s laundry needs are different. Depending on your family size, clothing type, and personal preferences, you may need to adjust these hacks to fit your lifestyle. However, we believe that these hacks provide a great foundation to build upon.
Another tip we have is to involve the whole family in the laundry process. This can be a great way to teach kids responsibility and help them develop important life skills. We’ve found that even our youngest family members can help with sorting clothes or putting away their own clothes. Plus, it can be a great bonding experience to fold clothes together and chat about your day.
Lastly, don’t be too hard on yourself if you fall behind on laundry from time to time. Life happens, and it’s okay to take a break and catch up later. Just remember to get back into your routine as soon as you can to avoid getting overwhelmed.
To Conclude
Doing laundry can be a chore that seems never-ending. However, with a few easy hacks, you can make it a lot more manageable. Establishing a routine, sorting clothes beforehand, using cold water and vinegar, being mindful of drying time, staying organized, and involving your family are all great ways to stay on top of your laundry. Remember, laundry is a necessary part of life, but it doesn’t have to take over your life.
These hacks have been game-changers for our family of five, and we hope they can help make a difference in your laundry routine as well.
